Jacob Phillips

Project Proposal

A. Summary

For my senior project, I plan on researching the issue of censorship while focusing on

censorship in schools. I am a passionate writer and feel as though schools do not allow students

to fairly write and read what they want. On far too many occasions, student-run school papers

have been censored because the school was not satisfied with the article. Along with this issue, I

plan on researching the limits to banning books from school libraries. There are several famous

cases of school districts banning famous novels, such as ​To Kill A Mockingbird,​ from their

libraries while others openly stock the ​Watchmen​ graphic novel: a very graphic and dark story

about cold war superheroes. While some argue that censorship serves to protect the innocence of

youth in America, there must be a limit on restricting a student’s ability to voice their opinion

and access information. I hope to learn the state, regional, and national legal boundaries to the

censorship of student writing and reading in public schools.

My research will pertain to the following guiding questions:

❏ What are the limits on student writing for school papers?

❏ What are the boundaries for books stocked in school libraries?

❏ How does Virginia Beach compare to Norfolk in terms of school censorship?

❏ What are the limits of students’ Constitutional protections on speech when it comes to

writing?

❏ Are there national laws regarding school censorship?

 For my project, I intend to compile a collection of short stories written by students at

First Colonial in order to inspire students to write despite school guidelines. It is my hope to

inspire more students to get involved in the world of creative writing. With the help of Mr.

Hodges as my advisor, I plan on going around classes at First Colonial, specifically (but not

entirely) English classes, and advertising the opportunity to write for the collection. The first

stories submitted, the actual number depends on space available, will be bound in hardcover

form. Those stories that will not appear in print will be showcased in an online format with no

length cut-off allowing for as many students to have their work showcased as possible. I then

will go around to several classes at First Colonial, again mostly but not entirely English classes,

reading selections from the printed collection. I will then hand out a survey to the classes and

will measure the success of the readings based on that feedback. After the readings, I hope to

have the hardcover collection stocked in the First Colonial Library for any student to read.

B. New Skills, Enhanced Skills, and Growth Goals

New Skills

❏ Page Designing

❏ Collecting and compiling works

❏ Printing

❏ Binding

Enhanced Skills

❏ Publishing

❏ Editing

❏ Communication
Growth Goals

❏ Public reading

❏ Reaching out to others

C. Marketing Plan/ Facilities/ Audience

I plan on presenting selections from the printed compilation to several different classes at

First Colonial once it is complete. To advertise the opportunity to write for the compilation, I

will create small handouts detailing the guidelines for the compilation, how to submit works to

the compilation, and how they will appear in print or online. Along with this, I will speak to

different English classes to spread the information by word of mouth. The audience I intend to

reach are two groups: student writers and readers. Because my project deals heavily with

English, I will negotiate with several teachers at First Colonial to give extra credit to students

who submit work to the compilation. I will also reach out the the librarians of the First Colonial

High School library to see if the book can be stocked for students to read for years to come.

D. Project Steps

Preliminary Steps Design and print fliers. Talk to teachers about extra credit 7
opportunities and advertising. Speak to classes. Distribute
fliers. Design Website

Midway Steps Collect stories. Edit stories. Select stories for print 8
version. Design the compilation. Bind the print version.
Upload stories to website. Talk to teachers about
readings. Design feedback/survey forms.

Later Steps Read to classes. Distribute and collect feedback/survey 3

forms.

Follow Up Analyze feedback/survey forms. Graph results. Meet with 2

librarians about stocking the collection.

Total 20
E. Project Documentation

● Screenshots of emails

● Photos of Editing

● Photos of the book

● Online collection of stories

● Photos from readings

F. Project Justification

With my project, I hope to inspire students to pursue some form of writing despite limits

on what is school appropriate. There is a distinct lack of students who engage in creative writing

activities. Creative Writing is also not an offered course as a part of the Virginia Beach City

Public Schools Curriculum. I hope to spur interest in creative writing for students who do not

have opportunities to pursue creative writing in school. My project will also serve as a challenge

for me because, although I have experience writing, I do not have experience collecting and

editing works. I also do not have experience sharing works, whether they belong to me or not,

with large audiences.

G. Project - Paper Connection

My paper will focus on analyzing the issue of censorship in schools. My paper will

identify issues with censoring student writing in school newspapers or literary magazines as well

as the guidelines for what works can be put on the shelves of public school libraries. My project

will serve as an opportunity for students to work around the public school restrictions on writing
with minimal editing. My project will also allow me to go through the process of having a book

stocked in the First Colonial High School Library.

H. Academic Honesty

I understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the project will result in

failure of the Senior Project and forfeiture of the Legal Studies Seal on my High School diploma.