Tamar Shachaf
About You Editor
https://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1898
Once again, SPLC reports of another student newspaper who will now have to be reviewed by an administrator prior to its distribution. This is not the first paper to go through this, and sadly it will not be the last. This school must show a copy of the issue to the principal 48 hours before its publication and must do so because of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, which declares that publications must submit themselves to public review if there is a proven reason for it.

While students still have the freedom to write whatever they like in this paper, they know that their principal will read it and may change it. It takes freedom away from the staff of the newspaper, but also from the student body. If a staff knows that their principal will read everything and pay attention to it closely then they will not feel comfortable reporting news that may not be favorable to the school. Just because something is "politically correct" does not mean that it is all the truth.

The Journalism teacher at the school, Sally Turner, comments that "You don't question an award-winning art teacher or ask to review every piece of art that leaves the classroom," and she makes a very good point. Journalism is a form of art and expression that affects people'es lives. By blocking students' ability to publish what they want, the school is blocking the students.