Why is MCPS censoring student newspapers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the full text of Moran's memo been published anywhere?

Yes

Where?

+1 I tried to find it online, but could only find responses to the memo, not the memo itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the full text of Moran's memo been published anywhere?

Yes

Where?

NP. It was linked in the SPLC document. Here is the memo: https://splc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Montgomery-County-MD-Guidance-Reviewing-Student-Publications-March-2026.pdf

[Anonymous]

The layers of beaurocracy are already mind numbing in MCPS. It is sad to me that they want to add more layers rather than take some away. Occasional mistakes happen. It’s true that if your goal is to offend no one intentionally or unintentionally, then you are best doing absolutely nothing. They’re making it more and more difficult for students to do anything of substance. Sad this is how the top people in MCPS think

[Anonymous]

It’s because of the Sherwood t-shirt and some bullying comments in yearbook captions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good for you! As a former student journalist I remember when I was censored by my principal - over 30 years ago! Still sits with me. Unacceptable.

What is he censoring now? Maybe the banner can report on this - Streisand effect and all

Me too! We had a paper called, 'The Norseman's Hammer' at my high school in California. The attempted censorship only made us more popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s because of the Sherwood t-shirt and some bullying comments in yearbook captions.

So newspapers are an unintended consequence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s because of the Sherwood t-shirt and some bullying comments in yearbook captions.

So the principal is now going to have to approve every single T-shirt design and every single article that students publish along with Yearbook captions? That sounds insane to me. Just shut everything down I guess. Moran is an ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because of the Sherwood t-shirt and some bullying comments in yearbook captions.

So the principal is now going to have to approve every single T-shirt design and every single article that students publish along with Yearbook captions? That sounds insane to me. Just shut everything down I guess. Moran is an ass.

It says "an administrator," so not necessarily the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The layers of beaurocracy are already mind numbing in MCPS. It is sad to me that they want to add more layers rather than take some away. Occasional mistakes happen. It’s true that if your goal is to offend no one intentionally or unintentionally, then you are best doing absolutely nothing. They’re making it more and more difficult for students to do anything of substance. Sad this is how the top people in MCPS think

This isn'y about occasional mistakes. This is Taylor's strong-arm control tactic to stifle journalism and criticism of MCPS. It is against state law to do this, not that Taylor bothered to check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The layers of beaurocracy are already mind numbing in MCPS. It is sad to me that they want to add more layers rather than take some away. Occasional mistakes happen. It’s true that if your goal is to offend no one intentionally or unintentionally, then you are best doing absolutely nothing. They’re making it more and more difficult for students to do anything of substance. Sad this is how the top people in MCPS think

This is my concern too. It puts yet another task on the plate of the principals.

I also hope the memo came with explanations and examples, otherwise it could be interpreted any which way. If the goal was to cut down on unintentional bullying newspaper articles, this memo didn't aid that cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The layers of beaurocracy are already mind numbing in MCPS. It is sad to me that they want to add more layers rather than take some away. Occasional mistakes happen. It’s true that if your goal is to offend no one intentionally or unintentionally, then you are best doing absolutely nothing. They’re making it more and more difficult for students to do anything of substance. Sad this is how the top people in MCPS think

This is my concern too. It puts yet another task on the plate of the principals.

I also hope the memo came with explanations and examples, otherwise it could be interpreted any which way. If the goal was to cut down on unintentional bullying newspaper articles, this memo didn't aid that cause.

I trust that adviser teachers to the newspaper ensure that the culture and practices of student newspaper do not allow for bullying articles. This is all about silencing any criticism of MCPS that student journalists might write. The heavy hand of the superintendent....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Big mistake Thomas Taylor. Your butt is about to be sued. Maryland has a free speech law. Instead of fixing problems, MCPS just wants to hide them. Please support student journalists!

Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier settled this in the 1980s.

[Anonymous]

MCPS never fails to disappoint. Teacher here. Sorry but I’m not a fan of my school’s administration. If I have to allow them to approve everything, I would prefer to step away from mentoring the club I run. Maybe another teacher will take over or maybe it will just fold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The layers of beaurocracy are already mind numbing in MCPS. It is sad to me that they want to add more layers rather than take some away. Occasional mistakes happen. It’s true that if your goal is to offend no one intentionally or unintentionally, then you are best doing absolutely nothing. They’re making it more and more difficult for students to do anything of substance. Sad this is how the top people in MCPS think

This is my concern too. It puts yet another task on the plate of the principals.

I also hope the memo came with explanations and examples, otherwise it could be interpreted any which way. If the goal was to cut down on unintentional bullying newspaper articles, this memo didn't aid that cause.

I trust that adviser teachers to the newspaper ensure that the culture and practices of student newspaper do not allow for bullying articles. This is all about silencing any criticism of MCPS that student journalists might write. The heavy hand of the superintendent....

Ding, ding, ding, ding!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The layers of beaurocracy are already mind numbing in MCPS. It is sad to me that they want to add more layers rather than take some away. Occasional mistakes happen. It’s true that if your goal is to offend no one intentionally or unintentionally, then you are best doing absolutely nothing. They’re making it more and more difficult for students to do anything of substance. Sad this is how the top people in MCPS think

This isn'y about occasional mistakes. This is Taylor's strong-arm control tactic to stifle journalism and criticism of MCPS. It is against state law to do this, not that Taylor bothered to check.

Which law?