University makes available free DVDs on First Amendment

A survey found a lack of constitutional knowledge among teens.
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State University is distributing a free DVD to about 4,000 high schools across the country to raise awareness about the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment.
"Our Living History: A Celebration of the Constitution" was developed to combat the lack of constitutional awareness among high-schoolers, said Warren Watson, director of J-Ideas, Ball State's national scholastic journalism and First Amendment institute.
The program includes contributions from editors, teachers, lawyers, constitutional scholars, authors and journalists from both the print and broadcast communities.
"We decided a DVD was needed because a 2005 study of 112,000 high school students found that First Amendment rights were lost on today's teens," Watson said. "Most teens assign little or no value to the precious 45 words of the First Amendment, which guarantee freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition and religion to all Americans.
Suggested uses
"Teachers can load the 60-minute DVD to use during a government, journalism or civics class," he said. "I think it will be of particular benefit to history, English and other teachers who do not have a journalism background. It could also be used on Constitution Day, allowing schools to fulfill their federal obligations to teach about the Constitution on Sept. 17 of each year."
The DVD, produced by the staff of Ball State's Teleplex and University Libraries, contains several components:
UAn introduction to the Constitution, its history and major purpose with discussion questions, fast facts and a resource list;
UA panel discussion with professional journalists about the meaning of the Constitution;
UA video on the 2005 Knight Foundation-sponsored study of 112,000 high school students and their attitudes about liberty and freedom;
UInterviews with: press-freedom expert Louis Ingelhart, Ball State professor emeritus in journalism; Carole Simpson, special correspondent for ABC News; and John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center.
For more information about the DVD and how to obtain a copy, go online to www.jideas.org.