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Lesson Plan in the Hillsborough County Library Internet-Filtering Case
"Should public libraries be allowed to use filtering
software to restrict access to the Internet?"
Purpose
The purpose of this lesson plan is to provide students with an understanding
of First Amendment principles, including the distinction between the
advocacy of unpopular or offensive ideas, which are constitutionally
protected, and actions that are likely to have imminent illegal consequences,
which are prohibited by law.
Grade
9-12
Objectives
Students should be able to:
1. Understand the history of the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.
2. Understand how the introduction and widespread use of the Internet has created new controversies regarding the meaning and limits of free speech.
3. Be able to recognize the constitutional and policy issues that arise with public access to library resources.
Materials
1. Text of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
2. Court's opinion in Reno v. ACLU , Mainstream Loudoun v. Board of Trustees of the Loudoun County Library and U.S. v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc.
3. ACLU briefing paper:
Activities
1. Have students contact their public library branch to:
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inquire whether they provide Internet access, and if so, whether any filtering devices are used.
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investigate what other policies their public libraries may have to restrict access to certain information and with whom policy-making decisions lie.
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obtain a copy of their public library systems' policies regarding censorship and content of its collections.
2. In class, ask students to list topics/subjects taught in school that might be censored by filtering software with the keyword "sex." (Examples: Biology genetic development of embryos; History Suffrage and the Woman's Rights Movement; Sociology gender roles and early child development)
3. In small groups, have students draft what they believe to be an Internet filtering policy that is constitutional and reflects sound policy making. Allow class to debate the legal and policy reasoning behind their policies.
