Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

This case deals with first amendment rights in regards to student articles in a school newspaper. In Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier several former students filed suit agains the school district and school officials claiming that their first amendment freedoms had been violated when the principal had removed several pages from a paper that was set to be printed. One of the stories to be omitted contained information regarding teen pregnancy as well as sexual activity and birthcontrol that he deemed innappropriate for some high school students. He also objected to another article about a student that complained about her parents' behavior during a divorce, the parents had not been given the opportunity to comment on what was said or do object to its publication. Due to the content of these articles and the fact that the principal didn't believe that there was time to make the needed changes and have the paper printed by the end of the year the pages containing the articles were removed.

The district court found that there was no violation of the First Amendment, the Court of Appeals reversed the District Court decision and the Supreme Court finally upheld the right of high school administrators to censor certain things. It was determined that a different standard/test could be used when the forum was a school-sponsored activity, ie. school newspaper rather than a public forum such as in Tinker v. Des Moines. It was also determined that if there was a "reasonable educational justification" that the censorship would hold.

I agree with the decision of The Supreme Court. Ultimately, in education, we want to provide students with the tools necessary to become productive citizens with strong values and an ability to modify and adjust when necessary. We also must create and environment where students are safe from issues that they may not yet be ready to deal with. Finally, schools also need to be able to teach students what it means to be responsible members of society. By simply allowing students to publish whatever they want without teaching them to censor their own words we are failing to do part of our job.

I feel that this case falls under Domain 1.3, model and promote the highest standard of conduct, ethical principles, and integrity in decision-making, actions, and behaviors. Whether it be regarding other students, members of the faculty, parents, community members, etc. the choices that students in our schools make reflect on the entire school community. I think that as educators and administrators we have to ensure that we take into consideration the rights of everyone that might be affected when making any decision.