Prior review isn't my bag, baby.

While I certainly have appreciation and respect for the daily demands of principals and superintendents--and all the legal and political concerns that go with them--I am decidedly against creating more drama where drama is not due.

I am concerned about the issue of prior review (the idea that the administration should approve the content of a student publication/post/broadcast before it goes public). Now while I am unapologetically against the practice, I want to emphasize again my appreciation for the legal concerns of those who feel threatened by a free press among minors. While the subject has been up for debate before in the highest courts in the country, the argument of how these decisions can be considered constitutional is frustrating. This is not to say that I think students should be allowed to be libelous...they should simply be held to the same standards that all other American citizens are held to. Since when did the First Amendment have an age requirement?

Here are my perceptions of the argument for prior review:
1. Students are not always aware of the political or moral implications of their writing
2. School staff may lose their job(s) over issues discussed in student publications
3. Parents might get upset and call the office
4. Students might get upset and call the office
5. Some complete stranger might get upset and call the office
6. I'm out of ideas (seriously...feel free to add some more...I'm drawing a blank)

Here are my arguments against prior review:
1. The student voice should be of no less value than anyone else's
2. If a student publication/broadcast is constantly being censored, it harbors contempt between students and administration
3. If students can't learn to answer to or be accountable for what they write or speak, how will they become aware of the consequences of their words?
4. The adviser's role is to help students find an appropriate way to cover topics of interest, newsworthiness and concern--thus making the need for another reviewer redundant
5. Self-regulation is an important element of becoming media literate--thus becoming a thoughtful citizen
6. Concerns involving prior review seem more concerned with public perception of the school rather than concern for students' intellectual growth
7. Administrators who put less restrictions on student press will avoid the bad BIG media publicity that often comes with the repression of student voices
8. Self-regulation empowers students to make better decisions for themselves

I realize my bias, but having had the opportunity to advise publications on both sides of this idea, I can honestly say that I feel very sorry for school leaders who fail to allow students to grow as citizens simply out of fear for their own hides--which is nothing but an illusory fear to begin with.