West Fargo High School's mission is "to teach lifelong learning skills that develop responsible citizens respectful of self and society in an ever-changing world." So what are students learning by the removal of an award-winning student-newspaper adviser?

Jeremy Murphy was told he would not return as the school's newspaper adviser, the news coming not long after the paper won best overall school newspaper and journalist of the year honors at the Northern Interscholastic Press Association competition.

Something doesn't seem right, according to Hoyle. It would seem foolish to remove a teacher for a job well done. There certainly must be more to this story, but the rest might never be told, as administrators and school board members aren't talking.

Which begs another question: What lesson does that teach students? What you don't say can't hurt you? That isn't always the case.

Murphy has been open but cautious with comments about the situation, as he has been advised that if he says too much it might be considered "insubordinate," leading to the loss of his job. But Murphy did say administrators told him he was removed based on a "difference of philosophy" as to the role an adviser should take on a student publication. He said administrators told him they received complaints from teachers and School Board members about what they called "negative" content.

"Administrators simply want an adviser who will restrain students from reporting on certain topics, and I wasn't willing to compromise their freedoms to that extent," Murphy wrote.

He said he encouraged students to model professional journalists by questioning authority or asking challenging questions.

"This whole experience has kind of altered my view on the educational system and the process of what our purpose is as educators," he said. "I thought I was doing the right thing by teaching these kids skills to help them succeed beyond high school. But instead, I was punished for it."

Principal Gary Clark said he and West Fargo Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dana Diesel Wallace were unable to comment on "personnel issues." What does a statement like that teach students when there are no laws that prohibit discussion of personnel items? Personnel files, in fact, are open and public records.

Clark, however, was then asked to comment about the following: the general role of a high school newspaper and yearbook adviser and the relationships between principals, boards and students. What are the ground rules? What are the levels of authority? What, in general, justifies reassignment or appointment?

Clark did not respond.

Murphy is highly regarded by peers in Bismarck and Mandan.

"He (Murphy) is a fantastic high school journalism teacher who knows the power of a free press and the responsibilities that come along with that freedom," said Sue Skalicky, Century High adviser. "We need professional journalism teachers to teach responsible journalism. In North Dakota … Jeremy is one of the best and it saddens me that he has been asked to step down."

"Jeremy … has done a lot for … encouraging real student journalism," said Amy Walker, adviser at Mandan High. "He has been a real leader and an excellent role model for student journalism. It is such a shame to see him and the students being punished for excellence."

"Jeremy Murphy is an energetic, talented journalism adviser who has contributed enormous amounts of time and knowledge to students and advisers around the state of North Dakota," said Annie McKenzie, Bismarck High adviser. "I find Jeremy Murphy to be more than competent, professional and qualified to be the adviser of the West Fargo Packer newspaper."

It is hard to compromise principles, but in a marriage between a school newspaper adviser and principal (or school board) there need to be clearly negotiated understandings, which is possibly the crux of the West Fargo situation.

In the best of worlds, principals and advisers would refrain from censoring student comment. The rights of the press are well defined in the First Amendment.

Administrators should also consider the 1999 words of Matthew Berry, general counsel for the Federal Communications Commission:

"Our nation's tradition of free speech is premised on the notion we do not prohibit expression merely because it may have negative effects. We criticize, rather than criminalize, speech with which we disagree."

If the debate at West Fargo boils down to the appropriate role for a newspaper adviser, hopefully Murphy wasn't dismissed because he was not "controlling" student content.

What do students learn from that message?

Finally, the appropriate role for a high school newspaper adviser is to advise, and then allow students to be responsible for their words.

(You can reach Editor John Irby at 250-8266 or john.irby@bismarcktribune.com and go to http://www.bismarcktribune.com/blog/?wthepaper&e_id2671/ to read his blog.)