Va. bill could restrict student journalists’ ability to survey classmates

Student Press Law Center ^ | 01/15/15 2:48pm | Mariana Viera

[WhiskeyX]

VIRGINIA — A bill introduced in the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday could limit high school student journalists’ ability to survey their classmates.

The bill, which Del. Tony Wilt introduced, would require parents to approve any surveys asking students to provide “sexual information,” mental health information, medical information, student health risk information, information about drug use and other topics the school board deems “sensitive.”

“If anyone is giving the students a survey of that nature, an attempt has to be made to notify the parents,” said Wilt, a Republican.

Kelly Furnas, the executive director of the Journalism Education Association, said the bill’s vague language is concerning because it does not specify if it applies to students “or just employees of the school.”

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

If the teachers and administrators can’t survey their students, how on earth can they be sure they’ve brainwashed them sufficiently and quickly enough?

[Opinionated Blowhard]

“My big thing with this is that parents know what their students are being asked,” Wilt said.

If this is students asking other students, I don't know why the parents need to know. If a kid tells some student journalist about his sexual habits or that he drinks and does drugs, that's his business and he will have to live with any publicity that comes with it.

[MrEdd]

Because these are minors.
When the kids are adults out on their own then (and only then) the parents will have no say.

Up until the sixties most people were bright enough to understand this simple principal without needing someone to explain it to them.

[beelzepug]

Somebody asks you questions, tell ‘em to hit the road.

[noinfringers2]

As I recall the 60s was the start of the ‘new age’. O’ Leary was a doped up guru who led generations into the feely goody mood with the help of any hallucinating drugs/chemicals available. I had a very enlightening experience as a church ‘leader’ with a young pastor who took the view that God was presenting all these phenomena so that we could make more Godlike choices.

[buckalfa]

"As I recall the 60s was the start of the ‘new age’"

Pretty much. The 60;s also saw the beginning of the end for in parentis loco theory. However with the Nanny State in full bloom, the state has replaced the parent.