Looks at some recent regulations in Germany and the United States which have limited information exchange over computer networks. Details the real political application via the Internet of a specific example in the Netherlands. (RS)

In 1995, members of the local teachers' association sued the Colonial School District in eastern Pennsylvania regarding a policy prohibiting political activities at official polling places on school property during nonworking hours. The court decided in the teachers' favor, declaring the policy unconstitutional. Generally, teachers' partisan…

Earlier, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the conviction of a teacher who, within his teaching, was propagating anti-Jewish sentiments. Now, in "Attis v. The Board of School Trustees District No. 15," the Supreme Court decided that a teacher's off-duty activities, which propagate extreme or virulent views against a religious or ethnic…

To protect children from material it considers harmful, Family Friendly Libraries (FFL) seeks to limit access to information in public libraries. This article describes the conflict between the FFL and the American Library Association (ALA). Provides an overview of censorship and U.S. legislative history, presents the FFL position and the ALA…

Parents can install the v-chip microchip in their televisions to block out programs high in violence, sex, or other objectional material. Examines the views of supporters, who see it as a coping tool for the information age and of detractors who see it as an affront to the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. (SM)

Discusses the new Arkansas Student Publications Act (and provides the text), which offers limited protection for student press freedom. (PA)

Considers that, contrary to the conventional wisdom, far less censorship is applied to the educational process in non-public than in public schools. Gives tips on avoiding censorship: establish a quality paper, have a written editorial policy, establish the paper as a forum, encourage substantive stories, and eliminate prior administrative review.…

Discusses concerns regarding the Internet and its relationship to law and ethics. Answers questions about use of Internet sites, copyright issues, graphics, and other features in stories. (PA)

States that learning to resolve the difficult ethical questions that often arise in high school journalism is not only necessary, but is a tool for self-protection. Provides several hypothetical situations that yearbook and newspaper staff members might encounter. (PA)

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Association for Indiana Media Educators surveyed 2,650 schools regarding materials which have been questioned or challenged in school library media programs. The 1995-86 results are compared to results from the 1994 survey. (DGM)

Questions high school newspaper advisers about whether their attitudes about censorship had changed since the Hazelwood decision. Finds that the "Hazelwood effect" has been overstated; membership in journalism organizations positively related to less censorship and less self-censorship; and some state press freedom laws may be having a…

Uses J.W. Carey's transmission and ritual communication models to illustrate harms caused by hate speech. Examines legal precedent for the ritual model, but suggests that courts more often adopt the transmission model. Argues that, although the ritual model points to a different, long-term harm caused by hate speech, its adoption raises troubling…

Asserts that current campaigns to recruit undergraduates to "spy" on their professors--including Campus Watch and No Indoctrination--have not been enthusiastically received by today's college students; more significant, even conservative student are publicly either lukewarm or opposed to attempts to curtail academic freedom. (EV)

Discusses why the administrative urge to "manage" and the faculty desire for freedom can often conflict. Describes ways professional autonomy and corporate obligation can be balanced. (EV)