Two takes on a free press

By Terry Plumb - Special to The Herald

Students at two high schools, a public school in Rock Hill and a heralded private school in New York City, have very different takes on the First Amendment.

The New York Times last week reported that Supreme Court Justice Arthur Kennedy, known as a strong advocate of a free press, insisted on seeing an article in the school newspaper of The Dalton School before he would allow coverage of his speech to the student body.

In the ink-stained trade, that's referred to as prior review — a practice that most newspapers adamantly resist. Cynics call it censorship.

A spokesperson for Justice Kennedy said the request came from a subordinate. She also pointed out that the story was returned to the newspaper with “a couple of minor tweaks.” Quotations were “tidied up” to better reflect what the justice meant to say.

Apparently, what he said and what he meant to say are not the same. In other words, The Daltonian faced a Hobson's choice: Print a distorted account of events, defy a Supreme Court justice or not publish.

A week after Kennedy addressed the private school, Al Leonard, principal of South Pointe High School, was headed to Washington, D.C., to be honored by the Journalism Education Association as the top administrator in the nation. The award is based on Leonard's support of the school newspaper, SPIN (South Pointe in the News).

Herald reporter Shawn Cetrone's article pointed out that Leonard is among a minority of South Carolina principals who don't insist on prior review of the school newspaper. That fact alone indicates Leonard's trust in both South Pointe's newspaper adviser, Cindy Koon, a former journalist, and in the SPIN staff. Leonard would not have been singled out, however, if his commitment to a free student press were limited to lack of prior review.

At many schools the principal sees little need to approve articles because it's well established that the school's dirty laundry will not be aired in public.

Some principals have been known to haul the newspaper staff into the office for stern lectures. A few principals have gone so far as to confiscate copies of the newspaper.

More typically, administrators guarantee themselves a docile press by handpicking advisors and editors who understand their mission is to enhance the school's image.

Evidently, the kids who produce SPIN don't feel intimidated by such considerations. Cetrone wrote: “The most recent issue reports on the school district's budget woes, South Pointe's new Gay-Straight Alliance club and the girls swim team. On the opinion page, Editor John Pentak, 15, argues that administrators shouldn't confiscate students' cell phones…”

Several South Pointe teachers had their feathers ruffled when a SPIN editorial criticized the school's International Baccalaureate program, The Herald reported. Asked why he allowed students to do that, Leonard responded that it was their right.

That “right” isn't absolute. In a 1988 decision, Hazelwood School District vs. Kuhlmeier, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that student newspapers were not protected from censorship; the buck stops with the principal.

That's as it should be. Irresponsible reporting can damage individuals or an entire school community. School systems and individuals may be sued for damages. Teachers shouldn't have their reputations trashed by mean-spirited students.

There are enough recent examples of irresponsible reporting by professional journalists to appreciate why principals dread opening their school newspaper to unpleasant surprises.

“Principals are afraid of images,” Karen Flowers, director of two student press associations, told The Herald. “But what they should be afraid of are students who don't think.”

Leonard himself admits that, coming from a background in elementary and middle-school administration, he once viewed school publications as tools for fostering better public relations. He has since come to see SPIN in a different light. He cited an editorial critical of a school policy on music devices that led to a change in South Pointe's rules.

“I feel like I've become a better principal and that this is a better school because of SPIN,” he said.

Not many principals would make such a statement. SPIN's staff should be proud — as should the South Pointe community.

Now they should invite Justice Kennedy for a visit.