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Backpack. Pencils. Paper.

‌


John, you know the items on every back-to-school list for children.

But what about for parents?

A recent viral video from Colorado in which a school reportedly removed a
student from class for wearing a Gadsden flag
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us that parents and students alike have more to navigate beyond writing,
reading, and arithmetic. The story reinforces the importance of understanding,
exercising, and defending our free speech rights.

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With that in mind, open up your Trapper Keeper (remember those?) because
here’s your parental checklist to prepare for the new school year.

Stay informed.

You might have thought your days of homework ended once you graduated. But
having school-aged kids means homework for parents, too.

So read through the policies for your child’s school and the school
district. That can help to either expose or resolve a lot of problems before
they become major issues. You may even be asked to sign something saying you’ve
read them. We’ve all been there. It’s easy to just check the box. But take the
time to find out what is expected of your kids and you, and don’t assume that
the school district’s lawyers have a working knowledge of the Constitution.

From there, get to know your kid’s teachers. Odds are good that despite all
the recent controversy over issues in education, your kid’s teacher actually
wants your kid to learn and thrive – and wants to partner with you to make that
happen. At least, that’s our good-faith assumption until proven wrong. There’s
also data to back it up. For example, a report by nonpartisan international
research organization More in Common found that “a majority of Americans across
political affiliations agree on fundamental ideas about our national history
and how it should be taught.”

And if you still have questions, speak up. It’s your right. Public school
board meetings are public forums, which means that your First Amendment rights
apply.Unfortunately, there is no shortage of recent examples of school
officials restricting comments or shutting down meetings altogether. This
raises free speech concerns because the government can’t condition the use of
public property on whether the government approves of what the speakers say.

Parents have the right to:

* Request and receive information about school policies and decision-making.
* Attend and speak up at school board meetings.
* In many circumstances, exempt your child from activities that would violate
constitutional rights.
Knowing what is and isn’t permitted on public property will help ensure your
First Amendment rights aren’t violated – and neither are anyone else’s.

If your child plans to attend college, start preparing now by learning about
different colleges’ free speech rankings
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.


Does it feel overwhelming? It can be. The stakes are high. But parents and
organizations across the country stand alongside you in support of free speech
and educational freedom. The First Amendment is for everyone
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.

‌


Thanks!

‌


-Casey

‌

Casey Mattox

Vice President for Legal and Judicial Strategy
Americans for Prosperity

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Americans for Prosperity

1310 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 700

Arlington, VA 22201

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