The Everett School District shouldn’t worry about a troublesome article showing up in a student newspaper. Its own actions have become embarrassing enough.
The recent suspensions of a Cascade High School student and teacher show just how badly the district has allowed this situation to spin out of control.
The suspensions are the latest chapter in a tale of administrative overreaction. In a show of solidarity with students at Everett High School, students at Cascade took their campus newspaper, The Stehekin, underground. Everett students began publishing their newspaper, the Kodak, off campus in 2005 after administrators insisted on reviewing each issue before publication. Everett High students sued the district, and a trial is scheduled next month in federal court in Seattle.
Last week’s suspensions were handed down after Cascade junior David Whittemore, the managing editor of the underground Free Stehekin, was caught downloading files for the off-campus paper using a school computer. District policy prohibits students from using school funds to create an unsanctioned publication. Whittemore used a classroom computer to check his e-mail and transfer files related to the independent Free Stehekin to his portable hard drive. Kay Powers, adviser for the official and unofficial versions, was placed on paid leave, apparently for letting the student use the computer.
Whittemore’s decidedly modest violation of the rules cost him a 10-day ban from school.
So the district faces a federal trial, a hard-working student and a respected teacher are suspended, and journalism students don’t have access to school equipment to publish campus newspapers, all because a misguided policy is being enforced.
Cascade Principal Jim Dean said he has never had to use the district’s prior review policy, and that he has never seen anything in the school paper that ran the risk of reflecting poorly on the district. If the students wanted to cover a potentially risky issue, Dean would meet with them beforehand to make sure they were aware of as many angles as possible.
Dean’s approach is just right. Educators overseeing student publications are there to teach journalism. Students learn by engaging in the entire publishing process, including the chance to deal with the repercussions of printing controversial material.
The district’s current policy has created problems rather than preventing them, and has fostered a hostile environment for student journalism. Enough damage has been done. The school board needs to abandon its policy of prior review.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
