Warren Watson
First Thoughts
Nov. 5, 2007

Parent rides the bench after blog postings

A few weeks ago, I posted a First Thoughts submission about the problems students are having with online speech. School administrators appear to be cracking down on student expression in cyberspace.

The Internet has clearly become the new First Amendment battleground for student expression.
Well, today comes word that even a parent blogger has been punished by a thin-skinned, overreaching school administration.

It seems Lisa Becker, who has three children in the Barnegat, N.J., school district, has been told she no longer can volunteer at school because administrators are bruised by comments she made on her Web site, thebarnegatpress.com.

Becker was told she can volunteer only after she ceases writing her blog, which she started a year ago as a means of expressing frustration about workings of the town government and school board. In a year’s time, traffic on her site has quadrupled. Some information on the site has been critical of the school, with readers sharing thoughts on how things might be improved.

Becker accused the administration of “bullying,” according to the Asbury Park Press. She said she is considering legal action. In turn, the administration said it acted on the advice of its attorney -- but did not elaborate.

Come on, Barnegat administrators: Ease up!