6145.3
Instruction
Publications
Freedom of School Press and the Distribution of Printed
Matter
Student publications and
the distribution of printed materials are important elements of the
instructional program, and contribute directly to the accomplishment of the
school's goals. The Board wishes to support the development of student‑produced
school newspapers and magazines, and encourages the use of printed materials
for either general or limited distribution.
The Board recognizes the
students' Constitutionally‑protected right to freedom of expression.
Freedom of the school press and the distribution of printed materials shall be
interpreted as including, and not being contrary to:
1.
The development of student
responsibility in distinguishing between freedom and license.
2.
Compliance with policies
established by the Board of Education and administrative regulations.
3.
Consideration by the faculty of
the maturity levels of students and appropriate standards of journalistic
taste.
4.
Care for the development of
journalistic and other skills of written expression, and the analytical skills
of interpreting prejudice or biased printed matter.
Legal Reference: Eisner
v Stamford Board of Education, 440 F. 2d 803 (2nd Cir 1971)
Trachtman
v Anker, 563 F. 2d 512 (2nd Cir. 1977)
cert. denied, 435 U.S. 925 (1978)
Hazelwood School District v. Ruhlmeir, 484
U.S. 260 (1988)
Policy adopted: September 14, 2004 EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Moodus, Connecticut
6145.3(a)
Instruction
Student Publications
Purposes of Official Student Newspaper
1. To exist as an instructional device for
the teaching of writing and other journalistic skills;
2. To provide a forum for opinions of
students, school staff, and members of the community; and
3. To serve the entire school by reporting
school activities.
Rights of Student Journalists
1. To print factual articles dealing with
topics of interest to the student writers; and
2. To print, on the editorial page,
opinions on any topic, whether school related or not, which students feel are
of interest to themselves or to the readers.
Responsibilities of Student Journalists
1. To submit copy that conforms to good
journalistic writing style;
2. To rewrite stories, as required by the
journalism advisor, to improve journalistic structure, sentence structure,
grammar, spelling and punctuation;
3. To check facts and verify quotes;
4. In the case of editorials on
controversial issues, to provide space for rebuttals, in the same issue if
possible, but otherwise no later than the following issue; and
5. Subject to the specific limitations in
these guidelines, to determine the contents of official student newspapers.
Material Not Permitted in Official School Newspapers
1. Material which is libelous or which
violates the rights of privacy;
2. Profanity, hereby defined as the
language which would not be used in The Hartford Courant or the New York Times;
6145.3(b)
Instruction
Student Publications
Material Not Permitted in Official School Newspapers (continued)
3. Material which criticizes or demeans
any race, religion, sex or ethnic group;
4. Ads for tobacco, alcohol, or any other
product not conducive to good health;
5. Any material, the publication of which
would cause substantial disruption of the school. Substantial disruption is
hereby defined as the threat of physical violence in the school or nearby
community and/or the disruption of the school's educational program; and
6. Endorsements of political candidates or
ballot measures, whether such endorsements are made via editorial, articles,
letter or photograph cartoon. The newspaper may, however, publish "fact
sheet" types of articles on candidates and ballot measures, provided such
articles do not endorse any person or position, and provided equal space is
provided for all candidates for a particular office or both sides of a ballot
measure.
Determination of Appropriateness
The
newspaper advisor shall have the primary responsibility of reviewing each
article prior to its publication to determine if it satisfies all the
conditions of these guidelines. The school Principal or his/her designated
representative other than the newspaper advisor may also review copy prior to
its publication. However, such copy must be returned to the student editors
within 72 hours after it is submitted for review. No copy may be censored
except for reasons specifically listed in these guidelines. Nothing in these
guidelines is intended to allow censoring of any article merely because it is
controversial or because it criticizes a particular school, a school procedure,
or the school system itself.
Resolution of Differences
In
the event of disagreement as to whether an article should be printed, each
school shall have a publications Board, which shall meet within 48 hours to
submit its opinion. The publications Board shall consist of the Principal or
his/her designated representative; the journalism advisor; the editor‑in‑chief;
representatives from the student government, the PTA/PTO and the advisory
council; and other members as mutually agreed upon. If the publications Board
cannot solve the dispute, then an appeal shall be made to the Superintendent
who shall seek advice from the Board's legal counsel in making his decision.
The Superintendent shall act on the appeal within 48 hours.
6145.3(c)
Instruction
Student Publications (continued)
Legal Reference: Eisner
v Stamford Board of Education, 440 F.2d 803 (2nd Cir 1971)
Trachtman
v Anker, 563 F.2d 518 (2nd Cir 1977), cert. denied, 354 U.S. 925 (1978)
Regulation
approved: September 14, 2004 EAST
HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Moodus, Connecticut