FILE:  JHE

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS

Student publications are important elements of the instructional program and contribute directly to the accomplishment of the school's goals. The East Feliciana Parish School Board supports the development of student-produced school newspapers, yearbooks, and other publications.

The School Board recognizes the students' desire for freedom of expression.  Freedom of expression in schools shall be interpreted as including, and not being contrary to:

• development of student responsibility in distinguishing between freedom and license.
   

• consideration by the faculty of the maturity levels of students and of appropriate standards of journalistic taste.
   

• care for the development of skills of written expression among students.

Therefore, the School Board encourages the use of school sponsored publications to express students' points of view.  Such publications shall be free from all policy restrictions outside the normal rules for responsible journalism (the avoidance of libel, obscenity, defamation, false statements, or material advocating racial or religious prejudice).  Student publications shall provide as much opportunity as possible for the sincere expression of student opinion.  All student publications must have the prior approval of the School Board before initiation and shall be supervised by the designated faculty advisor.

The School Board or Superintendent reserves the right to edit or reject materials in student publications, if, in the Board’s opinion, the content is not suitable for publication due to issues of libel, obscenity, defamation, false statements, or material advocating racial or religious prejudice.

Re-Adopted:  May 4, 1999

Re-Adopted:  December 7, 2010

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:81

Quarterman v. Byrd, 453 F.2d 54 (CA. 4th 1971)

Board minutes, 10-3-78, 5-4-99, 12-7-10

East Feliciana Parish School Board