JEA joins amicus brief in censorship case
The Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association joined with the Student Press Law Center in a case about a New York school censoring a cartoon.
“If the court tells the students of Ithaca High School that they had no legally protected right to satirize the ineffectiveness of a school policy – the effectiveness of which the school itself is telling this Court is a matter of life and death – then the ‘chill’ of intimidation that student journalists already feel when they bravely take up a critical pen against their elders will turn into a deep freeze,” the brief states, according to a SPLC News Flash.
Read the News Flash for more information.
Read MoreDon’t let us be misunderstood
These words from an Animals song – slightly changed to the plural – leave a message those facing censorship issues should think about over the summer.
Don’t give up; don’t be misunderstood.
Blatant censorship or its muted shape of prior review is still censorship.
And it has no place in the education business.
It can be fought. You can fight it and win. All of us – students, teachers, parents and administrators – can learn from those who continue to fight:
• Letters from the ACLU and the SPLC has a Michigan district rethinking a planned move to prior review
• A Pennsylvania group of students fought planned policy changes and won. In the process they developed their own website and rallied the community.
• Washington students work to reverse change to review; lawyer says they helped change his views
• Washington teacher says action is better than reaction
• JEA takes strong position against prior review
Don’t let those who say censorship in education is acceptable misunderstand us: We will be heard and we will continue to work against its negative effects on school, community, and most importantly, on people’s lives.
Read MoreNotable journalism issues as we prepare for summer
As we get ready for summer vacation, several First Amendment issues are worth noting.
The 14-judge Third Circuit U.S. Appeals Court heard a replay of two decisions about the extent of schools’ ability to punish students for speech outside schools.
The First Amendment Coalition posted coverage of the hearing.
In Texas a journalism teacher resigned after administrators censored an editorial on legalization of marijuana, citing Supreme Court rulings allowing censorship. Evidently, administrators did not completely read the Morse v. Frederick decision, particularly the Alito statements about political speech.
In a related First Amendment story, a South Dakota court ruled Hazelwood could be used to justify imposing uniform cap-and-gown dress at graduation.
And, in non-scholastic coverage, a Republican lawmaker introduced legislation to license journalists.
Read MoreFollow the latest article in Puyallup censorship
For an interesting and detailed article about the latest information in the ongoing battle against administrative censorship, check out today’s article in the News Tribune.
Be sure to read the comments. Students who need end-of-the-year activities might find this an issue worth comment.
One of the story’s points deals with the district’s attitude toward prior review as a way of protecting itself.
(Superintendent Tony) “Apostle, the Puyallup superintendent, declined to speak to The News Tribune. He did provide a copy of a letter he sent to students, saying the School Board does not intend to rescind its prior review rule. He said district lawyers have urged the board to retain the rule unless students and their parents agree to be financially liable for future legal claims,” the story reported.
The story also indicated student journalist attempts to report on the trial were themselves censored.
“Student journalist Allie Rickard withdrew her article after a district lawyer wanted to remove a direct quote and insert a sanitized version,” the News tribune reported. “The lawyer, Mike Patterson, also told Rickard that she could not include the names of the four student plaintiffs – even though they are part of the public record and had been published elsewhere, including in The News Tribune.
“Lawyers also asked Rickard to eliminate a sentence that explained a controversial legal concept in the trial.”
A school spokesman said the changes were not to censor but correct.
Read MoreMichigan schools face loss of open forum status
Despite the Dean v. Utica court decision and despite the fact they have had histories of being forums for student expression, at least two more Michigan schools and their student media face school board rejection of that student media status.
In a number of similar instances, a common factor, according to boards and advisers, is the consulting group, NEOLA.
NEOLA released a revised set of policies this fall for student media, 5722, which consisted of four possible selections instead of a single choice, last updated in 2000. The 2000 model NEOLA policy did not support an open forum concept for student media. NEOLA says its updated four choices have two non open forum models and two open forum ones.
Either of the two forum offerings, as NEOLA presents them, allows a district to choose which student media not to permit to be called open forums. School boards can pick and chose which of the options they want to adopt.
NEOLA says it does not advocate any of the four choices over the others.
Information reported in today’s Hometownlife.com reported otherwise for journalism students in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.
“Acting on a recommendation from NEOLA,” the policy consultant used by the district,” the publication reported, “Plymouth-Canton’s policy committee recommended changes to the policy covering school-sponsored publications and productions.”
According to hometownlife, “The new policy, if adopted, applies to “school-sponsored media” such as Perspective, 88.1, yearbooks, playbills, blogs, library journals, theatrical productions and video and audio productions. It also extends to posters, pamphlets, and school-sponsored clothing such as T-shirts.”
The online publication also reported that a Michigan law firm supported imposing the restrictive Hazelwood interpretation of how school districts can control student media.
According to the article, school officials do not plan to change “the way we do business. We have an obligation to make sure our students maintain high standards of academic achievement.”
JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission is talking to Michigan advisers and NEOLA officials for additional information.
Reports of NEOLA-led changes came from the Dexter Schools. Student media in Dexter also face hostile blog attacks.
Anyone in Michigan or other states who faces similar actions over policy reversal should let their state JEA directors and the press rights commission know the details.
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