The District 125 School Board, the group we've elected to oversee the Mecca on 22, met Thursday to discuss a myriad of things -- but perhaps what drew the most interest the Stevenson Statesman, the once-proud newspaper reduced to an administration-controlled publication.
In case you've just returned from Mars, the Statesman has come under, oops, continues to be under prior review. Only the folks in the front office have gone to censoring articles if they are harm the emotional well being of the students.
Like, we're talking adolescents here, who are we kidding?
The meeting included a number of comments by people interested in the plight of the Statesman -- parents, educators, alum and, most importantly some of the student journalists who are trying to keep the Statesman nameplate in the upper echelon of high school journalists.
That was the highlight of the meeting. Hello, sweetheart, get me rewrite -- make sure these kids are focused.
I have a soft spot for high school journalists -- I was once one myself, back in the days of manual typewriters, editing pencils -- back in the days when Chicago had four -- count 'em four -- daily newspapers, each of which featured shoe-leather reporting and smoke-filled newsrooms.
Ah, the good old days.
Oops, back to reality. Besides my experience as a journalists, I teach high school journalism and am fortunate to have some outstanding students. In fact, the Chicago area is fortunate to have an abundance of outstanding high school journalists -- including (Lucille, take this down) Stevenson High School.
Statesman editor Pam Selman distinguished herself in a passionate statement to the board about the diminishing right of student expression and freedom of the press at Stevenson. She wasn't alone, Managing Editor Evan Ribot was equally up to the task.
Quality kids from a quality high school that's now stuck with subquality policies governing its newspaper.
The Board's statement did not have any surprise. Board President Bruce Lubin cited the Supreme Court ruling (Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier) that gives school administrations the right to control content of school publications if it is, as Lubin said "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns."
The challenge here is defining "legitimate pedagogical concerns." What are they? Is it a comma out place or a story that may raise a few eyebrows?
Secondly, what Lubin did not say is that Hazelwood is not limited to student publications. It gives the administration the right to put the clamps on any form of student expression -- drama, choir, poetry, and even on-air offerings such as the radio station or video announcements.
It seems possible that the Administration will have its hands full if they are to follow the intent of Hazelwood to the full intent.
The statement released by the Board also noted that " Within the next month, our administration, journalism teachers, and students will be working collaboratively to draft clear procedures and guidelines to improve communication and provide our students with clear expectations for their work in the journalism program."
Sounds like an intriguing concept -- communication. So as I made my way home from the meeting a light clicked on in my cranial cavity -- maybe, just maybe, they would be interested in input from a journalism teacher, former reporter, a parent who had kids go through the Journalism program at Stevenson and lives in the district.
Lubin said he appreciated the email and since Supt. Eric Twadell was copied, he would ask Dr. Twadell to respond.
I'll let you know what I hear.
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