Idaho school district revamps policy for underground newspapers

By The Associated Press

10.25.00

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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — The underground high school newspaper, Institution-A-Lies, has no fear of a new district policy requiring it to get permission before distributing on campus.

The newspaper's first issue was handed out to Lake City High students on Oct. 23, the same day the Coeur d'Alene School Board unanimously passed the new policy.

Trustees clarified that school officials cannot censor or review any newspapers or magazines produced off-campus but can limit where the publications are distributed.

Institution-A-Lies editor Jil Jaeger, a Lake City High junior, said the principal gave her permission last week to pass the paper out during lunch.

"I think it's a big step moving forward in terms of free speech and free press," Jaeger said.

Although she had no problems receiving approval on the first edition, Jaeger does not understand the school's regulation of distribution.

"If it's not censored why should they censor where we distribute?" Jaeger said.

School trustees decided to revamp its policy on underground publications after a dispute last year with several Lake City and Coeur d'Alene high school students who created Institution-A-Lies.

The editors, including Jaeger, challenged the district's previous policy that said school officials had "control over student expression" in any school publication, including those produced off-campus. The rule did not specifically address underground newspapers and magazines.

Students argued it was unconstitutional for school districts to censor student publications produced off-campus. School officials agreed, and the board clarified the policy.

District spokesman Judy Drake told
The Freedom Forum Online that school officials believe the policy will allow students to express their opinions in a nondisruptive manner.

According to Drake, the new policy gives officials the right to police how underground publications are distributed while retaining the right to punish students for disruptive, vulgar, harmful or defamatory language.

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