Activities based on media coverage of high school of student working in adult industry
by John Bowen, MJEIn my last blog we discussed the importance of fighting prior review, and noted its use is growing, even in states with state legislation protecting student expression. To emphasize the issue, we highlight recent review attempts with the Bruin Voice of Stockton, California, and related reporting about the student story. You have…
Read MoreWhen is free speech not so free?
by Candace Bowen, MJEIf it seems too good to be true, it probably is. That may be a cliché, but it’s often spot on. And no more so than news lately of various orders and state legislation and school policies seeming to promote free speech. That’s a great idea, right? Well, maybe not. And…
Read MorePart 3: Students in the forefront during #Tinkerversary
When anyone tells Mary Beth Tinker that students are the future, she firmly but politely corrects them: “No, they’re the present.” If the students participating in the #Tinkerversary events this week are typical – and it would seem they are –, the present is in good hands. These included: Marjory Stoneman Douglas students from Parkland, Florida,…
Read MorePart 2: Now things are different in Des Moines
Des Moines schools, how you have changed since early winter 1965. That’s when a high school principal got wind of a pending Vietnam War protest – reportedly when his school’s newspaper adviser showed him a story about it for the next issue. He and his fellow principals decided suspensions would be the punishment for anyone…
Read MorePart 1: Let’s celebrate a #tinkerversary
“I had no idea our small action would lead to something so consequential,” Mary Beth Tinker told Smithsonian.com recently. Now, 50 years after the Supreme Court ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines students and teachers don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” it’s clear Mary Beth, her brother…
Read MoreCelebrating Student Press Freedom Day, 50 years of student rights
by Lori Keekley, MJE SPRC members have been working to amass several resources for you as we kick off our celebration of the Tinker anniversary with Student Press Freedom Day. The goal is to keep celebrating Student Press Freedom Day daily leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Tinker decision. What’s new Need a…
Read MoreA pillar of strength: the Tinker decision
Lessons: What’s in Your State Press Law?, by John Bowen and Lori Keekley: As New Voices laws spread across the country to protect student journalists, help your students understand what their state does or does not cover when it comes to student press rights. Students will examine their own law and create a dialogue with…
Read MoreProactivity can help face a challenge
by Stan Zoller,MJE Watch just about any team sporting event and at some point, there will be challenge to a call. Or challenge to the rules. It’s no different with some scholastic journalism programs. Despite New Voices laws in 14 states, and bills introduced in three others, challenges to the rules, or in this case…
Read MoreBringing light to relevant issues, past and present, defines journalistic leadership
“I’d rather be a hammer than a nail” “Blowing in the Wind“ “Find the Cost of Freedom” “Ohio” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” How do these lyrics and titles relate to scholastic journalism? They all came at a time when people questioned the media, its role and its leadership. They all came at a…
Read MoreArkansas student journalists lose publishing rights, regain them, support from other journalists
by Jackie Mink, JEA Emeritus member A recent challenge in Arkansas left a high school’s newspaper censored and prior review started. With support from other scholastic and professional journalism organizations, the school newspaper has now been allowed to publish. I thought of a line in my favorite book “To Kill a Mockingbird”recently. It was in…
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