1st Amendment under fire at student newspaper

[Pogo]

Colorado Springs, October 18
>> The Bear Truth, the student newspaper at Palmer Ridge High School, is celebrating Free Speech Week, which started Monday, with an article about the observance on the home page of its website.

The blurb is particularly pertinent because one week ago, the paper endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for president.

While the newspaper staff expected "significant reaction," to the editorial, they didn't expect the vitriol they got, said Evan Ochsner, a Palmer Ridge senior and co-editor-in-chief.

"Some of the stuff we've seen on Facebook is quite disgusting," Ochsner said. "There were a lot of personal attacks that seemed out of bounds. It almost borders on bullying."

... They emailed the school and took to social media, saying the editorial was inappropriate for a student publication, that Trump should have been given equal space, and that the paper's staff should be suspended.

They said [English teacher/newspaper adviser Tom] Patrick was a "communist" and a "socialist." They accused him of indoctrinating students and called for his job.

...Some parents wanted the board of education to take up the issue at a regular meeting Thursday and possibly discipline the newspaper's editorial board.

"There's no chance of disciplinary action," said D-38 board president Mark Pfoff. "There is nothing on our agenda, nor do we plan on having any discussion about it."

The board has not been contacted by the administration concerning any potential policy infractions, he added.

"The bottom line is kids have the freedom of speech," Pfoff said.

.... "We have parents being extremely uncivilized in attacking kids for publishing something they have every right to publish," Patrick said. <<

>> "I am in complete and utter disgust at this blatant attempt to sway the minds of impressionable young voters," said one angry parent, while so many others flooded the principal's office with phone calls that it became necessary to send a school-wide e-mail of explanation. Trump supporters not affiliated with the school flooded the Facebook pages of the newspaper's co-editors—who are 16 years old—with threats and personal attacks.

A small matter, yes. But for those who are hoping that the defeated candidate and his or her supporters will behave reasonably, and will accept the election results gracefully, it's not a good sign. << --- Electoral-Vote.com​

Apparently this school gets the idea of free speech far better than many parental units. And minions of a candidate who has openly called for the undermining of the Fist Amendment itself.

"Not a good sign" is quite the understatement.

 

[Pogo]

The editorial endorsement itself can be read here. It's quite ruminative.

 

[OldLady]

Colorado Springs, October 18
>> The Bear Truth, the student newspaper at Palmer Ridge High School, is celebrating Free Speech Week, which started Monday, with an article about the observance on the home page of its website.

The blurb is particularly pertinent because one week ago, the paper endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for president.

While the newspaper staff expected "significant reaction," to the editorial, they didn't expect the vitriol they got, said Evan Ochsner, a Palmer Ridge senior and co-editor-in-chief.

"Some of the stuff we've seen on Facebook is quite disgusting," Ochsner said. "There were a lot of personal attacks that seemed out of bounds. It almost borders on bullying."

... They emailed the school and took to social media, saying the editorial was inappropriate for a student publication, that Trump should have been given equal space, and that the paper's staff should be suspended.

They said [English teacher/newspaper adviser Tom] Patrick was a "communist" and a "socialist." They accused him of indoctrinating students and called for his job.

...Some parents wanted the board of education to take up the issue at a regular meeting Thursday and possibly discipline the newspaper's editorial board.

"There's no chance of disciplinary action," said D-38 board president Mark Pfoff. "There is nothing on our agenda, nor do we plan on having any discussion about it."

The board has not been contacted by the administration concerning any potential policy infractions, he added.

"The bottom line is kids have the freedom of speech," Pfoff said.

.... "We have parents being extremely uncivilized in attacking kids for publishing something they have every right to publish," Patrick said. <<

>> "I am in complete and utter disgust at this blatant attempt to sway the minds of impressionable young voters," said one angry parent, while so many others flooded the principal's office with phone calls that it became necessary to send a school-wide e-mail of explanation. Trump supporters not affiliated with the school flooded the Facebook pages of the newspaper's co-editors—who are 16 years old—with threats and personal attacks.

A small matter, yes. But for those who are hoping that the defeated candidate and his or her supporters will behave reasonably, and will accept the election results gracefully, it's not a good sign. << --- Electoral-Vote.com​

Apparently this school gets the idea of free speech far better than many parental units. And minions of a candidate who has openly called for the undermining of the Fist Amendment itself.

"Not a good sign" is quite the understatement.

Really, really heartbreaking that we've come to this. I don't think it's a "small matter," at all when adults are behaving worse than their teenagers.

 

[TNHarley]

It almost borders on bullying

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

Was there an endorsement of Trump or did the paper disallow that in the name of free speech?

 

[Pogo]

Was there an endorsement of Trump or did the paper disallow that in the name of free speech?

See --- this is why I put links in. It's based on the assumption that readers know how to click a link and read. Perhaps that's assuming too much.

