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Star Ledger--Proposed N.J. law would ban prior restraint of student newspapers
State legislators have re-introduced a bill that would prohibit school districts and public universities from authorizing prior restraint of school-sponsored media.
The legislation is backed by Tom McHale, an English teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Raritan Township in Hunterdon County.
McHale resigned as adviser of the award-winning school newspaper The Lamp in 2013 after trying, but failing, to get the board to amend its policy that requires the administration's review of The Lamp's content prior to publication. He had held the post for a decade.
McHale, who is also a Garden State Scholastic Press Association executive board member, said he is aware of journalism students within the state self-censoring out of fear of administration backlash.
"Schools should be teaching kids to become responsible citizens," McHale said in a news release. "For many schools, that's part of their mission statement."
Sallie Graziano | For NJ.com| on July 18, 2016 at 12:45 PM, updated July 18, 2016 at 1:22 PM
