Student, Teacher

In this episode of The Kicker, host Megan Greenwell sits down with Eric Gustafson, the longtime journalism advisor at Lowell High School in San Francisco. The conversation centers on the robust legal shield that California provides for student journalists under Education Code section 48907, a statute that outpaces most state protections and explicitly bars retaliation against teachers who support press freedom. With eighteen states offering some form of student‑press protection, California’s law is often cited as the strongest, guaranteeing that high‑school newspapers can operate independently while still bearing the same legal responsibilities as professional outlets.

Gustafson’s personal stake in the issue became clear when the San Francisco Unified School District removed him from his advisory role after the paper published a story on student drug use. Citing section 48907, he sued the district and ultimately prevailed, reinforcing that advisors cannot be dismissed for protecting student speech. He also described how Lowell’s journalism program—once three elective periods, now reduced to two due to budget cuts—structures its curriculum: a Journalism 1 writing class followed by a production‑focused Journalism 2, with students earning staff positions through portfolio reviews. This model balances classroom instruction with real‑world newsroom experience.

The episode also delves into two high‑profile articles that tested the limits of the law: a piece exposing drug sales in school bathrooms and a later investigation into verbal harassment by teachers. In both cases, administrators sought advance copies or informal reviews, but the student editors invoked their statutory rights and declined, prompting further tension. Gustafson emphasized his hands‑off approach during editorial decisions, reinforcing that advisors may guide sourcing and legal risk but must not censor content. Their experience illustrates how strong statutory protections empower student journalists to tackle controversial topics, offering a model for schools nationwide seeking to preserve press freedom while navigating liability concerns.