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Lesson ideas

Free speech comes at a price

Students use a communicative activity strategy, Go, Ask and Tell to read, discuss and explore the issues in the article, Free Speech comes at a price, by Hugh Mackay.

In his article for The Australian newspaper, social commentator, Hugh Mackay contributed to the freedom of speech debate which surrounded the Commonwealth Racial Hatred Act (1995). He advocated the balance which must be struck between freedom of speech and "restraint and regard for the common good".

Teachers may choose, according to time available and class ability, a communicative activity, Go, ask and tell or a more traditional whole text comprehension activity.

1.Go ask and tell (a variation of a jigsaw activity which enables students to access more complex texts)
Download
Teacher's notes, Text A & Questions, Text B & Questions

2. Comprehension
Download
Teacher's Notes, Free Speech comes at a price & Questions full text
As a class, read and discuss the complete text.
Display questions on an OHT.
Students write answers to the questions or together class discusses and responds orally.

1. Commonwealth Racial Hatred Act (1995)
In order to protect freedom of speech, under the Commonwealth Racial Hatred Act (1995) the following things are not unlawful in Australia, if "done reasonably and in good faith":
an artistic work or performance;
an academic publication, discussion or debate;
a fair and accurate report on a matter of public interest;
or an act that is an expression of a person's genuine belief.
Do you think this is reasonable?
Describe a situation that might arise from the abuse of one of these exceptions.

2. Parliamentary debate- two teams with the rest of the class adjudicating
or written expositions either individually or jointly constructed.
Topics could include:
The price of free speech is too high;
Community rights destroy free speech;
The word is mightier than the sword;
or Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

Factsheet Commonwealth Racial Hatred Act (1995)