Blog Rights.

[ReuvenB]

I have a friend that has told me that her school (public) has issued a new policy towards blogs and the content that students post on them. From what I hear, (and I’m trying to find a link) students posting statements insulting other students or even stating a dislike of other students can be punished in school. I really wish I could give a link, but the school’s website hasn’t been updated since 2002, and I have very little hope of them posting it there. I think it makes a good debate though, so I’ve drawn up a semi-hypothetical situation involving a similar rule.

Let’s say at a school in Kansas, a new rule that was worded like this:
“A student shall not use opprobrious or abusive words or obscene language to describe another student, nor shall they threaten or harass another student on a web log (“blog”).”

2 questions:

1. Does a public high school have the authority to enforce this rule?
2. Should a public high school have the authority to enforce this rule?

[astro]

I don’t think this blog control idea will get much traction.

See By David L. Hudson Jr. First Amendment Center research attorney K-12 public school student expression

Small part of much larger article below

Underground newspapers & off-campus speech: Many students have turned to producing their own “underground” newspapers rather than writing for their school-sponsored papers. Students have more freedom to tackle controversial subjects in underground rather than school newspapers because the Supreme Court has afforded students more free-speech protection if the expression is student-initiated rather than sponsored by the school.

Students generally may distribute their underground newspapers at school as long as they do not create a substantial disruption of school activities. School officials, however, can enforce reasonable regulations with respect to the time, place and manner of distribution. School officials have even less authority to regulate off-campus speech — particularly if that expression is never distributed at the school.

But that doesn’t mean school officials haven’t tried. In fact, one Texas principal allegedly went so far as to try to prohibit a student from writing letters to the editor to the local town newspaper.

[ParentalAdvisory]

@XWalrus2

2. Should a public high school have the authority to enforce this rule?

Should they? No.

If Joe thinks Steve is a pussy, and even says so on JoesBlog.com, the school just needs to stay out of it, unless a fight over it happens on school grounds. Even then, the school should concentrate on the fight, not what what said on Joes Blog.

@XWalrus2

insulting other students or even stating a dislike of other students can be punished in school

Really now, how is this going to be any different then school yard bullying? The schools hardly do anything about it now, and all the sudden they want to take over blogs that are in the public domain? Someone’s on a serious power trip here.

[AncientHumanoid]

I’m with PA on this. It looks an attempt to throw around some weight just to look good. Like saying, “Look what we’re doing about this!”

I would rather see some real effort taken to protect the schoolkids in real life, like not having those semi-hidden areas where the different kid can get jumped. Yeah, I know you can’t watch all the kids everywhere all the time, but they sure as hell could try harder. How? Good Q, me not know.

[Master_Wang-Ka]

But that doesn’t mean school officials haven’t tried. In fact, one Texas principal allegedly went so far as to try to prohibit a student from writing letters to the editor to the local town newspaper.

Don’t suppose anyone has a cite for this? I teach in Texas.