Saturday, March 25, 2006
Two Other Dailies Broaden Northwest Herald Story on Student Newspaper
It is no big secret that the allies of the teachers union in Carpentersville District 300 resented Huntley School Board member Larry Snow insertion of financial forecasting facts that contradicted the official “line” of the district and its tax hike committee.
Their allies on the Huntley school board wrote a letter to local papers rebuking Snow for meddling in the referendum of another school district. Then, they backed off when challenged by a Pioneer Press reporter.
The student editor of the school paper read letters to local papers from the other six Huntley school board members criticizing Snow. “After being alerted to the article by parents of kids in the class,” as the Daily Herald article reports today, the target of the editorial, board member Larry Snow, said he asked administrators to review the article and remove it from the publication if it was inappropriate or inaccurate.
The superintendent subsequently “embargoed” the distribution of the paper…except to the Northwest Herald, which ran a “freedom of the press” story on its front page yesterday. McHenry County Blog’s story on that article, which includes an email using the word “embargo,” is here.
How did the Huntley School District reach this point?
Here’s what the Tribune wrote today:
“Fiscal hawk” (that’s what the Tribune calls him) Snow’s comment in the Tribune:
Ironically, the student paper had editorially praised Snow earlier in the year.
And, also with some irony, the student editors did not praise Snow for leading the opposition to starting school in mid-August—a fight that would seem to suggest that he was paying attention to his school district’s affairs a tad bit more than the student editors state. He won that fight.
Neither paper noted the inaccuracy in the student editorial.
Their quote of the “critical six’s” letter was not published in the Northwest Herald, as the editorial said. It was published in the Daily Herald.
They did, however, find sources to say that what Skala and the school superintendent had done was wrong.
A school board meeting was set by Skala for Monday morning at 8 AM.
Their allies on the Huntley school board wrote a letter to local papers rebuking Snow for meddling in the referendum of another school district. Then, they backed off when challenged by a Pioneer Press reporter.
The student editor of the school paper read letters to local papers from the other six Huntley school board members criticizing Snow. “After being alerted to the article by parents of kids in the class,” as the Daily Herald article reports today, the target of the editorial, board member Larry Snow, said he asked administrators to review the article and remove it from the publication if it was inappropriate or inaccurate.
The superintendent subsequently “embargoed” the distribution of the paper…except to the Northwest Herald, which ran a “freedom of the press” story on its front page yesterday. McHenry County Blog’s story on that article, which includes an email using the word “embargo,” is here.
How did the Huntley School District reach this point?
Here’s what the Tribune wrote today:
The editorial stemmed from Snow's role in a tax referendum campaign in neighboring District 300. Snow said that after the local Rotary Club asked him to examine the district's finances, he concluded publicly that its revenues were healthier than school officials had claimed.McHenry County Blog is the only outlet that covered the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Rotary Club presentation.
“Fiscal hawk” (that’s what the Tribune calls him) Snow’s comment in the Tribune:
"I think it's a valid question to say to what extent do we want our high school newspaper to allow personal attacks of residents, teachers, public officials, political ridicule of people," he said.The Daily Herald reports
“He wanted to me to pull the editorial,” (Michael) Skala said of Snow. Skala said he told Snow he couldn’t do it by himself, that the board as a whole had to act.”Skala was, or course, one of the six board members who signed the letter criticizing Snow, which the student newspaper quoted.
So instead, Skala said he decided to forbid the 1,500 copies from being delivered until the board could discuss the issue in a special meeting set for Monday morning.
Ironically, the student paper had editorially praised Snow earlier in the year.
And, also with some irony, the student editors did not praise Snow for leading the opposition to starting school in mid-August—a fight that would seem to suggest that he was paying attention to his school district’s affairs a tad bit more than the student editors state. He won that fight.
Neither paper noted the inaccuracy in the student editorial.
Their quote of the “critical six’s” letter was not published in the Northwest Herald, as the editorial said. It was published in the Daily Herald.
They did, however, find sources to say that what Skala and the school superintendent had done was wrong.
A school board meeting was set by Skala for Monday morning at 8 AM.
Labels: Huntley School District 158, Larry Snow, Mike Skala, The Voice
Comments:
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The newspaper should not be stifled I agree. But we must not forget the students are trying to stifle Mr. Snow's freedom of speech too. If Mr. Snow supported the D -300 referendum I doubt D - 158 would have attacked Mr. Snow initially and this follow up student editorial would not have been published.
