For those interested in free speech in schools~

[rhapsody_dragon]

I wrote this essay because of an incident that happened at my high school last year. It's not quite finished yet but I'mma post it. It involves the censorship of high school newspapers. I found it really interesting... but my essay is really long so I doubt people will read it all. xD

Comments

[rhapsody_dragon]

Mmmz, the school's policy states they are not allowed prior review or censorship of the paper. So they violated their own policy. And in the paper's mission statement (which I wrote myself :P) it's stated the views and ideas in the paper are soley ownership of the paper and it's writers--not the school. Point that out to the angry person and they can direct their offense to us. I didn't mention that in my essay, though. But that deals with the public forum idea.

I can understand the part of being paranoid and covering their own selves from lawsuits. People are nuts with that, and schools probably get a lot of heat. But violating these speech laws brings lawsuits as well. It's kind of a double-edged sword.. and not only with a paper--a parent can complain about a piece of art hanging on the wall, the content of a play--this kind of thing is unavoidable.

Schools, well public schools anyway--I can't say anything about private, since it's a different story--are supposed to be teaching the young about the basic principals of democracy and the US freedoms. Prepare them for what they'll face come the 'adult world.' Is it okay for them to teach it is okay for the government (school officials) to comprimise a basic freedom because of circumstance?

xD Sorry... I rant.