Colo. Principal Nixes Student Newspaper for Knowing Too Much

[jayschool]

Source: Huffington Post and The Denver Post

If you don't have the luxury of watching student media all day, you might be operating under the misapprehension that bad journalism is what gets a student newspaper shut down. In fact, the opposite is true: most student reporters earn enemies in their administration by asking hard questions about important issues and telling the truth of what happened. In America's schools, retaliatory censorship for good journalism is on the menu as frequently as cafeteria pizza.

And yet, even by that standard, what Principal Leon Lundie is attempting to do at Aurora, Colorado's Overland High School is a travesty.

Two editors for Overland's student paper, The Scout, were covering the death of a student at the school. Sophomore Leibert Phillip died January 1 due to a pulmonary embolism. Phillip had broken his ankle during a wrestling match and a blood clot had traveled to his lungs.

(I hope Principal Lundie doesn't try to shut down The Huffington Post because I said that. Arianna, if he calls you into his office, let me know, I'll go with you.)

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-goldstein/colo-principal-kills-stud_b_840765.html

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Here's the story from The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17704242

Colorado is one of just seven states in the U.S. that have enacted laws that supersede the 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, which allows limited censorship in the service of "pedagogical concerns."

Amazingly stupid on the part of the principal, but not unprecedented, especially in the past 10 years (you do the math), as school administrators seek to stifle their students' First Amendment rights.

[GKirk]

1. What does pedagogical mean?

It sounds like a combination of
pedagogical & gynecological

pedagcological

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Educational...

...Greek pais, paidos, child, (stem paid-) and agōgos, guide.

Pertaining to the process of education

[DeSwiss]

16. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia....

Pedagogy

Pedagogy (pronounced /ˈpɛdəɡɒdʒi/ or /ˈpɛdəɡoʊdʒi/<1><2>) is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction.<3>

Pedagogy is also occasionally referred to as the correct use of instructive strategies (see instructional theory). For example, Paulo Freire referred to his method of teaching adult humans as "critical pedagogy". In correlation with those instructive strategies the instructor's own philosophical beliefs of instruction are harbored and governed by the pupil's background knowledge and experience, situation, and environment, as well as learning goals set by the student and teacher. One example would be the Socratic schools of thought.<4>

MORE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy

[monmouth]

3. Is there a liability question for the school? Is the school responsible

for contributing to this person's death? That's what I'm sensing is the fear of the principal here.

[jayschool]

4. More than likely

Yep, he's probably afraid. And fear is a prime motivator for those who seek to squelch the civil rights of others, particularly independent student journalists.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. It's an ethical problem..

...not a legal one. The relevant official has virtually unlimited power to censor a school paper.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier seems to actually circumscribe that power, and does in theory, but in practice it rarely turns out that way.

Nice FAQ here. Had my students bookmark this when I did school paper moderating duties.

[jayschool]

6. Hazelwood does not apply in Colorado

After the 1988 Hazelwood decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Colorado and six other states have enacted laws that negate Hazelwood and bring back the Tinker standard for student expression. States may grant greater rights to its residents than the U.S. government does, and thus Hazelwood is a non-starter in any discussion of Colorado student media.

http://www.splc.org/knowyourrights/law_library.asp?id=7

Thus, this is a legal issue, in that the principal broke state law. The students will likely sue to re-establish their civil rights and collect any damages due.

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. I never noticed the list...

..knowing this state isn't on it.

[jayschool]

10. The list

These are the seven states in which high school journalists have full First Amendment rights:

Colorado
California
Kansas
Iowa
Massachusetts
Oregon
Arkansas

Other states, including Nebraska, have legislation pending.

[Davis_X_Machina]

13. Don't see Maine...

...and didn't expect it. We have very tight regulations on the appearance of student pictures, work, etc. in all media. I always had people running around getting releases signed as we went to press.

[mattvermont]

14. John "Tinker" is a friend of mine

It is really great to see these cases still refer to his case. I am encouraged to see high school students fight for their rights.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. They need to take it off campus and online

There the principal will have no say as to content. Black letter law backed by precedents (think underground newspapers from the 60s). The lead story should be why it was necessary.

Doing so is a slap at the administration and a very effective troll. When they punish the students involved, the law suit is a slam dunk and the students will get some cash for college.

It is a well known script and happens with some regularity.

[jayschool]

8. They shouldn't have to

While I agree with you on taking the paper online, the Colorado Student Free Expression Law clearly states that what the principal did breaks that law. Principals may not censor in Colorado. It's that simple there and in the other six states with anti-Hazelwood laws: Kansas, Iowa, California, Arkansas, Oregon and Massachusetts, a wonderful mix of conservative and traditionally progressive states.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. I have helped enable several "alternative" media sites for high schools over time

I have had educrats yell and scream at me for doing so and refusing to divulge which students are writing for it or even members. It is not hard to do, though it required some spine on the part of the students involved and straight face on my part.

[rtassi]

12. My best friend and I published a HS News Paper in 1970 ..

called "Dare to Struggle" ... He was the Political editor and writer, and I was the religious editor and writer ... We were suspended multiple times until it was proven that we were within our rights to publish and distribute ... Oddly enough it was the Chief of Police, who spoke for us ... the school board backed down ... The principle had to eat it!

[hack89]

15. I just emailed the Principal and the school board protesting this.

email addresses here:

Principal: [e-mail]

Superintendent: [e-mail]

School board: [e-mail]

[Buddyblazon]

17. Holy cow...

I graduated from Overland in '90.