http://my.hsj.org http://my.hsj.org en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 08:22:03 GMT 15 By Erich Wegenke
First of all, the facts. A school newspaper in Shawano, Wisconsin, recently ran a set of two opposing editorials, as part of an ongoing point/counterpoint series. The subject in question was whether or not homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children. The reporter who argued the negative cited several Bible passages from the Old Testament, stating that homosexuality is a sin against God and that growing up in a household with gay parents would negatively affect a child’s development. The school superintendent and principal both took immediate action, removing the article and threatening the reporter with suspension for violation of the school’s anti-bullying policy. Apparently, a local gay parent had complained, saying that “this is what makes kids commit suicide.” The school officials followed up the striking of the article with a public apology, saying, “Offensive articles cultivating a negative environment of disrespect are not appropriate or condoned by the Shawano School District. We sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended and are taking steps to prevent items of this nature from happening in the future.” (humanevents.com) Since then, a controversy has erupted over the censoring of the article. A Christian legal service called The Liberty Counsel has threatened to sue the school if it does not promptly apologize for its actions. The resolution of the issue remains to be seen, but the school officials seem to be standing by their initial position. Should the article have been censored? Absolutely not. Tolerance and acceptance are noble goals, and they have been a huge focus of American thought ever since the civil rights movement in the 1960s. However, in the rush to respect alternative viewpoints, traditional morality and Christianity can be the victims of discrimination themselves. No school should accommodate bullying, and all students, no matter what their beliefs, should feel safe and appreciated. However, the Shawano school has not practiced what it preaches here. It is, itself, engaging in bullying—stifling the expression of a student’s viewpoint, and making it clear that his beliefs are not welcome. Just how can a school avoid “a negative environment of disrespect” when the staff of its newspaper know that only editorials expressing a particular viewpoint will be allowed? Some people might cite a Supreme Court case known as Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, which stated that it was acceptable for a school newspaper to censor potentially harmful articles. However, this decision specifically applied to school newspapers that were not intended to be forums for student expression. “Student expression” is precisely the nature of the point/counterpoint article at Shawano, and not allowing a controversial view to be published is thoroughly contrary to the American right to freedom. ]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:16:41 GMT