Student Press Law

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Frank LoMonte from the Student Press Law Center talked about how the practical value of a story should always outweigh the legal end.

LoMonte focused on students and publications paying attention to the value of their stories, not necessarily just trying to create controversy.

I always try to make sure to impart this one my students. I want to give them the freedom to print, publish, write what they want, but make sure they are always keeping this idea in mind.

I also like the idea that someone brought up about giving students the possible outcome if a controversial story is published. Are they willing to deal with the outcome and reaction of the story?

He also addressed how states, districts and even individual schools can handle legal issues.

"The Constitution is the floor, it's not the ceiling," LoMonte said. "They (the government) can always give you more, but they can't give you less."

LoMonte put this into the context that the goal of schools are to educate students and should always do what is going to help them learn. Avoiding any controversy at all cost is not the best way to teach them.

In public education, many times the goal is to just not rock the boat. This does the students and community a disservice. Journalism educator and administrators need to be on the same page as far as seeing student learning as the ultimate goal, even if that means publishing controversial stories.

Creating a strong forum in your student paper is important, according to LaMonte. He used the Hazelwood case as an example. LaMonte said that if high school publications can establish an identity as a forum, they are help to the Tinker standards as opposed to Hazelwood.

My publication is always striving to be that forum for the school. Right now we have minimal campus interaction. We try to get more letters to the editor and plan to add a guest column spot every month to expand the voices in our school. It is my hope that the social networking sites will add to the dialogue. Our goal is for our publication to be a two-way conversation and hope that establishes us as a forum in our school.

We also establish our paper as a forum in our publications editorial policies and staff box, but like LaMonte address, that is only part of the battle. The standard lies more in the actual practice.

Chad Renning
Sandra Day O'Connor High School
Phoenix