| Ask the class to read Handout 11.2: 1918 Sedition Act and Palmer Raids. Class Discussion: Questions: - How do both the 1918 Sedition Act and the Palmer Raids compare to events today? How do you think freedom of speech, as addressed in the Sedition Act, has changed for the better or the worse today?
- Do you feel free to voice an opinion about your government? Is there any group of people that you think may not feel free to voice their opinions about the War on Terror or the U.S. government? Should one have the right to speak against one’s government? If so, in what manner?
- Compare the accusations of the people involved in the Palmer Raids to those being detained today at Guantanamo Bay. Are there similarities? Is it fair to detain people on the basis of suspicion? In what ways does this breed fear in the general public?
Class discussion (optional journal entry): Describe how you think your school compares to a “governing country.” What rules are necessary to keep the peace? Are there ways to contact someone in the case of disagreement with school policies? (e.g. student government, peer mediation, or school meetings.) How does the school use democracy to ensure a safe learning environment for students and staff? Examples may include: parent-teacher or student organizations, school board, etc. |