Media Musings: Shackles still bind student press
They come in all sizes and shapes, with all shades of quality present, but they can prove to be teaching instruments as well. The student press at the high school and university levels teaches writing, editing, civics, interviewing, and even a touch of on-the-ground ethics, if guided by a loving advisor.
Sadly, high school papers are still shackled by a Supreme Court ruling from having any hope of real press freedom. The court ruled years ago these papers often were not accurate and were “official” newspapers in that they were supported by the individual school. Thus, the court majority reasoned, they could be reviewed and censored by principals.
Certainly, many principals, hammered by all of the problems facing their students and faculties, agreed. I can hear them say when you are challenged by all of society’s ills and still constantly evaluated on your performance, who needs students writing what may be misleading information and then printing it for all to see.
Furthermore, Tennessee doesn’t certify teachers in journalism so some poor English faculty member is “given” the newspaper but not released from classroom teaching. Often established newspapers, such as the Southern Standard, help these papers by printing them, often at reduced rates, to nurture a better understanding of journalism.
The Harvard Disgrace
And it is a disgrace at what happened this month at – of all places – Harvard Business School. A cartoon, highly critical of a computer mix-up that scrambled student interview sessions with corporations, was printed. It used the words “incompetent morons” to characterize the Web site.
That caused the director of the Master’s Degree in Business Administration to reprimand two student editors and, according to CNN Student News, warned them to not use “disrespectful” language.
Carl Kester told the Boston Globe the editors had violated the community standards of the business school by attacking career-service employees. The student editors said they attacked the computer system, not the employees.
But what was more disheartening at the university where the first press in the colonies appeared is the statement from Kim Clark, the school dean. The school is committed to the principles of free expression and inquiry, the memo said, here comes the BUT – “but each of us first and foremost is a member of the Harvard business community and, as such, we are expected to treat each other respectfully.”
What rot it is to demand required respect. Students paying $50,000 a year or more have a right to demand excellence from a world-ranked business school.
It’s always so interesting to read statements from educators about how much they “believe” in free expression and thought and inquiry until a critical story or cartoon is run. Then they lecture the students on community values. That’s pure nonsense.
The student editors and cartoonist had every right to complain about a huge foul-up.
The college press is protected by the First Amendment. It would be a more consistent approach to teaching if it also covered the high school press as well. In the age of Columbine and drugs, that won’t happen.
(Ed Kimbrell is a professor in MTSU’s School of Journalism.)