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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Taylor has responded to the petition: https://www.change.org/p/stop-mcps-from-censoring-student-journalists-fd94e230-b95c-440d-917b-76596895e941/responses/46915

[QUOTE]Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I share your affinity for our student journalists and remain so proud of our student journalists.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) reviewed the open letter submitted by student journalists and faculty advisers regarding misperceptions about the role of school leadership in supervising student publications. The school district issued a memorandum to remind school administrators of their responsibility to supervise students and student publications in alignment with the MCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities - as educators, this is our job. Nothing in the memorandum interferes with student journalism or imposes prior restraint.

I can emphatically tell you that no one wants to censor the kids. However, the kids are learning (that's what they are here for) and we would like to avoid some lawsuits and liability when possible.

MCPS remains committed to the legal protections established under the Maryland New Voices Act, which is codified by MCPS in Regulation JFA-RA (Student Rights and Responsibilities). Student journalists retain the right to determine editorial content, which may only be restricted as the law specifically allows. Under the law, it is our responsibility to review for any content that:

• Is libelous or slanderous.
• Constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
• Violates federal or state law.
• Incites students to create a clear and present danger of the commission of an unlawful act; to violate county school board policies; or create a material or substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school.

In addition to being our legal responsibility, it is also our fiduciary responsibility to spare the taxpayers by insulating the school system from lawsuits when we know better.

For example, we have had instances at schools where inappropriate content was printed, but not reviewed first, in school yearbooks and other publications, resulting in substantial disruption to school operations and community hurt. Careful prior review could have prevented hurtful impacts to the school community in these instances. Better accountability is our responsibility.

I get that the kids don't like it and want free reign. As responsible adults and educational leaders, we have the duty to guide the work of our students as they are developing their skills in a school setting during a school-directed activity.

Sincerely,
Thomas Taylor[/QUOTE]

This response is horrifying. It's smug, disrespectful and does not honestly address the concerns raised. If inappropriate yearbook content was the main reason for the memo, then he easily could have distinguished student newspapers from yearbooks. Instead he intentionally used the phrase "student publications" to give him and the system the censorship powers he's precisely looking for.

Furthermore, if avoiding lawsuits is his goal, there are many more meaningful legal liabilities within MCPS that he needs to tighten up that are far ahead of reading and reviewing student newspapers. What a joke.[/quote]

Ugh, he is so condescending. As the parent of a student journalist who signed the open letter, I find his constant use of "the kids," when MCPS communication typically refers to "students" and not "the kids," to be intentional. By referring to them as "the kids" he makes them seem immature and not worth listening to. So dismissive. He is just awful. [/quote]

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