Freedom of speech issue surfaces

By Rebecca Mayer

The Lake Oswego Review, Feb 12, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (6 Reader comments)

ADVERTISEMENTS

Psychedelic drugs — like it or not — just became the centerpiece in a local discussion on freedom of speech.

Lakeridge High School senior Tyler Smith wrote an opinion article in January that included interviews with student psychedelic drug users in the Newspacer, the student newspaper. The piece was met with fury from Waluga Junior High School parents on a committee for drug and alcohol awareness and prevention and they’re arguing in favor of censorship.

The parents assume they have the 2007 Legislature to back them up. But that depends on how you interpret the law.

The law bans student expression that “incites students as to create a clear and present danger of: The commission of unlawful acts on or off-school premises; the violation of school policies; or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school.”

The words to define, according to superintendent Bill Korach, are “incites” and “clear and present danger.”

Since the school district is in the middle of updating old policy, parents upset about the article are asking for the addition of stricter regulations on student journalism.

“As far as drugs and alcohol goes, I cannot tell you how devastating that issue is at the high school and junior high. There is a large fear from people who come from addictive families,” said Bob Barman, president of the Waluga PTO. “Someone who is not aware of those things thinks it’s not a big deal … (The article) treats everyone as if they have the same chemicals, everyone as if they have the same possibilities.”

Barman made two suggestions related to free speech — making it a regulation for administration to read the paper before it publishes and asking students to print a counterpoint on controversial topics. He also asked for a number of other things to be clarified in the paper such as printing a disclaimer on the staff page stating that the newspaper does not necessarily reflect the perspective of the board.

Smith’s article, titled “Psychedelics: Agents of spiritual growth?” said in paragraph one: “Unlike other drugs that are used for the sole purpose of getting high, psychedelics can offer users a connector with a spirutal insight, toward a more heightened sense of enlightenment. Thus, I do not believe psychedelics should be linked with other common drug crimes or affiliation.”

Smith says that his article was well received by students, but caught flack from parents who misinterpreted it.

“The reason for doing this article was to allow a better understanding as to why people do these drugs,” he said. “An understanding. Not an advocation.”

The Newspacer released today’s issue two days early for download from the school Web site ( lhs.loswego.k12.or.us , then click on the Newspacer link on the home page to download today’s issue) and included a second article by Smith, hoping to clarify his misconceptions.

He said that the editing process may have contributed to any misunderstandings, and said that he has not tried psychedelic drugs himself.

1 | 2 Next Page >>