The authors feel there is a need of a new and different kind of classroom conversation about free speech--one that not only considers the legal and aspirational dimensions but also weighs the practice and impact of speech in daily life. Two factors make this new conversation particularly urgent. First, the avalanche of social media communication, particularly the rise of digital mobs, has dramatically altered the speech environment. Second, state legislatures and school boards are taking actions that mute teacher speech about selected topics. Indeed, as of August 2022, Pen America report that 36 states had introduced 137 bills designed to restrict instruction on topics such as race, gender, sexuality and U.S. history in K-12 and higher education--a 250 percent increase from 2021 when 22 states introduced 54 similar bills. In light of these challenges, they would like to propose, in this article, three priorities for civic educators concerned with the issue of speech and its role in fostering a more inclusive democracy: (1) Analyze--don't merely celebrate--the First Amendment; (2) Engage students in discussions of speech-related laws, policies, and practices; and (3) Involve students in developing an aspirational vision for robust speech.