School Paper Gets Pulled

Straight out of Redding, folks! A local high school's paper gets the ax [story]. Was it the budget cuts or the latest issue? I think it's a little of both.

Here's the scoop. The last issue came out with a photo on the front page containing a kid burning the American flag. The editor claims First Amendment. The right-wing community and school administration say it's the last straw.

I think it's a poor choice. I guess I took for granted my schools always had student run newspapers. We even had similar issues...like the suggested nude sports athletes issue that made local news [story]. But I think the paper is vital to learning about journalism from a younger age. Otherwise, people are exposed to it from birth, but don't have the opportunity to learn about it until college. It's a learning tool, it's meant to be learned from through experience. It sounds like none of the other local Redding schools have papers though...sad.

Here's what the editor Connor Kennedy had to say in response on the Record Searchlight story blog...

"I would like to address some of the inaccuracies in the recent Record Searchlight article regarding my flag burning editorial.

First, this was not sabotage, and it was not done in secret. The printing of this issue was done no differently than any other issue of the Volcano. Everything was conducted in a routine manner and there was simply no element of sabotage. I know for a fact that our advisor saw both the cover and the article connected with it, as she made final edits on both. She did not voice any objections or concerns and any claims that this was done without her consent are untrue.

Second, the photo and article were not as untimely as the Record Searchlight portrayed them to be. The Senior classes had just finished a lengthy and provocative unit on freedom of speech focusing on flag burning. In the high school community that is the intended audience for the editorial, that is relevant and timely.

Third, I would like to point out that the photo was not a stand-alone piece. I would like to include the final lines of that piece.

“The day an American cannot burn the flag, the day he cannot denounce his country, is the day America is no longer free. It is simply beautiful that we have this right, and it is what has allowed us to create the unique, diverse, and spirited culture that we so proudly boast. God Bless America, and its burning flags too.”

This is a constitutionally protected act as established by Texas v. Johnson. In a 5-4 decision, the supreme court held that “the Government may not prohibit the verbal or nonverbal expression of an idea merely because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable, even where our flag is involved… Recognizing that the right to differ is the centerpiece of our First Amendment freedoms, a government cannot mandate by fiat a feeling of unity in its citizens. Therefore that very same government cannot carve out a symbol of unity and prescribe a set of approved messages to be associated with that symbol.”

I do believe this right to dissent, in even its most controversial form is truly what makes America great. I am saddened that the exercise of a constitutional right- the very right which distinguishes the political culture of America- has resulted in the death of our beloved Volcano. I do not believe that this is the proper course of action. I am also unsure of what budgetary issues the school is referencing because the Volcano is self-sufficient. We sell ads in every issue and have a fundraiser dance annually. In fact, our staff raised record amounts of money and left the paper with a surplus of over a thousand dollars. I think the Volcano, like any paper, is an asset to the school and should not be so hastily discarded. I am deeply saddened that the paper will be lost to Shasta High and I find the decision utterly ironic."

Well supported, go Connor.

Images courtesy www.redding.com/