Back in 1988, a principal removed personal stories about student pregnancies and students of divorced parents. He found these to be offensive and inappropriate for the school newspaper. The students took the school district to court for violating the First Amendment rights of student journalists (Abrams, 1). This court case is known as Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. The court ruled that, despite the Tinker ruling recognition of strong First Amendment protection, student expression in school-sponsored venues may be subject to greater limitations when those venues have not been established as “designated public forums.” In that context, school officials can censor, if they provide a reasonable educational justification for their actions (Bowen, 1). …show more content…
It’s also important to understand that the court case ruling only applies to high school students. Thomas Jefferson once said, “Our liberty depends on freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost.” A free press for students has many advantages. Teachers and advisors can help students tackle the controversial subjects that they face on a daily basis. Student editors and writers can learn to interpret facts and use critical thinking to write a story that will be fair and just to the parties involved. Students, who have freedom to publish the viewpoints they see as important to their peers, may consider careers in journalism. Squelching students' freedom of press can reverse all of these positive factors. This has been the fear since the Supreme Court issued its decision in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (Abrams, 1). Freedom of press should be allowed within schools because, as citizens, students deserve their first amendment rights, it is practice for their potential journalism careers, and it promotes more compelling …show more content…
High school journalism classes teach students higher level thinking skills, prepare them to deal with stress, give them opportunities to work as a team, meet deadlines, problem solve, write, shoot and edit (Maksl, 1). Imagine a group of high school students who can work independently, do intelligent research and collaborate effectively in person as well as on the Internet. Students who are enrolled in journalism programs around the nation fit that description (Wojcicki, 1). These are all necessary skills needed when applying for journalistic jobs. Each and every one of the young adults who sits in those classrooms will be media consumers and producers in their own rights (Maksl, 1); therefore, the ability to produce uncensored stories is crucial. Similar to professional publications, the adults in charge expect students to measure up to the high expectations that the program has established. This is not busy work, but rather a series of challenging assignments that have a beginning, middle and end — and a tangible, authentic work product at the end, something that others can and will read, listen to or see. I expect high-quality, well-researched stories, turned in on time. I expect them to read the articles I send to their e-mail accounts every night. I expect them to work together and learn to get along. My