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Hadley

•See interview with C E Quandt, North Central's principal

•See inverview with Jim Lang, adviser at Floyd Central H.S.

Principals agree on value of free student press as 'learning lab'

By Diana Hadley, Assistant Director

John Marsh and Steve Sipes, are linked by more than their positions as the principals of Floyd County's two high schools. Both are also among a select group of administrators statewide who have received special recognition from the Indiana High School Press Association for exemplary support of scholastic journalism and The First Amendment.

As a college student, Marsh, Floyd Central principal and recipient of the 2002 Ingelhart Friend of Journalism Award, served as editor of the student newspaper at I.U. Southeast, so it isn't surprising that he was a student press advocate when he began his career as an English teacher 33 years ago.

Now as an administrator, Marsh believes his role with the high school publications program is “primarily as a facilitator.” He says, “Education's responsibility is to teach democracy,” and he describes a strong student newspaper as “a learning lab that is an even more dynamic opportunity for students to learn democracy than student council.”

That philosophy sustains Marsh when the Bagpiper (Floyd Central's award-winning school newspaper) covers controversial issues that scare some administrators to the point of censorship. Marsh says that when administrators don't have a relationship of trust with student journalists and advisers “the Hazelwood [1988 Supreme Court Case] threshold becomes a control factor.”

An example of the working relationship Marsh has with the newspaper staff involved an investigative story about drug use among Floyd Central students. The Bagpiper's editors and their adviser knew the story might be controversial, so they gave Marsh a “heads up” as the story evolved. They discussed an approach that included quotes from a student who agreed to be named as a drug abuser. Marsh thought the story was important but worried about naming the student specifically. The editors considered all the concerns and then proceeded with the story. The final version (which included the attributed quotes) was received positively.

Steve Sipes, New Albany principal and 2004 IHSPA Administrator of the Year, also encourages a high school press that addresses issues that are important to his students. Sipes says that for some schools “control becomes a primary emphasis over learning. High school kids want things that relate to them. If principals don't understand that, then the high school becomes a holding tank and impedes learning.” Sipes says that without some outlets such as the school newspaper, students are going to explode.

Both principals recognize the importance of the dialogue that takes place through the high school newspaper. Sipes says it's important that the administrator doesn't overreact. Both principals make themselves available for interviews and try to establish an open relationship with student reporters. Sipes enjoys the interaction and believes his students do too.
Marsh, who embraces the same open-door philosophy says, “Every opportunity you get to interact with kids is a teachable moment.”

Both Sipes and Marsh also believe that a good working relationship with the publications adviser is essential. Sipes and newspaper adviser Camille Kalmey have worked together nine years, and he trusts that with her guidance the Blotter (New Albany's award-winning newspaper will provide balanced coverage. Marsh uses the same word, “balance,” and adds the phrase “freedom with responsibility” to describe the leadership Jim Lang provides as adviser of the Bagpiper.

Although the principals occasionally hear complaints about articles in the student newspapers from parents or even the teachers lounge, they believe the best policy is to treat the school newspaper like a professional paper and stay hands off. Sipes asks people who complain what they do when they don't agree with a topic in the local paper. When they say they write a letter to the editor, he invites them to do the same with the student newspaper.
Both Marsh and Sipes believe journalism classes are worthy of Core 40 credit. Sipes says publications students have an excellent opportunity to improve critical thinking skills, a specific goal of state English standards.

Neither principal discourages students from questioning existing school policies. Marsh hopes his students will develop appropriate ways to question all institutions, and he believes the student press provides an excellent place for that kind of education.

Sipes expands the school community to the larger world community and says he is concerned about any environment that questions a person's patriotism just because he disagrees. He worries that today's professional journalists don't feel as free to speak as they should. Still thinking about a recent class visitation by a Holocaust survivor, he cites the 1930's atmosphere in Germany where education and free thinking were stifled as he emphasizes that a democracy is dependent upon an educated public. Sipes refers to the statement that “the next generation that will have to put band-aids on the faults of the present generation” and hopes that his students will have the tools to do just that.