J-Ideas providing information on free-expression bill

By Josie Bode
J-Ideas Staff

J-Ideas is creating an information hub about new student free press legislation in Washington state. The effort is the first project in a J-Ideas initiative to influence change in public policy to buttress support for the First Amendment in the nation's public schools.

House Bill 1307, sponsored by State Representative Dave Upthegrove, seeks to guarantee First Amendment protection to high school and college newspapers. The bill, introduced Jan. 16, will receive its first public hearing before the state legislature's Judiciary Committee this Friday at 8 a.m.

Upthegrove told J-Ideas Education Specialist Gerry Appel that ensuring the right to free expression and free press to every citizen, young or old, is fundamental to a functioning democracy.

"Students need to learn about their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and there is no better way to learn than to put those into practice at the high school and college level," Upthegrove said. "We have a better, healthier democracy when that happens."

HB 1307 also seeks to shield journalism advisers and school administrators from wrongful termination or discipline resulting from content of student publications.

Critics of the bill argue that placing sole judgment and accountability for student publications in the hands of high school students may be irresponsible, a sentiment that J-Ideas Director Warren Watson challenges.

"Students need to learn accountability and responsibility. These are citizenship lessons best learned when you are young, in the supportive environment of the classroom with the guidance of trained adults," Watson said. "Students must practice the First Amendment if they are to truly learn what it means."

Watson said J-Ideas is providing information for the bill both in Olympia, Wash., and nationally. "A successful effort here could lead to other states adopting this legislative effort," Watson said.

Watson said there is substantial support for the bill from educators and legislators, but work must be done with student administrators and professional journalists.

"As always, there is a disconnect between professional and student media," said Watson, who is submitting a column to newspaper editors across the country. "We are trying to provide that linkage to show editors why that support is vital to the future of journalism and to the democracy."

If passed, HB 1307 would move on to the Washington state senate. If passed by both houses, it would then move to the governor for signature and adoption.

Six states - Arkansas, Massachusetts, Kansas, Iowa, California and Colorado -- currently have laws guaranteeing press freedom to high school students. Washington defeated a similar student press bill in 1992.

A taped, J-Ideas interview with Upthegrove is available at www.jideas.org and www.youtube/jideas