Principals of speech

A parent controls their child's television watching in the same way a principal sifts through the content available to students.

Different parents raise different children, as they expose them to different ideas. The child's enlightenment is dependent upon the parent's final word.

In the Northside School District, the person who has final word on what content will be published in high school newspapers is the principal of individual schools. Principals' opinions vary and their diverse judgment is apparent across the pages of various Northside publications.

Some newspapers in the district are allowed to cover more complicated issues than others because of final edits issued by their principals. Chris Burt, 19, graduated from John Jay High School in 2009, and noticed this pattern.

Burt, the editor-in-chief of the Jay newspaper, The Statesman, was interested in writing a story about some "graffiti art" that he believed to have "become a respected mural of sorts in the neighborhood."

He recalled, "They asked that I show them a copy of the story before we sent it to print. When I showed them the draft, they shut down the story."

The Statesman journalism adviser, Fernando Serna, explained that the Jay principal decided against publishing the story because it would give the people who had participated in the graffiti publicity.

Burt said, "I reminded him that graffiti — the word itself — originated as writing in public areas to express thought; he reminded me that the meaning has changed."

The Texas Penal Code defines graffiti as "an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person intentionally or knowingly makes markings, including inscriptions, slogans, drawings or paintings on the tangible property of the owner."

Later that year, the same wall Burt tried to report on was featured in the John Paul Stevens High School newspaper.

The issues are not necessarily censored because of controversial topics, but rather because of the discussion of "adult issues," including pregnancy, sex, divorce, drug abuse and crime.

Brian Woods, deputy superintendent for administration for Northside said the district "does not really have anything in the [student] handbook for journalism programs."

"We really count on the advisers to make appropriate decisions," Woods said.

Serna said The Statesman, the student publication he advises, has "no blind eye. We're just not focusing the light on [negative issues]."

Serna said the final word on content in the publications should be in the hands of the principal and not the student editor because the principal surmounts the student in the area of "life experience and education."

Woods said principals make their decisions on censorship based on, "what's appropriate for their school environment."

Woods, a former principal at Tom C. Clark High School, said that when he had to edit the newspaper, most of his concern came from the quotes selected, rather than the content. Controversial topics were allowed to be covered, as long as good intent was distinguished.

"Schools reflect society, and as society changes, schools change with it," Woods said.

Serna said, "Our products are meant for our students."

Serna said it is important to "focus on the good things that happen in school, but lots of times, student editors want to run stories just because they are controversial."

Former editor Burt said, "There should be a consensus between editors, advisers and principals from around the district."

Now a freshman in college, Burt urges "if you do not like censorship, get yourself a blog."