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Attention, high school students and teachers: FIRE introduces new resources and opportunities just for you!

Thanksgiving may be over, but there’s still room for one more course — especially if the course is on free speech!

This year’s bountiful harvest at FIRE includes new high school curriculum materials that cover the philosophy, history, and law behind our precious First Amendment rights — and we can all be thankful for those, each and every year. These course materials include learning standards, prepared PowerPoint lectures, classroom activities, and test questions. These First Amendment educational resources are free to download — for both educators and interested students.

And, while you’re gorging on delicious free speech knowledge, remember to use it to help you write the winning entry in FIRE’s Free Speech Essay Contest, which ends on Dec. 31 (open to high school juniors and seniors.) This year’s question asks students to consider how the free flow of ideas and the clash of opposing views advance knowledge and promote human progress on campus. Entrants must explain, in 800–1000 words, why free speech is so important to higher education, and why censorship undermines the ideals of liberal education and a free society.

Once again, FIRE will be awarding several scholarship awards: one $10,000 first prize, one $5,000 second prize, three $1,000 third-place prizes, and four $500 runners-up. Extra money to help pay for college would definitely be something to be thankful for! You can find more details about the contest at thefire.org/resources/high-school-network/essay-contest. Winners will be announced by Jan. 31, 2019.


In need of First Amendment resources for teachers? The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has you covered. Our "First Things First" First Amendment textbook for college undergraduates explores the fundamentals of modern American free speech law. Meanwhile, our K-12 First Amendment curriculum modules help educators enrich and supplement their existing instruction on First Amendment and freedom of expression issues in middle and high school classrooms. Explore thefire.org for even more First Amendment educational resources.

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