Virginia Student Speaks Out Against School District’s Prior Restraint Policy
Kate Karstens, editor-in-chief of The Lasso, tells NCAC her school's vetting of her newspaper's articles violates district policy.
Does Twitter Have A Selective Censorship Problem?
Buzzfeed today reported Twitter's ex-CEO oversaw moderation of President Obama's and Caitlyn Jenner's Q & As, prompting questions of selective political bias of the site.
Satanic After School Club Planned To Counter Evangelical ‘Indoctrination’
Club activities will “include a healthy snack, literature lesson, creative learning activities, science lesson, puzzle solving, and art projects.” Students of all religious faiths are welcome to attend.
NJ Bill Proposed To Prevent Schools Meddling In Student Journalism; UPDATE: Illinois Drafts Similar Legislation Into Law
The legislation will prohibit the vetting of articles prior to publication—with the exception of those that are libelous, unwarrantedly invade privacy, violate the law, or incite students to disobey school policies.
After Parents Censor, Student Drafts Petition In Defense of ‘Glass Castle’
Renae Roscart, 15, considers parents who argued for the reading list removal to be "pretending that sexual assault and alcoholism isn’t something that youths encounter."
Virginia School District Caves To Parent Pressure, Scraps Summer Reading List; UPDATE: Republican Senator Blasts Librarians For Selecting ‘Trash’, Petition Pushes Back
The Chesterfield County Public School summer reading list contained books that were "pornographic" and contained "vile, vile, nasty language," one mother complained.
Vermont School Disinvites Childrens Author Because of Book About Heroin Addiction; UPDATE: School Reverses Decision, Will Carry Book in Library
Kate Messner speaking event at South Burlington's Chamberlin Elementary School after the school discovered her latest book was about heroin addiction.
Portland Resolution on Teaching Climate Change Raises Concerns
NCAC has released the following statement on the climate change controversy brewing in Portland: On May 17, the Public School Board of Portland, Oregon unanimously adopted a resolution to “Develop an Implementation Plan for Climate Literacy,” which concluded with this recommendation: “The implementation plan should include a review of current textbooks for accuracy around the severity of the climate crisis and the [...]
Previously Censored Senior Reads “Dark” Poem at Graduation
I woke up today. And when I woke up I thought of A friend. I thought of Kyle, I thought of Jack, I thought of Tamir And those who we have lost, Those who Cannot wake up. This stanza from an original poem by senior at Austin High School in Austin, Texas led to him being prohibited from reading it at his graduation. Pablo [...]
It’s Perfectly Normal Under Siege in Oregon
The prevailing narrative in Rainier, OR, is that nine-year-old kids were forced to look at “explicit” books in their school library. But things aren’t always what they seem.
Are New Rules Still Targeting Gay-Straight Alliance?
It looks like a Tennessee high school will have a gay-straight alliance club after all. But do the district's new rules for all clubs go too far?
Satire and Swastikas in a New York High School
A high school production of 'The Producers' is altered after parents complain about swastikas on stage.
‘That’s Not Funny!’: Youth Film Contest Winners
The winners are here! The top three submissions in the 2015 Youth Free Expression Film Contest.
In Defense of Offense: Student Artwork in Kentucky
What happens when a cop complains that student artwork is “propaganda?”
Students Form Gay-Straight School Club. What’s the Problem?
At Franklin County High School in Tennessee, some students and parents are outraged by the very existence of the Gay-Straight Alliance.
Enfield ‘Idiot’ Controversy: How to Protect Artistic Freedom
After a censorship controversy over 'American Idiot' grabbed headlines, NCAC and other free speech groups offer advice on how the school can turn this into a learning experience, and protect students' artistic freedom going forward.
‘That’s Not Funny!’ Youth Free Expression Film Contest Winners
We're down to a dozen! Here are the semifinalists in this year's Youth Free Expression Film Contest.
Connecticut High School Cancels Edited ‘American Idiot’ Show
Complaints from a few parents have apparently canceled a Connecticut high school's performance of 'American Idiot.'
In Omaha Sex Ed Fight, Board Must Choose Sound Science
A series of proposed changes to the sex ed curriculum in Omaha, Nebraska generated intense opposition late last year, with hundreds of angry parents packing a meeting to denounce plans to teach students about gender identity, emergency contraception, and abortion. Now it is up to the board to decide how and what students will learn.
Treating Anti-Israel Tweets as School Bullying?
If a New Jersey high school is really treating a student's tweets as harassment, they need to cease investigating her words and apologize to her instead.
Students Fight Theater Censorship in Indiana
A censorship dispute in Portage, Indiana, was over quickly after it began thanks to the quick action of students.
