Today marks the first day of the 10th annual Free Speech Week — a nation-wide event founded by the Media Institute. Educators’ participation in Free Speech Week is especially important! Teachers can lead class discussions about the First Amendment, ask students to write an essay about the current state of free speech in America, assign students to research the history of the Constitution, or teach any of SchoolJournalism.org’s law and First Amendment lesson plans.

Free Speech Week encourages schools, universities, professional journalism organizations, media outlets and other groups to raise awareness and talk about the importance of the First Amendment. This week is a nonpartisan commemoration of the importance of free speech and a free press to a democratic society. Anyone is welcome to participate by exercising the Constitutional right to free speech!

To celebrate Free Speech Week on your own, consider writing a letter to a government representative, attending a town hall or education board meeting, starting a blog, posting a sign or flag, registering to vote or using social media to start a conversation about free speech with the hashtag #FreedomSpeaks. Try posting one of these quotes about freedom of expression. 

Free Speech Week 2014 includes two new events: the #FreeSpeech365 photo contest, which concluded today, and the mixed media art series by Everett Spruill. Spruill’s pieces, inspired by the theme “Let your voice be heard,” are for sale.

Partnering organizations that have agreed promote Free Speech Week and host First Amendment events and activities include: the American Society of News Editors, 1 for All, SchoolJournalism.org, American Bar Association, American Civil Liberties Union, the Journalism Education Association, Radio Television Digital News Association, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Society of Professional Journalists.