The editorial board chose to endorse Clinton, and wrote a loooonng treatise explaining its rationale -- which I also linked. By definition you cannot endorse two rivals running AGAINST each other.

Or are we unclear even on what the term "endorse" means?

 

[OldLady]

It almost borders on bullying

Yes, if this isn't bullying, I'd hate to see what you'd have to do at this school to be considered a "bully."

 

[The Irish Ram]

And there you have it. If "journalists" are particularly biased, they should expect criticism. It is called free speech.
It applies to all, not just budding biased news papers. The newspaper reporters need thicker skin if they plan on substituting personal beliefs for news...
English teachers should be teaching English, not socialism and communism. Stop indoctrinating our children

 

[Pogo]

Colorado Springs, October 18
>> The Bear Truth, the student newspaper at Palmer Ridge High School, is celebrating Free Speech Week, which started Monday, with an article about the observance on the home page of its website.

The blurb is particularly pertinent because one week ago, the paper endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for president.

While the newspaper staff expected "significant reaction," to the editorial, they didn't expect the vitriol they got, said Evan Ochsner, a Palmer Ridge senior and co-editor-in-chief.

"Some of the stuff we've seen on Facebook is quite disgusting," Ochsner said. "There were a lot of personal attacks that seemed out of bounds. It almost borders on bullying."

... They emailed the school and took to social media, saying the editorial was inappropriate for a student publication, that Trump should have been given equal space, and that the paper's staff should be suspended.

They said [English teacher/newspaper adviser Tom] Patrick was a "communist" and a "socialist." They accused him of indoctrinating students and called for his job.

...Some parents wanted the board of education to take up the issue at a regular meeting Thursday and possibly discipline the newspaper's editorial board.

"There's no chance of disciplinary action," said D-38 board president Mark Pfoff. "There is nothing on our agenda, nor do we plan on having any discussion about it."

The board has not been contacted by the administration concerning any potential policy infractions, he added.

"The bottom line is kids have the freedom of speech," Pfoff said.

.... "We have parents being extremely uncivilized in attacking kids for publishing something they have every right to publish," Patrick said. <<

>> "I am in complete and utter disgust at this blatant attempt to sway the minds of impressionable young voters," said one angry parent, while so many others flooded the principal's office with phone calls that it became necessary to send a school-wide e-mail of explanation. Trump supporters not affiliated with the school flooded the Facebook pages of the newspaper's co-editors—who are 16 years old—with threats and personal attacks.

A small matter, yes. But for those who are hoping that the defeated candidate and his or her supporters will behave reasonably, and will accept the election results gracefully, it's not a good sign. << --- Electoral-Vote.com​

Apparently this school gets the idea of free speech far better than many parental units. And minions of a candidate who has openly called for the undermining of the Fist Amendment itself.

"Not a good sign" is quite the understatement.

Really, really heartbreaking that we've come to this. I don't think it's a "small matter," at all when adults are behaving worse than their teenagers.

Aside from the local adults*, just the thought that it seems to be becoming OK to call for the head of the school's newspaper advisor because the student body has the temerity to think for itself, that's chilling.

Mob Groupthink always is.

(* as above in OP: Trump supporters not affiliated with the school flooded the Facebook pages of the newspaper's co-editors—who are 16 years old—with threats and personal attacks.)​

 

[BULLDOG]

When I worked on my high school newspaper, long ago, we were told that the school paper belonged to the school so there was no such thing as freedom of the press in our case. Everything we wrote had to be approved by faculty censors. I don't know if that was true or legal, but it worked on us. It's always been disturbing for older people when young people speak their minds.

 

[Pogo]

And there you have it. If "journalists" are particularly biased, they should expect criticism. It is called free speech.
It applies to all, not just budding biased news papers. The newspaper reporters need thicker skin if they plan on substituting personal beliefs for news...
English teachers should be teaching English, not socialism and communism. Stop indoctrinating our children

The English teacher DOES teach English. The editorial is written by the students. And neither one wrote about, taught, or in any way brought up "socialism and communism". That would be in history class.

Unless of course you'd like to censor that too.

 

[Pogo]

When I worked on my high school newspaper, long ago, we were told that the school paper belonged to the school so there was no such thing as freedom of the press in our case. Everything we wrote had to be approved by faculty censors. I don't know if that was true or legal, but it worked on us. It's always been disturbing for older people when young people speak their minds.

In this case there's both a state law and a school policy protecting their free speech -- again from the OP article:

>> "Many of us who teach journalism want to use these newspapers as learning labs, so students can practice the true art of journalism," Eurich said. "If you're running it as a learning lab, students should have their First Amendment rights and be able to speak freely. But they are using school resources."

And it's up to adults to ensure that "students don't go too far and run into cases of libel or defamation," Eurich said.

But Colorado is one of nine states that give additional protection to high school publications not being censored under the Colorado Student Free Expression Law, Patrick said.

