The First Amendment clarifies, as citizens of the United States, we have the right to think, speak, and believe as they please. Citizens may act on these rights peacefully in the face of the public and government without fear of harsh punishment or backlash.

As student writers, we express our opinions through our craft; we express our morals, beliefs, ethics, positions, and any other word you want to use to emphasize taking a stand. To the journalists and authors of America, this amendment is momentous. The purpose of the press is to keep institutions accountable. Without the freedom of the press, it seems that the press would be useless.

However, do the student journalists of America get the same freedoms?

An amazing new addition to the Judson tradition was recently added. The Fuel, the new online student newspaper, replaced the old newspaper, The Satellite, which was sadly allowed to die. As more and more professional newspapers die due to low sales and new media, many organizations are moving from print to all online. This is a form of new media that Judson High School has also followed.

The Fuel has already made a huge impact on the school. It has given parents, students and visitors’ positive insight to what is going on at Judson High School. It gives credit to all the hard work that is being done on this campus, not only by the students but by the teachers and administrators of Judson as well. Using all of our resources at our disposal, including our social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we have capture and share the great memories made on this campus, a tradition we hope that will live on forever.

The student journalists of The Fuel are encouraged by our adviser to be a part of the community by keeping up with the news around the school and surrounding area. Stories can range from news, to entertainment, to editorials. Every story is thought of, interviewed, written by the students, with our adviser simply advising, editing, and polishing our work. Final approval is ultimately up to our principal, Mr. Jesus Hernandez III.

As students of journalism, we understand the importance of appropriate, accurate, well written stories. Sadly, we are also aware that some of the voices of informed youth will never be heard, due to controversial subjects and fear of retribution.

However, that fear lies with the school, rather than the students.

Unfortunately, Texas does not currently have a student free expression or free-speech protection guaranteed in the state’s education code. Therefore, the legal burden falls on the schools; it is their responsibility to protect their students as minors. However, student journalists in Texas are still protected under the first amendment of the constitution.

If the lack of an educational code to protect students is the reason that student journalists are held back, what is the point of having student journalism programs?

If we look back at the purpose of newspapers, it is to keep institutions accountable. Having the ability to discuss issues that would normally not be discussed, and taking a stand, is what makes the world go around – we are able to have conversations about topics that need to be discussed, topics that youths are discussing amongst themselves anyway. We, student journalists, and The Fuel, want to bring these conversations to the forefront and the community. It gives the students a chance to feel big in a world which deems us small.

Although we may want to talk about controversial issues like racial relations or political matters, we understand the law is meant to protect students rather than intrude in the process. However, selfishly, it would be nice to discuss local, national, and worldwide issues that students talk about anyway.

Jack Nelson of Captive Voices, a book that inquires about the nature of high school journalism programs, says, “Censorship is the fundamental cause of the triviality, innocuousness and uniformity that characterize the high school press. Where a free, vigorous student press does exist, there is a healthy ferment of ideas and opinions with no indication of disruption or negative side effects on the educational experience of the school.”

He could not have said it better.