ACLU talks of legal action after Nebraska high school axes journalism program

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

Molly Ashford

The Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that a Grand Island school district reinstate its journalism program after the district abruptly shut down an award-winning student newspaper for publishing content related to LGBTQ+ issues.

According to reporting from the Grand Island Independent, students and faculty were advised in May that Northwest High School’s 54-year-old newspaper, the Viking Saga, would be axed, as would the school’s entire journalism program. In the newspaper’s final issue, students wrote three articles — two editorials and one news story — on LGBTQ+ issues, such as Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law and the history of Pride Month.

In a letter addressed to Northwest Public Schools Superintendent Jeffery Edwards, the ACLU calls the move a violation of students’ First and 14th Amendment rights, and of Title IX protections that safeguard LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.

“Simply put, the district cannot censor student journalism because district leadership disagrees with LGBTQ rights and wishes to keep students from encountering viewpoints that do not align with that perceived viewpoint,” the letter reads.



Former Viking Saga newspaper staff members Marcus Pennell, left, and Emma Smith, right, display a pride flag outside of Northwest High School in Grand Island, Neb., July 20, 2022. Administrators of a Nebraska public school have shuttered the school’s award-winning student newspaper, just days after its last edition that included articles and editorials on LGBTQ issues.

McKenna Lamoree—member image share, The Independent

Read more: https://omaha.com/news/local/education/aclu-talks-of-legal-action-after-nebraska-high-school-axes-journalism-program/article_4361622a-27ef-11ed-a5a4-fb5c96db853a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

[kwolf68]

1. Of course

These kids were not acting like Hitler Youth so they needed to be silenced. Our country is fucked.

[MichMan]

2. Did the school announced the program was ending prior to the final issue being published, or not?

The article linked doesn't provide any further background on the timeline.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Here is the original story from last week

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142961162

[MichMan]

5. Thanks, once the paper gets reinstated, the next class has compete freedom to publish anything

Perhaps a feature "Bigot of the Month" spotlighting a current member of administration.

[sop]

4. Next thing you know they'll cancel the school prom because dancing is the devil's work.

[wcmagumba]

9. Kevin Bacon will have a new mission...

[vlyons]

6. Those journnalism students will never forget this

What the school officials have done is create some democracy-loving, free speech-loving Democrats, who, when turning 21, will register to vote and never vote for close-minded RW gay-haters EVER.

[NJCher]

7. that's a lot of what they have out there

A K-12 friend lives in that "city" and occasionally I see a Facebook post of hers, despite my earnest attempts to avoid anything Facebook. She posts in support of republicans. She married into a wealthy family there and I'm pretty sure they donate to such causes.

However, she was an ardent poster in regard to the safety of vaccines.

Anyway, my only point is that my knowledge of the place is that it's pretty close-minded and that is exactly what the students will do. I know some in an older age bracket who did just that.

[Grins]

8. They think of their own bigotry and not the consequences.

And now they have a lawsuit filed against them, for which they will have to hire a law firm to defend them and, if they lose in court - pay damages.

In 2005,the Reich-wing radicals on the Dover, PA school board required the teaching of intelligent design. Not happy with that warm bag of shit, some parents sued the school district and it got ugly.

The school board had been offered the opportunity to rescind its policy and avoid paying legal fees the year before, but, with legal advise from the Reich-wing Thomas More Law Center, had declined. Bully for them! They know the Jebus is on their side!!

They lost. Badly. And the court fined the school district $1-MILLION! That they they didn't have. So taxes went up!! "Heckofajob!" someone once said!

The assistant legal director for Americans United, said of the trial's cost:

"Any board thinking of trying to do what the Dover board did is going to have to look for a bill in excess of $2 million (and) I think $2 million is a lot to explain to taxpayers for a lawsuit that should never be fought."

For a fun read on this, find Charles Pierce's book, "Idiot America" and the chapter on this case.

Case: Tammy Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District.

[sakabatou]

18. Yeah, I know of that case. Hell there's an episode of NOVA about it.

[Initech]

10. Once again, minds rotted by Fox. They are taking this country so damn backwards it's scary.

Fuck Fox News!

[geretogo]

11. Score another point for the Nazi's .

[justhanginon]

12. Hopefully it will be only a temporary win.

[crickets]

13. Go get 'em, ACLU! 💙

[cstanleytech]

14. I'm not willing to wager that the lawsuit will be successful. Why?

First? Because there is nothing in the Constitution that requires a school to have a journalism class.
Second? Being that the school is in essence the publisher it has the right to discontinue publishing at any time it so chooses.
If the students want to continue to publish and report they are free to do so and I hope they do.

[MichMan]

16. Many are likely Seniors and will have graduated and moved on

[cstanleytech]

17. I am speaking of the students for all of the school and if they want to continue

to have a newspaper.

[Mysterian]

15. The kids are learning some important things about fascism in the USA

Republicans will shut down every objective news media if they gain total power. And there will only be sham elections. Republicans are fascists.