Expanded Student Expression Policy 

         The mission

The school embraces the fact that free expression and critical thinking are at the heart of the educational mission and that developing policies to protect those core values is vital.

All school policies – whether dealing with new or traditional media or with other forms of student expression inside or outside the classroom – will explicitly recognize that students, like all Americans, have a constitutional right to free speech. Such policies are based on the Supreme Court’s landmark Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District ruling (1969), which held that students do not give up their rights to free expression at the schoolhouse door.

To help create an atmosphere in which free expression is encouraged, schools will develop age-appropriate curricula aimed at educating students about their legal rights and responsibilities. Particular attention will be paid to the idea that free speech is not always popular speech.

Access to technology

            The school recognizes that computer access and education about the proper uses of technology are important if students are to be prepared for the challenges they will face in their lives.

            To that end, schools at all levels will embrace the changes created by technology and, as a matter of policy, view them as opportunities to enhance education. Schools must have rich information resources if they are to be successful in this endeavor.

            At the same time, curricula will be developed to educate students about both the benefits and risks associated with computers, the Internet and digital communication in general. The curricula will, wherever appropriate, include guidance and instruction about the use of the Internet and will foster a greater understanding of personal responsibility among students.

            Following are guidelines to be employed in regard to school computer access:

• Computers will be used in a manner that is consistent with the educational mission of the school
• Copyright laws will not be violated, and no unauthorized copies of software may be installed on school computers or networks
• Users of computers must safeguard their own privacy and respect the privacy of others as well. A user should not reveal his or her phone number, address or other sensitive material to others online, and unsolicited online contacts should be ignored
• Personal communications from another person should not be quoted publicly without the author’s permission
• Users should take all steps possible to avoid computer viruses; they also should refrain from knowingly downloading files or material that might degrade the performance of the computer because of their size or other characteristics

            Online safeguards

            The school acknowledges that safeguards must be put into place in regard to the computers and software used in our schools. Where Internet filtering is required by law, schools will comply fully with the basic requirements.

However, the school recognizes that filtering is an inexact practice and is not a substitute for educating students about the Internet’s proper and acceptable use. When used, filtering should be fully transparent to students; they should understand when it is being used and know that policies exist for appealing their access to blocked material.

Where possible, access to the Internet from school computers will take place under the direct supervision of faculty. In addition, Web resources that are provided to students will be previewed by staff to make reasonable certain that they are appropriate and contain material of educational value.

Students accessing the Internet from school property must behave responsibly. Irresponsible behavior is subject to disciplinary action.

These uses of school Internet access will not be permitted:

• Accessing pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit material
• Transmitting obscene, abusive, sexually explicit or threatening language
• Vandalizing or disabling the property of another person or organization
• Accessing information without permission
• The use of computer equipment in any other way that is inconsistent with board of education policy

Media literacy

            The school acknowledges that use of the Internet sometimes carries risks, both to the protection of information and the safety and well-being of students. To blunt those risks, faculty will develop media-literacy curricula aimed at increasing students’ understanding of how to safely use the Internet. These curricula will provide the skills needed for critically assessing materials found online.

            Because the success of students in the information-rich environment of the future will depend on how well they understand technology, faculty will strive to develop practical programs in which students will create videos, online newspapers, podcasts and other media that are of value to the community.

Censorship

The school believes in free speech. Censorship of a student will take place only when school administrators can make a compelling case, based on fact rather than opinion, that the expression of their ideas substantially disrupts the educational process or materially harms other students.

Although court rulings such as Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988) have expanded the right of schools to censor student expression under some circumstances, the school believes such rights should be used rarely if ever. Free speech should always be given the benefit of the doubt.

Specifics:

• Schools will adopt policies recognizing that provocative speech or expression, while uncomfortable to some, must be respected as part of this nation’s belief in the right to freely express ideas. This is essential not only to the advancement of knowledge but to the continued existence of democracy
• Videos, online newspapers, podcasts and other student-created media will be actively supervised by school faculty, who will use these programs to instruct students on legal and ethical considerations of such communication
• Students must obey laws regarding libel, harassment and obscenity. School will offer curricula that instruct students about media law and responsibility
• Advisors and administrators will avoid censorship unless a clear danger, legal or otherwise, warrants it. In addition, schools will have clear policies on the distribution of student literature or other materials on school grounds, as well as what constitutes prohibited materials. Schools policy will explicitly state that student-produced newspapers or other media will not be censored solely because they are critical of the school or its administration
• Students will have the right to express their ideas through flyers, handbills, group meetings, buttons or armbands provided they do not substantially disrupt school functions
• A clear appeals procedure will be created for students who believe their right to free expression has been violated

Parental role

The school of education believes the benefits of digital communication far outweigh the risks that come with it, and for that reason believes in encouraging its use. However, the risks are real, since the Internet can provide access to offensive, illegal and even dangerous material.

Even a highly restrictive school policy would ultimately prove less than effective at blocking such content, since users can often find multiple ways to circumvent blocking technology.

The school believes the best approach is educating students about the use of technology, and it believes parents must play an active role in their education. To that end, the school will require that all parents be given a copy of its Internet and online policy. Further, the school will do all that it can to help parents understand not only the risks of today’s communication technology but the opportunities that it provides.