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| A group of students recently began to protest the district policy requiring a student to pass a Constitution test before graduating. An official statement issued by the group reads, "Requiring us to know the Constitution is an outrage, and shows deep disrespect for our system of government." As an initial show of strength, students have begun picketing the school, though only at specific times so as not to disturb the functioning of the normal school day or Government class. "The point," said the group's leader, "is to make it clear that we're not really willing to get in trouble, but we're really, really angry about... um... well, this." When asked about her motivation for protesting, one girl wearing a sandwich board commented, "Well, it's about the Constitution. I think. And it's bad, so we're using it or something. I don't know. Isn't it exciting?" A fellow marcher added, "I hope we get on the front page of the Post, like the Pathfinder did!" Meanwhile, the philosophical debate continues to rage within the school. Leaders from the movement have circulated petitions with the group's official position printed at the top: "When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Constitution, he created a government based around the desires of the people, while restraining the powers of authority. We never voted for this policy, and therefore, we cannot be required to follow it." Upon receiving a petition from the group, Government teacher Jeffrey Chazen patiently responded. "Look," he said. "You can't use the Constitution to refute the Constitution. You're basically protesting your own right to protest. Really, if you think about it, the best way to get your message across is to shut up." "Well, if all men are created equal," one student replied, "then you teachers are in no position to tell me to do anything." The student was given a detention. Once the group gets sick of picketing and petitioning, they plan to try to effect change at higher levels. Specifically, one leader has expressed an interest in "picketing the center aisle of Air Force One." "Sure, it's never been done before," he admitted in a press conference yesterday. "But in this country, anything can happen. God bless America!" |
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| Students claim being forced to know Constitution violates Constitutional rights Students admit to having no knowlege of what they're actually angry about |