Cathy
Cathy
Cathy
I read the article as saying they feel there is enough to do in D150 and he should focus there. I disagree with them. Larry's knowledge was extremely helpful. I do agree that they are incorrect in suggesting it, but they have they right to suggest it. Thats free speech. You do not get to choose who gets to say what.
I read the article as saying they feel there is enough to do in D150 and he should focus there. I disagree with them. Larry's knowledge was extremely helpful. I do agree that they are incorrect in suggesting it, but they have they right to suggest it. Thats free speech. You do not get to choose who gets to say what.
One other note about "Free Speech". While we all have the right to it, it should be notd that the owner of any newspapaer , through thier editors andpublisher, exercise censorship multiple times everyday. Often under the guise of wether something is newsworthy, etc. they have the right to decide what to publish and what not to.
So what is interesting here, is the owners of the Huntley school newspaper, which is the school baord, through it's prinicpal and the teacher sponsor of the newspaper decided that this editorial could be published. Larry, as a member of the board that owns the publication is within his rights and duties to ask that the owners as a whole decide to publish this. This may be censorship, but it's the same as when the original Watergate article had to go to the publisher of the Washington Post for approval. It's the same as when Rush decides what to include in his essential stack of stuff each day. It's the same as decisions made on what to include in Morning Edition on NPR.
One thought in support of Larry's concerns - Why was thier never any article by this publication regarding the flawed nature of the D158 referendum? Was it not newsworthy or did management not encourage it's writing?
So what is interesting here, is the owners of the Huntley school newspaper, which is the school baord, through it's prinicpal and the teacher sponsor of the newspaper decided that this editorial could be published. Larry, as a member of the board that owns the publication is within his rights and duties to ask that the owners as a whole decide to publish this. This may be censorship, but it's the same as when the original Watergate article had to go to the publisher of the Washington Post for approval. It's the same as when Rush decides what to include in his essential stack of stuff each day. It's the same as decisions made on what to include in Morning Edition on NPR.
One thought in support of Larry's concerns - Why was thier never any article by this publication regarding the flawed nature of the D158 referendum? Was it not newsworthy or did management not encourage it's writing?
cathy, the students are expressing an opinion. It's clear to most of us (apparently not all of us) they aren't trying to stifle anything.
monelson, to try and make the arguement that Larry "owns" the high school newspaper and should have editorial control seems to be a bit far reaching.
monelson, to try and make the arguement that Larry "owns" the high school newspaper and should have editorial control seems to be a bit far reaching.
solutionsnow1
I did not say Larry owned the school newspaper. I said larry is part of the Board of education, which is the policy makig body for the owners - the citizens of D158.
Bu if you disagree, then who does own the student newspaper? It is a program of school. The school is part of D158, which is owned by the rsidents of D158. Acid test of this is, if the newspaper slandered or hurt someone (and I am not saying they did), who would get sued? Certainly not any student under 18. The answer to that is the school board and D158 as an entity.
The board has responsibility and authority on everything that is part of D158. The newspaper is part of D158.
I did not say Larry owned the school newspaper. I said larry is part of the Board of education, which is the policy makig body for the owners - the citizens of D158.
Bu if you disagree, then who does own the student newspaper? It is a program of school. The school is part of D158, which is owned by the rsidents of D158. Acid test of this is, if the newspaper slandered or hurt someone (and I am not saying they did), who would get sued? Certainly not any student under 18. The answer to that is the school board and D158 as an entity.
The board has responsibility and authority on everything that is part of D158. The newspaper is part of D158.
My point is just last month the students wrote in support of Mr. Snow. This article is curious because of that. If Mr. Snow spoke in support of the referendum I doubt the students would have cared.
It appears schools care about free speech if you support referenda. But free speech is not supported if you oppose referenda.
Cathy
It appears schools care about free speech if you support referenda. But free speech is not supported if you oppose referenda.
Cathy
This is about one board member censoring the newspaper. This is not about finances. This is beyond editorial control. It is about these kids and their understanding of the constitution .... and one board member's lack of understanding of it.
This is the real Larry Snow, who is a member of the District 158 Board of Education. SolutionsSnow1 is misinformed. Or would prefer to misinform others. I did not ever ask that the school newspaper be censored. More about this will appear in the media. I only asked that the Superintendent or someone he designates, reveiw the editorial to confirm that it is in compliance with the three-paragraph policy that we have for the student newspaper. Review and nothing else was requested. Thanks for reading. Larry Snow
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