The First Amendment Speaks On The Freedoms Of Religion

Every day we see art whether it is a pattern, sculpture, or even a picture. Art is everywhere. For artists to show their work they would go under the government process of the NEA. This program is wonderful on what they do with art. The government funding of art through the NEA is beneficial which helps art programs increase with money donations, the right to express your freedom, and lastly to show the public what they are wanting to see.

Recently, students were instructed to write an essay along with a pictorial representation of the person they considered to be their hero. Since one student chose Jesus as his hero and submitted a drawing of the Last Supper, possible legal complications need to be considered before grading and displaying the assignment. An examination of First Amendment legal issues that arise when a student submits an assignment of religious nature will provide insight into how the First Amendment applies in the classroom.

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the federal government specifically designed to support and enhances the art community for minority groups. The NEA was founded in 1965 and has controlled the art community ever since. This has aided in censoring works of supposedly obscene and controversial art. The elimination of the NEA, or making it a private organization, would free much needed public tax dollars to go to more important parts of the nations budgets, as well as open the art communities up for the freedom to exhibit the controversial pieces of art work the NEA deems inappropriate.

The National Endowment for the Arts was created by an act of the U.S Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government of the U.S. Congress created the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) to support and fund projects displaying artistic excellence. The grant money that the NEA receives comes from American taxpayers, furthermore that money has been used to fund art and more that are labeled “controversial”. In March of 2017, the Trump administration made a proposal to eliminate federal funding for the program. The NEA is a wonderful program that helps bring light to controversial subjects, creates regulations, and free speech.

When the Pilgrims settled into Massachusetts in 1620, they dreamed of a better life, a life away from the persecution they experienced in England from King George. They never would have dreamed that their small colony of Plymouth would blossom to be one of the largest countries in the world. And yet, nearly four hundred years later, it has become apparent to many, that America is in a downward spiral. It has come to a time where, the fate of our country could fall into the hands of one of the many people who believe it is right to persecute those of a specific religion because the actions of a small group of religious extremists. The unalienable First Amendment right of freedom of religion would be denied to more than 2.6 million people, based on uneducated assumptions. In addition to this, America has come to the point where more than forty-five million people live in poverty. Likewise, statistics show approximately 48.1 million people are in the uncomfortable position where they are insecure about their next, if not current, meal. In addition to this, our famous government, our renowned democracy, has become belittled by assumptions of political corruption. Furthermore, the morals in America have started to disappear, not only in our government, but also in our society. More kids are getting bullied and more people agree that we should rely less on faith, the very reason we built and expanded our country in the first place. Our once thriving nation

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency that is funded by the federal government to help support many artists around the U.S. It has successfully been granting artists of every kind and has benefitted thousands of individuals and communities since its establishment in 1965. The NEA has had a huge impact in the development and the preservation of dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, media arts, museums, music, opera, theater, and visual arts (arts.gov). Over the years the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation. It is the largest annual funder of the arts in the United states and has awarded more than 140,000 grants. In order to extend its reach

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which supports and helps fund artist and art programs has constantly been criticized since it was formed in 1965 by congress under Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency. This isn't the first time that the NEA has faced budget cuts and possible elimination. Thu-Huong Ha writes in her article, “People have been trying to get rid of the National Endowment for the Arts for 36 years.” The NEA's value has often been questioned by the federal government calling it a “bloated waste of public money and criticizing it as a funder of obscenities” (Ha). The budget cuts began after Ronald Regan's initial proposal to eliminate the NEA in 1989 which led instead to the budget being reduced by 10%. Next in 1989 and 1990 the

The Amendment given to us by the U.S has granted us freedom of religion, but yet religion is not given an option to learn about in schools. Students in public schools should be given the option to learn religion as an elective. It should not be forced to be taken in school, but it should be a choice to take so the kids and young adults of today’s generation can be literate of religion and have a choice that will impact their lives heavily.

In 1965, the American art scene changed forever. When the National Endowment for the Arts came into being, there was high hopes for a more egalitarian art world that would spread wide-ranging ideas between the coasts, but, in the art world post-NEA founding, dark clouds were forming. The NEA is no longer a sustainable avenue of preserving and producing American art..

“Art is a nation's most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves, and to others, the inner vision which guides us as a Nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish,” (Johnson). President Johnson’s speech before signing the Arts and Humanities Bill, which began the National Endowment for the Arts (“Lyndon B.”), was inspiring to artists in all merits. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a federal program that provides grants to art programs, ranging from dance to music to visual art (“About the NEA”). Numerous Americans believe federal funding to the arts is not important, while countless organizations depend on the grants given. Individuals against the NEA believe that the benefits of the

Many people today have their own personal beliefs. In a school setting, there have been many controversial situations that have been brought to court to help resolve individual rights. As National Coalition Against Censorship (2017) stated, the First Amendment guarantees of religious liberty include the freedom to believe or not to believe, to observe one’s faith openly without government interference, Freedom of speech encompasses religious as well as secular speech, but the Establishment Clause is where Thomas Jefferson described it as “a wall of separation between church and state”, because it has important implications for religious speech and observance in public schools” (Retrieved from http://ncac.org/resource/the-first-amendment-in-schools-resource-guide-religious-expression-in-the-public-schools). For this paper, legal issues regarding grading of assignment, appropriate of displaying student’s work, application of First Amendment to scenario, and conclusion will be discussed.

The subject of censorship is a very controversial one, especially the banning of books. Many people believe they must protect themselves and others from the "evils" of many classic books and works of art because they can be deemed "indecent" in one way or another. Many believe that this is absurd and censorship in its current form is a violation of our First Amendment right to free speech. Personally, I align myself with the latter, however I do feel there are occasions where censorship is justifiable.

In America, we have many rights, including the rights to free speech, peaceful protest, voting, and to bear arms. Although they are important, I believe that there is one right that is more important than any of these. That is our right to religious freedom. It is the first right guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, and the First Amendment. It gives us the right to practice any religion we choose, or, if we would like, to practice no religion at all. This is a gift, which we are all stewards of, and it is our duty to share this gift with other nations and people.

When I think about censored artwork, I think of artworks that show visuals such as violence and nudity. This semester, Levi’s showed his opinion of hitler by making fun of him. This artwork shows the humiliation and evilness of Adolf Hitler. During this semester, our principal, Mr. Barzetti physically took down his painting from the learning commons; leaving it on the ground with both canvases smashed together, risking the painting of being destroyed. I feel that todays community struggles with censored artwork since it represents disappointing memories from the past. I feel that Mr. Barzetti had no right to remove a painting of hitler from the learning commons since it was making fun of Adolf Hitler. I feel that if it was a painting

In 1965, when Congress established the National Endowment of the Arts, it was clearly stated in the Declaration of Purpose, "It is necessary and appropriate for the Federal Government to help create and sustain ... a climate encouraging freedom of thought, imagination, and inquiry" (Leone 16). Congress promised that the government would provide the material support, funding, necessary to facilitate "the release of this creative talent" (16). From 1965 to the present, the NEA, based on determination of aesthetic