Letter #1 I was appalled at the recent decision by the Randall Board of Education to ban any high school club with a political name, for example, Young Voters. I support the immediate rescission of this counterproductive policy decision. First, the Board continues to allow any other club to meet, making the ruling against these particular clubs seem discriminatory. Second, the Board seems to show little respect for the Constitutional right to free speech. In spite of some court cases granting schools the right to restrict First Amendment rights, the Randall Board could choose to take the high ground and model the freedoms granted by our Founding Fathers. Those who agree with the Board's decision will say that the ruling discourages controversial political views that could incite and divide impressionable youth. However, the district already has in place rules governing the behaviors of all club members, including regulations involving administrative approval of materials, debate locations, and expectations of civility and peaceful exchanges.

It seems that the Randall Board does not trust the very students they are educating. The Board does not believe that students are mature enough to enter into a respectful political debate. Or just maybe, it is that these topics make the adults in charge nervous. Either way we need to give our students back their voice.

Letter #2

Changing a rule is rarely popular, so I am not surprised that the Randall Board of Education is receiving push–back on their decision to ban high school clubs that focus on politics. However, the Board has my support, and I hope they do not rescind their decision. Although some would say this is a First Amendment issue, I see it as an opportunity to protect all of our students from the pressure to align themselves with some particular group or belief system. It seems to me the place to have discussions around political views is at home and at clubs for young politicos sponsored by political parties.

Another concern about this particular kind of club is that in the past the district required that sponsors be present, but not participate in discussions or espouse a specific position. This lack of adult leadership could allow student discussions to degenerate into fallacious statements leading to misunderstanding and divisiveness. For my part, I agree with the Board's decision to use campus clubs to promote service and school–related activities, not ones that could lead to contention and exclusiveness.

Use the information in the above texts to write your own two–paragraph argument in which you state a clear stance regarding the Board's decision, cite evidence from the letters, point out strengths and limitations of points made, and anticipate your audience's needs.