Dissent or Disruption?

Schools have a responsibility to maintain a safe learning environment for all students—this seems on first examination a simple enough statement. It isn’t. 

Two words are key—“learning” and “all.” A school that is inclusive of all its students but unable to nurture learning has failed in its responsibility. An academically successful school that only supports its majority students has equally neglected its obligation.

This balancing act can challenge the most conscientious administrator. For a less ethical school official, it can be a dangerous invitation to blur the line between dissent and disruption.

Krystal Myers isn’t someone you would call a troublemaker. She is an honor student. She is the editor of the school newspaper. She is the captain of the swim team. She is an atheist. An atheist who wrote an articulate essay [2] for the school paper lamenting the lack of equal rights for atheist students in her Tennessee public high school, where most students and staff are Christian. Lenoir City High School (LCHS) officials suppressed her article on the grounds that it could cause a disruption in the school.

The question is—what sort of disruption? Myers’ only call to action was a request for “help in educating other people to realize the injustice done to minority groups.” When the mere questioning of authority is labeled subversion and dissent becomes disruption, how are our schools to support an increasingly diverse student population?

Would, by LCHS standards, it be disruptive for a student of color to point out discriminatory practices in a primarily white school? Perhaps LGBT students should also be muzzled. If Myers had called for school walkouts or rioting, I would agree whole-heartedly with her administration’s decision to suppress her essay in the interest of maintaining an effective learning environment for her fellow students.

But she didn’t. She simply pointed out instances where she felt the school had violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment—such as regular prayer at sporting events and school board meetings. Her accusations were logically presented without reference to individuals. She contested the misconception that atheists “hate Christians” and wrote instead “we just want to be respected for who we are and not be judged.” LCHS refutes none of the accusations in Myers essay, but only asserts that the school is not in violation of the Constitution.

When rational words are silenced, their accusations barely denied, we must question the motivation behind the censorship. If LCHS has used their responsibility to their students as a cover for discrimination, it is a grave offense indeed.

Pettway is associate editor for Teaching Tolerance.