High School Newspaper Censorship

Hat Tip to the Ed Wonks

Because I know the schools involved, having grown up in Clay County Florida, this piece was of some personal interest to me. It appears as though a high school principal objected to a student newspaper column which claimed "Homosexuality is Not a Choice" because she thought the content was too mature for a high school audience. (you can judge for yourself)

The principal of the school prevented the distribution of the story, saying that the column's content was too mature, but the local newspaper, the Florida Times-Union, published the column anyway. (See below)

Ok, I am not an expert, but this column does not appear to be too mature for a high school audience. As the student author, Katie Thompson, commented, "I didn't understand why - there's no reason to pull this. It wasn't overtly sexual or obscene or racist."

According to Supreme Court decisions, school administrators have a right to censor content in student publications if there is a justifiable educational reason. However, according to the Student Press Law Center and published reports, the principal gave no reason-other than it is too mature.

Thompson herself showed a fairly deep understanding of the law involved:

But Thompson said she won't sue because she said she knows principals have a legal right to censor student newspapers.

"I know she had the right, a lawsuit wouldn't work. I didn't see the point in pursuing it," she said, adding that as a student, hoping to pursue a career in print journalism, she's disheartened and confused. "Some people are really unfair and close-minded." Thompson said McCabe told her the essay could offend many Christians. (emphasis added)

Clay County is a pretty conservative county with a fairly large Christian community, but fear of offending Christians in the school is hardly a justifiable reason. But the action was taken, so what did our young journalist do, she began distributing here article at lunch--when she was threatened with suspension.

Thompson said she was called to McCabe's office and told the newspaper wouldn't be circulated because of her article. Thompson said she left crying.

"I didn't understand why -- there's no reason to pull this," she said. "It wasn't overtly sexual or obscene or racist."

Thompson said she made copies of the article and distributed them during lunch but was called back to McCabe's office.

"She told me if I kept handing them out ... she would suspend me," Thompson said.

Given that this article (copied below) is neither obscene, racists or contains any other sort of objectionable material, the principal clearly has violated rights of free speech. Had Thompson not used a printed medium, but stood in the halls of the school and made a speech on the same topic, she could not have been censored.

What kind of education are we giving our children when reasonable, well-written columns to apppear in the school newspaper are removed to avoid hurting someone's feelings. We are telling out kids that it is okay to censor someone whose ideas you disagree with, particularly if you are in a position of power.

Freedom of speech and the press is designed to protect that speech which is offensive to the majority, that challenges the status quo.

Homosexuality Is Not a Choice

by Katie Thompson

In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) dropped homosexuality from its list of "mental illnesses." Since then, society has become more accepting of homosexuality. However, many people have different beliefs.

A few weeks ago, I was reading the newspaper, and a "face-off" article caught my eye. The question was "Can Christian counseling change sexual preference?" To me the obvious answer is no, it cannot.

The woman with the yes opinion used this statement to argue her point: "... hundreds of thousands of people who feel same-sex attraction, but do not want to live that way ..."

This backs up my point exactly. Homosexuals do not choose to be the way they are. It is a biological stimulation in the brain.

I can accept that some homosexuals don't want to be gay, but the fact is, they are. They can't help it and they can't change it.

On the subject, the APA also said, "No, human beings cannot choose to be either gay or straight."

Now, human beings can choose not to act on their feelings, but they absolutely cannot change their feelings. It is ridiculous to think that you can change something that is biologically written into someone's brain.

Some individuals think that they, with their extreme religious beliefs, can "turn" homosexuals to a heterosexual status. These people, along with other homophobes in our country, set up counseling groups for homosexuals to try to change them.

Even though these people are stating that they have had success in these groups, it is not true. An "ex-gay" might have simply decided not to act on their feelings. Just because they don't act on it, doesn't mean it's not still there.

Most of today's psychologists view sexual orientation as neither willfully chosen or willfully changed.

Homosexuality is not a choice, and it cannot be changed in any gay or lesbian individual.

I think the article speaks for itself.

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