Rights And Wrongs Mtv Documentary Puts The Rights Of Students Under The Microscope

“There’s a struggle going on in the world today between young people and those old menopausal men who run this country.”

That’s what one protester in the 1960s declared. But the debate rages on today. Young people across the country are asking: What rights do we have?

MTV, which has always been an advocate for young people, has taken a look at the issues.

“Fight for the Right,” a three-part documentary, began last night and airs for the next two Sundays at 10 p.m. on MTV.

Most of the issues presented in the program won’t surprise any teen. From zero tolerance to hair-dyeing, many of the issues are being battled right here in the Inland Northwest.

In the first segment, the documentary explores the conflict between student rights and zero tolerance policies, curfews and drug testing.

Under a zero tolerance policy, no weapon of any kind may be brought to school. It sounds like a great idea, but MTV highlights some extreme cases that may cast some doubt over the fairness of zero tolerance.

In one case, a student was expelled for bringing a toy G.I. Joe gun to school. In another, a student was expelled for bringing a chili pepper on campus. In one case an honor student was expelled for carrying a penknife on his key ring.

Zero tolerance policies were designed to give equal punishment to all regardless of past behavior or the perceived threat of the weapon.

In the U.S. Constitution no age limit is placed on any of the rights, except the right to vote. That’s the basis MTV uses in its documentary look at teen curfews.

If a curfew were proposed for adults, it immediately would be ruled unconstitutional. Many students believe that curfews designed to protect them violate their constitutional rights.

In San Diego, the documentary shows, students staged an old-fashioned protest to win back their freedom to be out after dark.

In New Haven, Conn., when a proposal for a curfew came up, the teens began working with the police and the New Haven Young Adult Police Commission was born.

Students are helping the city find more appealing alternatives to a curfew.

Another hot issue across the country and right here in the Inland Northwest is drug testing of high school athletes.

MTV highlights the stories of two boys who refused to submit to the testing. Each is fighting the school’s policy in court.

In the second episode airing Sunday, MTV looks at students’ freedom of expression. Segments include students challenging a new school policy of mandatory suspension for multicolored hair, freedom of speech on the Internet, and school dress codes.

The highlight of the episode is a profile of two students from Snohomish, Wash., whose school newspaper was censored when they tried to publish an article about the reasons behind the suspension of the school’s vice principal. The students are fighting to force the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its ruling in the 1988 Hazelwood decision that gave school administrations more leeway to control content of student newspapers.

The final episode of “Fight for the Right,” airing Oct. 26, deals with young people’s rights in sexual matters.

MTV goes to Des Moines, Iowa, to tell the story of three students who fought to improve the sex education in their school.

The show also brings up the issue of sexual harassment within schools and the workplace. Two girls tell their stories of standing up against harassment.

And finally, “Fight for the Right” tells the story of a young man, the victim of anti-gay violence, who fought back through the courts.

The series may be a documentary, but it’s anything but dull. MTV keeps it moving with its usual style of varied camera angles and music.

The series shows that all of the issues have more than one side, and it does an excellent job of telling the different sides. In the end, however, it shows young people that they aren’t alone in the fight for their rights.

Each episode highlights different strategies used by young people over the decades to challenge the rules.

It seems a little ironic that the very people who as young people fought to be heard 30 years ago are placing restrictions on their own children’s voices.

Not only should teens watch this series, but even more important, their parents and anyone who works with teenagers should tune in.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SPEAK OUT Are you fighting for your rights? We’re looking for high school students’ submissions on topics such as curfews, dress codes, drug testing or any of the issues discussed in the MTV documentary, “Fight for the Right.” It doesn’t matter whether you write an essay, poem, letter or in any other form that fits what you’re trying to say. Just keep it to 150 words or fewer. Send it to Our Generation/Fight for the Right, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201. Or fax it to 459-5456 or send it to laurac@spokesman.com via e-mail. Deadline is Oct. 31. Be sure to include your full name, school and telephone number. Some of the best submissions will be printed in a future issue of Our Generation.