‘Purity’ Panic Over Omaha Sex Ed Curriculum
Parents in Omaha are fired up about proposed changes to the sexual education curriculum. Are they trying to keep their kids "pure," or are they calling for censorship?
Censoring Islam in Georgia?
Parents in Georgia are outraged over lessons that teach the history of Islam. And the state is taking the complaints seriously, removing a program guide called "Respecting Beliefs."
At Wesleyan, Protesting a Paper—And Threatening to Destroy It?
Protests and criticism are one thing-- calls to defund a Wesleyan student newspaper over an op-ed go too far. Student government officers, and the newspaper itself, must do more to support free expression.
Students Speak Out: A Curious Incident of Censorship
Telling students to avoid books containing "wayward beliefs" implies we are incapable of thinking for ourselves. The removal did not give parents the freedom to parent, but instead attacked freedom of thought.
“Free Speech Forever” Youth Film Contest Winners
Winners of the 11th Annual Youth Film Contest 1. Anne Wade (Cullowhee, North Carolina) "Don't Let Them Take Your Voice" ARTIST STATEMENT: “My film is a black and white silent film that was created out of a desire to speak out against censorship in schools across the nation using a unique and creative idea that engaged myself and [...]
Policing Expression: NJ School Removes Student Project
A student project on police and community relations angers local cops-- and school administrators respond by removing it.
#Donttakeitdown: Students Speak Out Over Removal of Police Brutality Artwork
After receiving complaints, a Maryland high school removes police brutality artwork. But the students at Oxon Hill aren't submitting to censorship-- they are fighting back.
Warning to Students: Watch What You Tweet
Students at a Pennsylvania high school are told by local police that what they tweet could be a crime.
Evolution Wins: Cherokee Trail High Allows Production to Go Forward Uncensored
NCAC congratulates the students of Cherokee Trail High for speaking up and speaking out against censorship, and is gratified that the administration chose to do the right thing by respecting its students' free expression rights.
Aurora Students: Censored, Then Uncensored?
Theater students get word that their show is canceled due to inappropriate content. But once the news hits the local TV, the administration changes its tune.
Students Won’t Let Censorship Bring the Curtain Down
A group of Florida students were set to perform at the Florida State Thespian Festival in Tampa. They did-- but outside the venue.
Student Journalism Censored — But Not For Long
A high school newspaper investigation into drugs was deemed unsuitable for publication by the school's principal. But a local news outlet heard about the story and decided that good journalism deserves to be read.
Art and Free Speech Groups Speak Out Against Symphony Censorship
NCAC is joined by several international organizations in protesting the New York Youth Symphony's decision to cancel a controversial work.
Silenced By The Symphony? Young Composer’s Piece Yanked from Carnegie Hall Debut
A young composer's Carnegie Hall debut was scrapped over concerns that his composition, which quotes Nazi and Soviet themes, was offensive.
2013 YFEP Film Contest: “Video Games in the Crosshairs”
Our theme in 2013 was “Video Games in the Crosshairs.” We invited teens 19 and younger to reflect on gaming and respond to those who trumpet a single narrative about video games and media violence. We asked them to show us why gaming matters, what attracts young people to it, what role it plays in our culture and to explore [...]
Resisting School Censors, Students Will Stage Almost, Maine in NC
In late October, NCAC mobilized its partner organizations to pressure school officials in North Carolina's Maiden High School to reinstate a cancelled production of Almost, Maine. Now, the students will be staging a production of the play at an alternate venue.
Curtain Comes Down on “Almost Maine” in North Carolina
(UPDATE: Good news! The students organized and managed to stage their performance at a local playhouse, thanks to a Kickstarter campaign.) NCAC and other organizations committed to artistic and intellectual freedom sent the below letter to Maiden High School in response to the cancellation of the scheduled January production of John Cariani's Almost, Maine due to concerns about the play's content. Although [...]
Student Production of “Almost, Maine” Cancelled because of Same-Sex Storyline
(UPDATE: The students organized and managed to stage their performance at a local playhouse, thanks to a Kickstarter campaign.) A mere week after the legalization of gay marriage in North Carolina, a school in Maiden has decided to cancel a scheduled January production of Almost, Maine over, yes, the presence of a same-sex couple in the play's storyline. In a case [...]
PA High School Cancels “Spamalot” Over Homosexual Themes
UPDATE: We've just heard that, in apparent retaliation for speaking about the cancellation of the play, drama teacher Dawn Burch, has been just fired. Stay tuned for action alert and letter to the school board. In a letter sent to the South Williamsport Area School District today, the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), the American Booksellers Foundation For Free Expression, the [...]