Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier - School Paper Censorship

Do school students have the same rights of free press and speech while engaged in school activities? Can school officials control the content of school newspapers?

Students may believe the Constitution guarantees them these rights in and out of school. They may assert these rights in disagreements with school officials in connection to the publication of material in a school sponsored newspaper or in the language they use in school. Student newspaper staff members may attempt to assert their rights to determine the editorial content of their paper, citing the rights public newspapers have to control what they do and do not publish.

Student newspapers may not be viewed in the same light as a public newspaper, since the school newspaper is not usually a vehicle for public communication. Also, a school publication is generally produced in conjunction with classwork and subsequently may be considered part of the curriculum. While school authorities cannot censor students' speech beyond school, they do have the right to ensure that students' speech and publications meet certain standards and do not conflict with the educational purposes of the school.