A proposed controversial revision to Neshaminy School District Policy 600, which involves speech in the high school’s newspaper, has been removed from the Neshaminy School Board’s agenda for their Tuesday evening meeting.
The Neshaminy School Board Policies Committee met last Tuesday night and approved a revised policy that would stop the editors of the high school school’s newspaper, The Playwickian, from banning the use of the word “Redskin.” District officials said last week that the motion would be discussed at the upcoming school board work session this Tuesday. By Monday afternoon, the item was off the agenda after appearing over the weekend.
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School board President Scott Congdon did not return a request for comment on the removal of the policy from the agenda, and it is unclear when the revised policy will be considered by the board of nine.
The move comes after an attorney representing the student editors of The Playwickian send a letter to district administration.
Below is an excerpt from the multi-page letter from attorney Gayle Sproul of Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz LLP:
We were informed at the meeting that the Policy would be presented to the School Board for adoption just one week later – on Tuesday, May 6. This rush to adopt such a significant and extensive policy is unnecessary and is in no one’s best interest, and we sincerely hope that you and the School Board will consider adjourning the vote on the adoption of this Policy to allow the Policy Committee’s counsel and others to re view our comments and others regarding the proposal and to res pond to them. The Board can then consider both sides of the issues, which is undoubtedly the fairest and most productive way to proceed.
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The letter further lays out reasons why the word should not be used in the school newspaper.
District officials said last week that the word, which is considered by some a racial slur against Native Americans, has to be printed by the school paper. District Attorney Mark Levin said the revised policy blocks newspaper staff from editing the word. He said the staff can only prohibit the use of the word when it is used in a offensive way, which district officials have the legal authority to determine. On that note, it was announced the writers and editors could print disclaimers near articles where the word was used and they could also editorialize about the word.
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“The Playwickian is part of curriculum, not the Philadelphia Inquirer,” school board member Stephen Pirritano said last week.
Despite the policy revision not being on the agenda, the board will still be discussing several important topics, including the budget.