.... "The Board encourages students to express their views in school-sponsored student publications while observing rules for responsible journalism and complying with this policy and the accompanying school publications code," a D-38 policy states.

As per district rules, students cannot print anything obscene, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, or that encourages unlawful acts or violation of school rules, privacy or disruption to normal school activity.

... The presidential endorsement was "what student newspapers do - reflecting the culture of the day," she said. "I think the country is in an uproar about the election, and our community responded as the country is right now." <<​

 

[BULLDOG]

When I worked on my high school newspaper, long ago, we were told that the school paper belonged to the school so there was no such thing as freedom of the press in our case. Everything we wrote had to be approved by faculty censors. I don't know if that was true or legal, but it worked on us. It's always been disturbing for older people when young people speak their minds.

In this case there's both a state law and a school policy protecting their free speech -- again from the OP article:

>> "Many of us who teach journalism want to use these newspapers as learning labs, so students can practice the true art of journalism," Eurich said. "If you're running it as a learning lab, students should have their First Amendment rights and be able to speak freely. But they are using school resources."

And it's up to adults to ensure that "students don't go too far and run into cases of libel or defamation," Eurich said.

But Colorado is one of nine states that give additional protection to high school publications not being censored under the Colorado Student Free Expression Law, Patrick said.

.... "The Board encourages students to express their views in school-sponsored student publications while observing rules for responsible journalism and complying with this policy and the accompanying school publications code," a D-38 policy states.

As per district rules, students cannot print anything obscene, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, or that encourages unlawful acts or violation of school rules, privacy or disruption to normal school activity.

... The presidential endorsement was "what student newspapers do - reflecting the culture of the day," she said. "I think the country is in an uproar about the election, and our community responded as the country is right now." <<​

I agree, and encourage the students to stand their ground. My point was that telling young reporters to hush is not new.

 

[Pogo]

When I worked on my high school newspaper, long ago, we were told that the school paper belonged to the school so there was no such thing as freedom of the press in our case. Everything we wrote had to be approved by faculty censors. I don't know if that was true or legal, but it worked on us. It's always been disturbing for older people when young people speak their minds.

In this case there's both a state law and a school policy protecting their free speech -- again from the OP article:

>> "Many of us who teach journalism want to use these newspapers as learning labs, so students can practice the true art of journalism," Eurich said. "If you're running it as a learning lab, students should have their First Amendment rights and be able to speak freely. But they are using school resources."

And it's up to adults to ensure that "students don't go too far and run into cases of libel or defamation," Eurich said.

But Colorado is one of nine states that give additional protection to high school publications not being censored under the Colorado Student Free Expression Law, Patrick said.

.... "The Board encourages students to express their views in school-sponsored student publications while observing rules for responsible journalism and complying with this policy and the accompanying school publications code," a D-38 policy states.

As per district rules, students cannot print anything obscene, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, or that encourages unlawful acts or violation of school rules, privacy or disruption to normal school activity.

... The presidential endorsement was "what student newspapers do - reflecting the culture of the day," she said. "I think the country is in an uproar about the election, and our community responded as the country is right now." <<​

I agree, and encourage the students to stand their ground. My point was that telling young reporters to hush is not new.

Yeah but again I think it's far less significant what happens at a particular high school and far more significant that grown adults think suppressing any opinion at variance with their own is how we roll.

 

[OldLady]

And there you have it. If "journalists" are particularly biased, they should expect criticism. It is called free speech.
It applies to all, not just budding biased news papers. The newspaper reporters need thicker skin if they plan on substituting personal beliefs for news...
English teachers should be teaching English, not socialism and communism. Stop indoctrinating our children

It might be better if adults were teaching children to be civil and to respect the views of others. It is "indoctrination" to endorse Clinton with a very carefully researched explanation of why?
Your response sickens me.

 

[Xathor]

One can't help but wonder how the administration would have reacted had the newspaper endorsed Trump. I doubt they would have been as supportive.

 

[BULLDOG]

One can't help but wonder how the administration would have reacted had the newspaper endorsed Trump. I doubt they would have been as supportive.

One can't help but wonder how the altRight would have reacted had the newspaper endorsed Trump. I doubt they would have said a word.

 

[EverCurious]

The Trump supporters should petition the school for counseling and safe spaces. Wasn't that the "proper" reaction when the snowflakes found "Trump" written on the sidewalk?

 

[OldLady]

One can't help but wonder how the administration would have reacted had the newspaper endorsed Trump. I doubt they would have been as supportive.

It would have been difficult, but if the kids could have presented such a well defended position for Trump based on facts, I would hope the administration would have printed it. Teachers don't tell kids WHAT to think, just HOW.

 

[jillian]

The Trump supporters should petition the school for counseling and safe spaces. Wasn't that the "proper" reaction when the snowflakes found "Trump" written on the sidewalk?

what are you blathering about?

pity, too... you have a great screen name... too bad the person behind it is a trumpster loon