The Latest – Page 75

Student media designated public forums? Apply online for FAPFA recognition

We know there are a significant number of open forum student media out there, and we’d like to see you apply for JEA’s First Amendment Press Freedom Award (FAPFA). Being an open forum for student expression, besides having exceptional educational validity and offering excellent learning opportunities for students, can also help protect a school system…

Ammunition against prior review and restraint Handling controversy, Part 3 of a series

Part of the difficulty in reporting controversial issues is how to define the term and the concept. Any article, if misreported in some way, can be controversial. Journalists would start with looking at the process of gathering information, of observing and conducting research. Each of these steps would take place following journalistically responsible legal and…

Ammunition to help define disruption Part 2 of a series

Although we hoped Tinker v DesMoines might be the definitive word for what is material or substantial disruption in schools, recent events involving digital media and off-campus expression keep the issue alive – and contentious. School safety issues, including arguments that schools need to protect themselves from cyberbullying and other off-campus speech issues making their way to…

The Seattle decision: providing ammunition for student responsibility. Part 1

By H. L. Hall In what might be a landmark decision, a Superior Court judge in Washington ruled July 22, 2011, in Sisley v Seattle School District #1, that public high schools are not liable for the content of student-produced newspapers. Student Press Law Center spokesmen have said this ruling is the first to ever…

Questions for thought #6 part of a series

The last question of our current series. Do you have others you would raise? • What does a free press contribute to our democratic society? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Who benefits from a free press? Now repeat the questions for scholastic media? Are there any differences? What and why?

Questions for thought #5 of a series

Here’s another Question for Thought in our series : • A new administrator joins your school and demands prior review. What will your (students’) responses be? What points can the students raise to stop her from enforcing this new standard?

Questions for thought #4 of a series

Here’s another question in our series. Appropriate for Constitution Day? • What if any issues or topics should be “untouchable” by student journalists? Why? Is it the topic or the process that might lead to censorship problems?

Student sues Wisconsin school district over “I [heart] Boobies!” bracelet ban

See today’s NSBA School Law newsletter about another regarding another “I [heart] Boobies” case at: http://tinyurl.com/3tbevmd Great opportunity for discussion about this new case in class tomorrow, National Constitution Day. Celebrate your First Amendment Rights!

Questions for thought #3 continuing a series

Here’s a question in our series raising a variety of Questions for Thought. Hopefully, as you consider answers, you and your students will address some important principles of scholastic journalism. Our Constitution Day lessons can now be accessed from the menu bar above, titled Constitution Day 2011. #3: What would happen if press freedoms would be…

Constitution Day lesson plans, resources for 2011

Constitution Day Lesson Plans for Sept. 16, 2011 The Scholastic Press Rights Commission works to provide information and resources on legal and ethical issues to journalism students, teachers and administrators. SPRC members also work to promote the First Amendment rights of students across the nation. It is a commission of the Journalism Education Association. Our…

Questions for thought: a series of exercises on freedom of expression

Our second Question for Thought involves a common argument for censorship: Damaging the public’s image of the school or its programs. • Explore instances where scholastic media excess damaged public trust, a belief in the First Amendment and/or a school system. What led to the excess? How best could it have been prevented? What actions,…

Questions for thought 1

As the new year starts, we face many issues. Some arise daily. Others reside in the background until events force them on us. These broad philosophical issues often are questions we need to answer before they become crucial. Over the next several posts we will raise a variety of Questions for Thought. Hopefully, as you…