School paper suspended for publishing story on football transfers

[Spartan Squad]

From what I gleaned, an Arkansas high school paper published a story highlighting the suspicious nature of how five football players transfered and played at a rival school. Kids talked to the students involved, did research and published a solid story. School's supe suspended the paper despite a state law that is supposed to protect student publications from just such an action. Court rulings are not in the kids' side here but this could make for an interesting fight.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/articl...ent-newspaper-suspended-football?ref=hpsplash

Of course the kids did it for a scholarship opportunity, so token you're costing them scholarships! post.

 

[outofplace]

I'm wondering what the coverage has been like from the local professional newspapers. They should be all over this, the transfers and the school district's reaction.

The newspaper's teacher adviser is also in some serious trouble. I hope she has tenure because she probably made an enemy of the principal in her building and the superintendent of her district.

Here is a link to Arkansas Student Publications Act, which was passed in 1995.

Student Press Law Center | Arkansas Student Publications Act (1995)

So far, I only see blog entry on the Arkansas Time website, which mostly shares information from Buzzfeed. I tried a Google search for Har-Ber High School football and got nothing about the transfers.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

There’s a thread about this topic that started way back in April on a state high school football forum:
Har-Ber Transfers to Springdale High

And the story calls Springdale a small town. Its school district is the largest in the state, bigger even than Little Rock.

 

[britwrit]

I'd be a lot more pro-student here if they weren't writing about kids transferring away from their school to a rival. Did the article in question take a look at the policy in general or how their own house had handled transfers?

 

[HanSenSE]

Don't know the situation in Arkansas, but I hope the teachers union will raise holy hell about the firing threat.

 

[Starman]

So, let me get this straight:

1. Four players transfer AWAY from Har-Ber to alleged football factory Springdale?

2. Transfer irregularities are suspected. Student journalists from Har-Ber investigate and find some evidence to support the suspicions.

3. School officials at Har-Ber come down hard on student journalists and faculty advisor.

So the school officials are running a coverup to promote the idea that football players should transfer away from Har-Ber?

 

[Scout]

I think the Har-Ber principal might have signed off on the transfers when he should not have. Why? Probably school politics at its finest.

 

[Spartan Squad]

So, let me get this straight:

1. Four players transfer AWAY from Har-Ber to alleged football factory Springdale?

2. Transfer irregularities are suspected. Student journalists from Har-Ber investigate and find some evidence to support the suspicions.

3. School officials at Har-Ber come down hard on student journalists and faculty advisor.

So the school officials are running a coverup to promote the idea that football players should transfer away from Har-Ber?

The superintendent did this not necessarily the school. The two high schools in question are in the same district.

 

[Batman]

There’s a thread about this topic that started way back in April on a state high school football forum:
Har-Ber Transfers to Springdale High

And the story calls Springdale a small town. Its school district is the largest in the state, bigger even than Little Rock.

I'm not sure what they've done since, but at one time Springdale was one of Arkansas' major football powers. It's where Gus Malzahn was the head coach before he became the offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2005 and began his quick rise to prominence in the SEC.

 

[outofplace]

The superintendent did this not necessarily the school. The two high schools in question are in the same district.

That was my thinking as well. According to the message board Twirling linked, there is some history of players transferring among the two schools, often to join the stronger program. Of course, I get that the posts on the message board are far from a trustworthy source, but that would make a little more sense.

Also, I believe it was five players, not four. (Starman had it as four.)

 

[Starman]

The superintendent did this not necessarily the school. The two high schools in question are in the same district.

Ah, ok. So the superintendent wants all the football players to transfer to Vince Lombardi High and everybody to shut up about it.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Perhaps Arkansas has looser transfer rules. I have no idea, but wouldn't be shocked. But in Texas, the AD of the team losing the player has to fill out a PAP (Previous Athletic Participation) form and has to indicate the student is not transferring for athletic purposes. If he is marked as thus, then the district executive committee (basically the supes) has to vote to accept the transfer. If they decline, it goes to Austin from there.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

I'm not sure what they've done since, but at one time Springdale was one of Arkansas' major football powers. It's where Gus Malzahn was the head coach before he became the offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2005 and began his quick rise to prominence in the SEC.

Yes, Springdale was the state's biggest high school at that time. Now the district has the 2 biggest high schools — Springdale High and Har-Ber. The NW part of the state has been upsetting the apple cart for a good while. (Although this year's results didn't show it as both state finalists were CA schools.)

 

[outofplace]

Perhaps Arkansas has looser transfer rules. I have no idea, but wouldn't be shocked. But in Texas, the AD of the team losing the player has to fill out a PAP (Previous Athletic Participation) form and has to indicate the student is not transferring for athletic purposes. If he is marked as thus, then the district executive committee (basically the supes) has to vote to accept the transfer. If they decline, it goes to Austin from there.

In this case, they can only transfer for academic reasons. The story by the student paper includes quotes by at least two of the players saying they were transferring for football.

 

[cjericho]

I'd be a lot more pro-student here if they weren't writing about kids transferring away from their school to a rival. Did the article in question take a look at the policy in general or how their own house had handled transfers?

When kids transfer for athletic reasons, shockingly the school they transfer from is usually the one that reports it.

 

[cjericho]

I'm not sure what they've done since, but at one time Springdale was one of Arkansas' major football powers. It's where Gus Malzahn was the head coach before he became the offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2005 and began his quick rise to prominence in the SEC.

Which was followed by Houston Nutt's fall from prominence., although his peak wasn't as high as Malzahn's.

 

[outofplace]

As I mentioned earlier, I'm most curious to see how the local professional media outlets react. They should have something on this tomorrow and they should be hounding the district, building principles, athletic directors, football coaches and players.

 

[cjericho]

As I mentioned earlier, I'm most curious to see how the local professional media outlets react. They should have something on this tomorrow and they should be hounding the district, building principles, athletic directors, football coaches and players.

Also curious, but they got beat by the student paper. Would think now they get a no comment from anyone connected to the school.

 

[HanSenSE]

As I mentioned earlier, I'm most curious to see how the local professional media outlets react. They should have something on this tomorrow and they should be hounding the district, building principles, athletic directors, football coaches and players.

Wondering if any of them touched this in the first place. (EDIT: Props to cjericho)

And lest we forget: Per Wikipedia, Springdale is very close to the hometown of those board favorites, the Duggar family.

 

[britwrit]

When kids transfer for athletic reasons, shockingly the school they transfer from is usually the one that reports it.

With a big feature, complete with anonymous sources and FOI requests? Without reading the original article, it's hard to tell if it was good solid journalism, sour grapes at a rival or a mix of both.

I mean, how would you handle it? All five kids got approval to transfer. I presume some of them are minors, and who, may or may not be, considered public figures. I would've waited for more than two interviews and a video.