The Latest – Page 85

More lessons on free speech

To read about how one columnist found a school squandered a First Amendment teaching moment, read this article by Leonard Pitts, Jr. in the Miami Herald. As we have seen, schools all too often move to squelch instead of teach. A tip of the hat to Mark Newton for the link.

More end of the year madness

Even though schools teach the First Amendment, allowing students to practice it seems to be another matter entirely. Add this Chicago tribune article to your reading list. Thanks to the SPLC blog and Susan Tantillo for the heads-up.

Follow 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…

Covering death: an article worth examining

The Kansas City Star ran an article today about how school yearbooks in the area handle death coverage. It is well worth reading – and discussing – before the situation occurs. The article examines the wide range of thought that goes into deciding how, or whether, reporting death is an integral part of scholastic journalism….

Puyallup’s Fight for the Right to Write

by Fern Valentine (Update: See related story.) As many may remember, in 2008, the Puyallup School District, whose publications had been open forums for over 20 years, was sued over an article in the Jagwire, Emerald Ridge High School’s newspaper. The district immediately instituted prior review despite vocal protests at Board Meetings. The district won…

Student adds First Amendment to others in Classroom Voices

Don’t miss a letter from Pam Selman of Stevenson High in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and formerly editor of the Statesman there before resigning over the school’s ongoing censorship of student media. The Tribune has started a letters section called “Classroom Voices,” and Selman’s comments are important reading and fodder for end-of-the-year discussion and future planning.

Going online? Think about these issues first

Weighing benefits and negatives of legal and ethical considerations before creating an online presence is an important part of expanding student media’s outreach. For relevant questions to ask before you jump in, go to JEA Digital Media’s site.

Guidelines, recommendations for advisers facing prior review

At the spring Portland JEA/NSPA convention, JEA’s board passed a definition of prior review and prior restraint. The SPLC also recently endorsed the statement. At the time, the Press Right Commission was directed to design a recommended process and guidelines on how advisers might handle prior review if faced with it. Below you will fine those…

SPLC addresses JEA’s prior review, restraint definitions

The Student Press Law Center, in its May 4 blog, put JEA’s newly adopted definitions of prior review and prior restraint into legal and educational perspective. “If a school official insists on reading a student publication ahead of time, they will eventually try to censor it,” SPLC consultant Mike Hiestand wrote. “I would like someone to…

Fight for the Right to Write!

Puyallup, Wash. – About 50 interested, supportive people joined together on a blustery Monday evening at the Puyallup Public Library to hear the editors of the three local high school newspapers share their plans for fighting the current student expression policies and regulations in the Puyallup School District. During the forum, Student Press Law Center…

Meet the Press Rights student partners

Thanks to JEA member Bryan Farley, you can see the kick-off of the Scholastic Press Rights Commission Student Partners project. His blog, “More Than Kids: Understanding People Through Photography,” includes links to photos of the group’s booth at the Portland convention. Three of the high school students able to attend the convention were Ted Noelker…

Fight for the right distributes flyer

Supporters of the Fight for the Right to Write are currently distributing flyers within their community. The group’s Facebook page reports more about the flyers and about T-shirts the group has for sale. Their page also has contact information for those wishing to be involved and an order form for T-shirts. The group has a…