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Free Speech in Pennsylvania Schools

August 7, 2009

In Pennsylvania schools, is the First Amendment as palpable as Geometry class, or lockers – or is it a facade, an illusion?  May the journalists in your school - the broadcasters, the artists, the sports writers, the yearbook editors choosing photos – speak freely?  Or not?

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Philadelphia Regional Conference Provides Renewed Enthusiam, Inspiration

March 4, 2009
Last Saturday, a PSPA meeting at the National Constitution Center allowed me to connect with young journalists from around the state and pick up ideas from the top-notch publications they brought with them. As if this wasn’t enough, our meeting was held in one of the most compelling and interactive museums I’ve visited: the National Constitution Center. The setting was fitting, as the omnipresent references to the First Amendment and homage to the voice of the individual reminded us why journalism is such an integral part of any healthy society.
During our morning focus group, we discussed how to best capture student voice in our publication. A few of those attending asserted that it was not the duty of the high school’s resident news magazine to cater to the whims of the generally-apathetic student body. Others argued that it is the job of a publication to make readers take interest by including stories that are relevant to them. To increase student interest in little-read publications, some suggested juxtaposing pop-culture coverage (including movie, book, and TV reviews) with stories exploring serious social issues. Representatives from one publication explained how they hold focus groups with students and newspaper staff wherein students are given the opportunity to pitch story ideas. Another idea students addressed was to ask English teachers to offer extra credit to those who write letters to the editor. I found this suggestion particularly clever because I think it would benefit The Red and White, my high school’s newspaper. Because I come from a small school with few creative outlets for student voice, our newsmagazine is read by almost everyone. However, we as editors often struggle because we aren’t receiving any feedback from our readers. Many high school students are reserved when it comes to discussing serious political or social issues, so it’s hard to gauge how the student body responded to various editorials or articles. Hopefully, implementing a “letter to the editor” section would get people talking and, more importantly, thinking critically about serious issues presented in articles.
We were later joined by journalistic jack-of-all-trades, Howard Shapiro, who works for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Shapiro spoke to us about the struggles and the rewards of working as a journalist. To say that the profession doesn’t pay well is an understatement. Hours are long, stress is high, and deadlines are unrelenting. But the payoffs are numerous. Shapiro recalled spending the afternoon tooling around Manhattan with Whoopi Goldberg, and learning Sudoku from the world’s best while covering a local tournament. The prospect of experiences like these intrigue me. Working for a small-town high school newspaper, I tend to view news as either nonexistent or insufferably mundane. Exposure to a working big-city journalist reminded me that big stories do exist, that truly unique and interesting people do cross paths with journalists who persevere.
I relished the opportunity to meet with like-minded young people who value the unique student voice that high school publications provide. My only disappointment was the lack of participation from Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania schools. Hopefully, we as student journalists can unite and spread the word about the benefits of a student-run student voice publication. We are fortunate enough to come from a state with a supportive and useful resource: The Pennsylvania School Press Association. We might as well take advantage of it. Hopefully, this meeting can become an annual tradition for PSPA, with increasing attendance every year. I walked away with renewed enthusiasm and journalistic inspiration – well-worth the three-hour drive from my hometown.

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Members Attend Jennings Institute Inauguration

April 16, 2008

Student representative Lyndsie Guy, Halifax High School junior, and Yearbook Adviser Becki Enders recently traveled to Philadelphia to participate in the Inaugural Peter Jennings Institute for Journalists and the Constitution.

The program, named in honor of the late news anchor, was created for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the Constitution, its role in American life, and the relationship of the press and the Constitution. Taking place from March 17-19, students and professionals used this as an opportunity to combine their resources to learn more about the power that the United States Constitution holds.

Held at the National Constitution Center on the historical mall in Philadelphia, PA, twelve students were invited from across the Commonwealth to attend. Ten of the attendees came from schools that are currently participating in the PennCORD program.

PennCORD, which stands for the Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy, is an infant program that encourages a partnership between students and teachers to inform others about the importance of civic knowledge, democratic deliberation, and public action.

The two remaining student/adviser positions for the conference were available through the Pennsylvania School Press Association.  Guy and Enders received one of these positions after an application process, making it possible for them to attend the Institute.

Attending students and advisers spent an all expenses paid weekend with nationally accredited journalists. Together they debated constitutionally based Supreme Court cases, viewed a moot court trial set in the year 2015, and attended a debate between Senator Jon Kyl (R., AZ) and Representative Barney Frank (D., MA). The debate was moderated by Ted Koppel (ABC News) and the topic was Should Terror Detainees Have the Right of Habeas Corpus?

Students and advisers were also given the opportunity to meet with Kayce Freed Jennings, wife of the late Peter Jennings, and George Stephanopolous, among other notable journalists.

Guy is a member of both her high school yearbook and newspaper staff, a member of National Honor Society, and is the Vice President of Student Council and the treasurer for the Class of 2008. After high school she plans to attend college and to major in either journalism or English.

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