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Terry Nelson Q & A / Terry Nelson video interview / Terry Nelson profile

Exactly 25 years ago, Terry Nelson was fired as a teacher and student media adviser at Yorktown (Ind.) High School after clashes with school administrators over freedom of the press issues. She was re-hired a month later after the school realized it had overstepped its bounds. Twelve years later, she was elected to the same school board that had ousted her. Now the journalism teacher and adviser at Muncie (Ind.) Central High School, she remains a symbol of freedom of the press for scholastic newspapers nationwide. In 2000, Nelson was named an ALL USA Teacher, First Team, by USA Today. A year later, she earned the honor of Dow Jones Newspaper Fund National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year. In this interview, she discusses the state of the student media and reminisces about her storied career.

Q - Terry, you are approaching 30 years in teaching and journalism advising. How did it all start?

A - Ironically, I never wanted to be a teacher. My original intent was to be the first female editor of the Chicago Tribune. What happened was that I graduated from Ball State University in three years, married my high school sweetheart, and then moved with my husband to Mississippi. I got a reporting job down there. We then decided to move back to Muncie so he could go back to school. I was offered a job at the Muncie Star (now Star Press) the same day as I was offered a teaching job at Yorktown High School. I decided to take the teaching job, thinking I would be home at 3 every day. So, I decided to do the teaching job for three years while he was in school-and then I would go back to the newspaper business.

Q - So, what happened next?

A - I hated it, and had to teach nine different mini-courses as well as do (coordinate) yearbook and newspaper. I also directed all the plays. Well, I never got home at 3 o'clock and had to work during all the vacations. The second year I got a little better at it. The third year I got pregnant, so I wasn't going to go anywhere yet. The fifth year was my tenure year. That was the year I got fired, then rehired. After that, I got hooked (on teaching) despite myself. I had two babies (Matt and Annie) and was 28. I guess I stayed in by default. But as I look back, those tough times helped me define who I was. It was kind of by accident, thinking that I was always going to finish this up and go back into the newspaper business. And, by the time my kids got older, I realized that I didn't want to go to a newspaper full time.

Q - So, what keeps you going day to day?

A - I find that besides parenthood, teaching's the most important job in the world. It has to do with the individual. You have a chance to help them find a purpose in life. You also have the chance to show them that anything is possible. I love high school because the kids can rise to great heights. I can't think of another job where I could have the impact to significantly improve an individual's life, even the world. I love it.

Q - What are the biggest obstacles facing a free student press today?

A - With all the attention places on education today, (it's) the no-child-left-behind policy and all the concern about core requirements. Journalism is being left out of the loop. In Indiana, youngsters have to take a certain numbers of classes out of each discipline, and journalism is not part of that. A student who wants to go to college . it's rare that they have the time in their schedule to take journalism class, get hooked, then join the publication staff. Across the nation, we're finding that legislators don't realize that journalism is cross-disciplinary - speaking, writing and logical thinking. Many schools are closing journalism programs because they can't get the numbers anymore.

Q - What should be done about the problem?

A -- People are going to have to tackle this at the state level. In Indiana, we're working to get journalism included as a core elective credit. When journalism is included on the list of accepted electives, that could revive things. It'll have to be a state-by-state fight because each state has different rules.

Q - Are there other obstacles?

A -- We're in an era of fear - 9-11, the aftermath of that. My philosophy is that when there is fear, there seems to be more of a need for control. From principals to advisers to students, there is often a hesitancy to tackle the truth or fear that the truth will offend someone.

Q - So, some schools only want good news in their student newspapers?

A - Yes, there is a big concern about good public relations. Schools are more concerned about putting out the good word about what they're doing. For people who aren't informed, that means all good news in the newspaper.

Q - Why then, is a robust and free student press important - and what are the benefits to a school?

A - One of the great benefits is to teach the kids how to be involved in their world, not only by complaining but by coming up with solutions on how to improve their world. The school newspaper is a place to air those complaints initially, and research and problem-solve. I tell the kids that there is no problem we shouldn't tackle if we are to improve the world. By realizing that at 16 they have the power to talk about any topic, to suggest improvements and achievements, it sets in motion the rest of their lives. It's a civic duty. You have to talk about difficult issues; talking about these things makes you a healthier school.

Q - Any other benefits?

A - I think it's a way to help kids get involved by knowing what's going on. There is no better class in the curriculum to help kids be better writers and communicators. Published work in the newspaper is going to be more accountable than an essay in a classroom. And journalism builds community. This year, our students will cover all the school board meetings. They will better understand how decisions are made at that level. I think it's also a way to academically promote the ideal of teamwork.

Q - What is the role of the adviser on a student publication?

A - I see myself as kind of a legal adviser. I sit on the editorial board but don't vote. I have lots of discussions to build rapport and mutual respect. I exert a strong presence, but still feel my best role is that of a legal adviser. In a tiered program (more than one class level) I am both the teacher and a resource. I read everything, talk about it all. But they have to have ownership of it wouldn't be a school newspaper. I have a strong presence. Sometimes, we'll sit down at the computer and go through a story together.

Q - How has technology affected you and the student newspaper?

A - Technology has changed things a lot. In a negative way for those of us who got into this to write, design and photograph. I'm still a person who doesn't have an electric can opener. Of course you have to learn computers. Unfortunately, three-quarters of our time is now spent dealing with technology. It's a problem. Some schools have good technical departments. But we're on Macs, and the conflict happens because so much nowadays is done on PCs. Overall, it is better for the publication, particularly in the look of the publication. I spend so much time now because you CAN do it just right. It's different for younger advisers. I'm sure it's not as much "alien nation."

Q - What advice do you have for young journalism teachers and advisers to newspapers?

A - It's important to think of advising and teaching as a vocation, not a job. For anything you truly love you have to put in the time to do what it takes. But set limits so you don't burn yourself out and can build a family life or a social life. That's a hard balance to achieve. For administrators, it would be awfully nice to be able to hire separate advisers for newspaper and yearbook. Doing both publications is hard. People in the future probably won't be willing to put in that kind of time anymore.

Q - How important is the principal and administration to the success of a high school newspaper?

A - You'd like to say it's incredibly important, but my career has shown that (it's all right) as long as they weren't bad, as long as they didn't hurt us. We were able to survive as long as they didn't beat us up. My principal (Dick Daniels) says good things about me and that's nice. With a beginning teacher, it's important that a principal actively support them. Being a journalism teacher is lonely (when you are new).

Q - Very few journalism teachers and advisers have professional journalism experience. Can that be a problem?

A - This is a problem. Real experience gives you story ideas if nothing else. And it lets you help the kids visualize what a journalism career is like. If you (a teacher) don't get professional experience before you start teaching, then you need to make it a point to go after and intern or do some stringing.

Q - Is it your role to develop tomorrow's professionals?

A -- I don't think we're teaching people to be career journalists, although you sometimes have good kids who move on - and that's great. But I think you are teaching them to be good communicators and citizens, and to have integrity and tell the truth.

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