Settling Cat Tales dispute benefits everyone
November 12, 2008
By Administrator
Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to trust teenagers. We’re happy Randy Taylor was able to do so. The Mount Si High School principal decided last week that he would allow Cat Tales — the school newspaper, run by students — to publish without prior review. He had previously planned to enforce prior review of Cat Tales after learning about a district policy that allowed him to review any student publication for up to 24 hours before printing. The co-editors of Cat Tales responded by refusing to publish under such circumstances.
Taylor was correct in being cautious with student freedom of expression. But he was also correct in eventually allowing the students to have their say. Aside from the journalistic practices prior review violates, it wouldn’t have been just to hold transgressions of past students against this year’s group of students.
Taylor stuck to his guns and got what he wanted — a school newspaper promising to hold itself to a higher standard. But the newspaper editors also stuck to their guns and got what they wanted — publishing opportunities, without prior review. When dealing with such a debated topic, it’s not too often two sides can reach such an agreement and we congratulate each side for being able to.
As part of the agreement, Cat Tales has said that it will submit to the SnoValley Star any questionable material that it plans to run. We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to providing any help we can to the staff of Cat Tales. We also are pleased to be a part of the process that assures concerned parents and administrators that Cat Tales will maintain higher journalistic standards and promise to do our duty.
That being said, Mount Si newspaper students should take note. Your principal has put his trust in you — do your best to remind him why.
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