THE MEDIACRACY

HIGH SCHOOL UNDERGROUND PRESS FIGHTS ADMINISTRATOR CONTROL

MELISSA SLAGER, HERALD, EVERETT, WA - The Free Stehekin is an
"underground" publication by Cascade High School students, who so far
this fall have published two issues outside the purview of school
administrators. It's not a fight they started, but it's one they are
continuing.

Former editors of the Everett High School student newspaper, The Kodak,
sued the Everett School District last fall after administrators backed a
principal who demanded prior review of each issue. The students refused,
calling it a violation of their free speech rights and noting that
there's been no such review in more than 17 years. A trial is scheduled
for May in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

In the meantime, students at both Everett and Cascade high schools are
creating newspapers on their own time and with their own money to avoid
the district policy.

"We want to put out a newspaper that's a student voice representing the
school. We don't want a pen hanging over our heads," said David
Whittemore, 16, a Cascade junior and the Free Stehekin's managing
editor. Meanwhile, students leading a similar effort at Everett High
School are struggling to get beyond a computer screen. The Independent
Kodak, which published a handful of times last school year, has yet to
reach student hands this fall. . .

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/12/11/100loc_a1reporters001.cfm

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