An Academic Kristillnacht

Earlier this month, many people, mostly Jews, observed a remembrance of Kristillnacht, the black evening when Nazis in Hitler's German broke windows, destroyed synagogues and burned books belonging to Jews.

The intent of the fascist regime was to destroy the faith, morale and access to intellectual stimulation by German Jews.

Jews around the world remember and pray that such atrocities never occur again.

They have, however. Only this time in an academic sense. Not in Germany, not in Bosnia, not in Iraq, not in Iran.

In Lincolnshire.

Once again that alleged administration at Stevenson High School has flexed its mighty muscle and has sought to impart its fascist tactics on those who simply crave the opportunity to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of education. The students.

The administration withheld not just an article, but an entire issue of the once-proud Statesman, the once award-winning newspaper.

Why? Because of articles about teen pregnancy, shoplifting, and drinking. The kids found out the truth and the administration cannot -- and will not - deal with reality.

So rather that praise students for their efforts, they break glass, figuratively burn their books and practice fascist tactics.

An Academic Kristillnacht.

Shame on the administration. Shame on the teachers who idly sit by and watch. Shame on the right-wing organizations that have penetrated the administration and school by preaching Christian values.

There's nothing wrong with Christian values -- or Muslim values -- or Jewish values -- or Hindu values.

There is something wrong when you expect the world, or in this case, a school's administration to bow down and accept them.

While the school board sits in their warm, cozy homes -- the administration has adapted the role of the Nazis and taken its venom out on incident victims -- in this case the students -- and seeks to destroy their sense of freedoms by squelching their right to an education.

Do it our way they say -- our way or no way.

It's sad, to think that the administration and the outsiders who are naive enough to think the adolescents don't drink, use drugs or :::gasp::: have sex, lie, deny and refuse to comment on their position.

Instead they look for scapegoats -- last year it was nationally recognized and acclaimed journalism teacher and publications adviser Barb Thill.

This year it's children. Welcome to Auschwitz or is it Theresienstadt? No, it's Stevenson High School.

Oh yes, the school's PR flak whose views parallel those of the conservative right, is quick to blame the kids, and hide behind the school's role of principle of in loco parentis -- which it says means acting in the place of the parent.

Crap. That's all it is. This is the same administration that turned a deaf ear to a member of the community who wanted a drug awareness program. At Stevenson? Nah, our kids don't do that.

In loco parentis? A good parent would embrace drug education. A good parent would embrace freedom of speech. A good parent would embrace the First Amendment.

A bad parent is arrogant enough to think only of itself and its "perfect image."

Stevenson High School's administration has shown the community -- if not the nation -- that it's a bad parent.

The PR flak flexed his mighty muscles saying the " school does not encourage the use of anonymous sources in its student newspaper."

Really? And why is that? Well, because our destroyers of the First Amendment say "What occurred with the Statesman was no different than what occurs in professional newsrooms around the country every day. Stories are withheld from public view until editors are satisfied that proper levels of reporting have been done. The journalism teachers are simply following long-standing practices of the journalism profession."

Oh, I see -- let's praise the journalism teachers. Were they doing their job? Probably not. Because had they worked with the kids -- a practice seemingly disappearing from the Meccaa on 22 -- they would have directed them and advised them on proper journalism techniques. But the czars on 22 would not think of saying anything bad about the advisers -- because they hand-picked them.

So what do they want at Stevenson? Who knows. I can't give them a word of advice. I can give them 45.

They go like this: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

It's the cornerstone of a free society for all people -- of all ages -- including student journalists.

But they would not know about that at Stevenson High School.

They are too busy polishing the gate.