Principal had promised to lift block on student site from school computers
October 31, 2002
PENNSYLVANIA – The principal at Carbon County
Vocational-Technical School has not removed a computer network block on a
student-run Web site as was originally reported on Oct. 21.According to
Web site editor James Curry, The Babbitt site remains blocked on all
school computers, contrary to reports that Principal Paul Caputo said he removed
the block nearly two weeks ago.The Student Press Law Center as well as
the Morning Call of Allentown, Penn. reported that Caputo agreed to lift
the block on the Web site as long as it caused no disruption at school.
In an article in the Morning Call, Caputo said, “the students have demonstrated the ability to report on the
issues in a way that is balanced. It’s their opinion, and as long as they
characterize what they write as their opinion, not fact, and stay away from
personal attacks, we’ll allow access.”The Babbitt, an
online news site run by students, first drew the ire of Carbon County Vo-Tech
administrators when it reported that a teacher had falsified a disciplinary
referral form. Caputo alleged that the site had caused serious disruption when
he initially blocked it in January 2002.Curry said he has tried to reach
Caputo for an explanation and has received no reply. Caputo did not
return voicemails and messages left with his office. Robert Keegan in the
executive director’s office of the Carbon County Intermediate Unit, which
controls Carbon County Vo-Tech Internet service, could not be reached.
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© 2002 Student Press Law Center
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