Mike Hiestand from the Student Press Law Center shared with us nine tips for handling censorship:
1. Let your students lead
2. Avoid insubordination (the boss is still the boss)
3. Put it in writing (establish a paper trail)
4. Watch what you publicly say and write
5. Inform your union immediately if censorship issues arise
6. Don’t use school resources to communicate about a case
7. Enter publications into competition to establish credibility
8. Establish regular contact with professional journalists – they will provide support
9. Seek the help of experienced advisers, parents and alums – they will provide support
Although our paper is under a current policy of prior review, we have not had any issues with censorship. I attribute this mainly to the good relationship we’ve developed with our principal - which bridges into the second session we had with Kristen Gilger.
One activity that I did this year with my students was to invite our principal into the classroom for a practice interview. Students impressed him with all sorts of excellent questions (which took up most of the class period), then used these quotes to establish a lede and write a practice article. The activity not only allowed students to develop their journalistic writing skills, but also establish a positive rapport with our administration. I also think the students really enjoyed seeing another side of our principal which will allowed them to feel comfortable e interviewing him throughout the rest of the school year.
Andrea Krueger
Centennial High School
Circle Pines, Minnesota
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This sounds like an excellent activity for creating a good relationship with the administration. With prior review and censorship as possible issues, I think it's necessary to keep the principal in the loop as much as possible. By showing them how the process works, they can understand how you end up at every step along the way - including the end product. It's not difficult to show what is happening throughout the process, and I think they would appreciate and respect that you include them in it. It might give them a different perspective if any issues do arise that they might not have had otherwise.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly also allows the students to establish an early rapport with the administration that they will need later on. With such potential to be primary sources, giving them this opportunity can only help them as they work on the paper throughout the year.
Rebecca Jackson
Douglas County High School
Douglasville, Ga.