COMM> ***COMMUNICATOR UPDATE: December 2003***

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Net Happenings - From Educational CyberPlayGround
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From: "Cindy Koeppel" <ckoeppel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ckoeppel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: ***COMMUNICATOR UPDATE: December 2003***
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 12:04:22 -0600
Importance: Normal


COMMUNICATOR UPDATE: December 2003

Welcome to The Dirksen Congressional Center's "Communicator" - a
web-based e-newsletter providing educators with news and ideas to
enhance civic education and improve the understanding of Congress --
http://www.webcommunicator.org

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NEWS FROM THE DIRKSEN CENTER
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  <<< Congressional Research Awards >>>

* DEADLINE: Proposals must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2004*

The Dirksen Center invites applications for grants to fund research on
congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress.  A total of up to
$35,000 will be available in 2004.  Applications are accepted at any
time, but the deadline is February 1, 2004, for the annual selections,
which are announced in March.

Complete information about eligibility and application procedures may be
found at The Center's Web site:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantcongresearchaward.htm Frank Mackaman
is the program officer -- mailto:fmackaman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Since 1978, the Congressional Research Awards program has paid out
$585,000 to support 315 projects.

<<< Open Enrollment -- Dirksen Center Friends >>>

Membership enrollment in The Center's Friends organization is now open.
Your $25 annual membership dues will help support a wide range of
educational and research programs for scholars, teachers, and students.

Join now and enjoy the benefits listed at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/friends.htm. Instructions for becoming a
Dirksen Center Friend can be found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/friends-membershipform.htm

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<<< Civil Liberties: The First Amendment (Freedom of Speech) >>>

What constitutes "speech" itself?  One view separates public or
political speech from private speech with the latter limited with
respect to the rights of others.  This issue of "Communicator" will
provide resources to help your students learn more about the First
Amendment and freedom of speech.

Learn more about the Supreme Court and how the courts can influence
legislation. For example, see how the courts have protected speech in
certain circumstances but not all kinds of speech. Find "Congress and
the Courts" at: http://www.congresslink.org/lessonplans/MEDcourts.htm

Learn more about the Supreme Court case that established "clear and
present danger" as an acceptable reason for limiting free expression.
Find "Schenck v. United States (1919)" at:
http://www.aboutgovernment.org/judicialbranch.htm#supremecourt

The Supreme Court has had to consider laws that restrict nonpolitical
public speech. Learn about two historic Supreme Court decisions related
to unprotected speech, sometimes called "fighting words." Find
"Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 (1942) (USSC+)" and "Street
v. New York, 394 U.S. 576 (1969) (USSC+)" on AboutGovernment at:
http://www.aboutgovernment.org/judicialbranch.htm#supremecourt

Introduce CongressLink's related lesson plan to teach students that some
forms of speech involve not words but actions, usually as part of a
political protest, and to show students the role of the Supreme Court in
interpreting the law and how the courts affect our personal freedoms.
Find "Symbolic Speech" at:
http://www.congresslink.org/RelatedLessons.htm

<<< Featured Grant-funded Project >>>

Suppose you would like to develop lesson plans or student activities
that will allow students to weigh the rights of students (and others) to
free speech versus the responsibilities that come with those rights.
Sound intriguing?  Consider applying for a Robert H. Michel Civic
Education Grant.  Find information about the program, including a sample
grant proposal and a list of previously awarded grants at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantmichelciviced.htm

*NEW* Can you burn the flag?  Test your "Freedom of Speech" knowledge
at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/billofrights/2_billofrights.htm

*** More Freedom Frenzy ***

1. Which form of speech did the Supreme Court label as unprotected by
the First Amendment in "Roth v. US (1957)?"

  A) Libel
  B) Fighting words
  C) Symbolic Speech
  D) Obscenity

2. "Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)" provided further protection for
dangerous speech by adding what requirement to the clear and present
danger test?

A) Lucidity
B) Severity
C) Imminence
D) Sedition

3. Texas v. Johnson (1989) is an important case concerning symbolic
speech. Which form of symbolic speech did the Supreme Court uphold in
this case?

A) Wearing arm bands in school
B) Cross burning
C) Flag burning
D) Draft card burning

*** Critical Thinking ***

The "fighting words" doctrine suggests that a speaker may be silenced
because his or her words might provoke a violent retaliation from the
listener.  This approach to free speech effectively gives the audience
the power to silence any message that they consider offensive enough to
warrant violence.  What do you think?  To what extent should government
be able to quiet someone in order to protect them from the backlash
created by their own words?  Is a "fighting words" exception to the
First Amendment a dangerous loophole in protection of free expression?
Or is it a reasonable relaxation of those protections, available for
public authorities when they lack adequate resources to protect an
unpopular minority?

Answers to the November issue of "Fun, Facts, and Trivia" link here:
http://www.webcommunicator.org/funfactstrivia1103ans.htm

Happy Holidays! Encourage your colleagues to subscribe to the
Communicator. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, contact
Cindy Koeppel at mailto:ckoeppel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Your feedback makes a
difference!

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If you experience any problem, send an e-mail to Cindy Koeppel at
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