Don't put restraints on young journalists

Student journalism programs offer a unique opportunity for young people to explore issues of public concern that directly impact them, their peers and the world around them. Journalism programs also help students build civic skills, practice civic engagement, and increase their practical understanding of the First Amendment and open government laws.

At a time when national polls routinely highlight the pervasiveness of youth apathy and the decline in youth civic engagement and awareness, it is commendable that teachers like Linda Kane of Naperville Central High School are making a difference by encouraging young people to explore tough and challenging issues and to question authority. While one can appreciate the nervousness that school administrators may have when reading student papers, not censuring content builds the capacity of youth to flex their civic muscles in a public manner and cultivates the seeds of lifelong civic engagement. Whether young people write about drugs, sex, or school policies related to fighting, dress code, or the content of school newspaper articles - learning how to receive information, gather information, and inform people through writing about issues important to them are cornerstone tools of effective journalists and citizens seeking to impact the civic landscape of their community.

Rather than narrowing the scope of student journalism programs when confronted with offensive or controversial articles by regulating content, censuring content, or removing teachers who encourage students to be active participants in democracy, districts should encourage students who read the papers to similarly flex their civic muscles by writing response articles.

Terry Pastika

Executive Director

Community Lawyer

Citizen Advocacy Center

ˆ Elmhurst