Schools are supposed to be places for learning, growth, and sharing your thoughts, but lots of students believe that their freedom to express themselves in school is not enough. From school dress codes to the books students read, and even what they can say in class, student freedom is now becoming a huge topic around the world. Some people believe that students should have more freedom, while other people think that students should have the same freedom as everyone else. So what really happens in school, and why is it such a big topic being talked about as of recently?

The debate about freedom in school is not a new topic. For years now, students have been pushed for the right to express themselves in countless ways. The First Amendment is freedom of speech, but when it comes to being in school, that amendment is usually written off.

Schools have had rules that limit what students can do and say, such as banning certain words. Some schools do not allow students to choose their topics, or have privileges like sign-outs, even when a senior has good grades. Many students think that the school is limiting their rights when it comes to saying what they want to and doing what they want. In some schools, students have been punished for protesting about this. 

The reason why students care so much about freedom in schools is because it is more about their identity. These students are at the prime of their lives when they are discovering who they are and what they believe in, but when they cannot control this, it feels disrespectful to their rights. On the other hand, people who support freedom in school believe that it is important to also focus on learning and make sure that students are not distracted. It can be very difficult to have a productive class if students are going off-topic and being disruptive all the time. The main idea is to keep everything balanced.

 Brandon Bates, Assistant Principal at Pentucket, was interviewed about this topic and he had a lot to say. He believes that as students progress, they should get more freedom such as a sign-out, study/work study, and other privileges.

At the end of the day, it is about finding a balance. Schools do have to have safe and productive learning environments, but they also have to respect people’s rights. Some schools are already working on finding this balance. In some districts, students are allowed to speak more freely about their opinions as long as they are respectful. 

Freedom in school is not about just being able to say what you want. It is about respecting everyone’s rights while also having room for an environment where students can learn.