Pennsylvania high school suspends adviser over refusing to publish ‘Redskins’ in newspaper

By Josh Hill | Sep 21, 2014

Jul 26, 2013; Richmond, VA, USA; A Washington Redskins player's helmet and NFL football rest on the field after practice during 2013 NFL training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The national debate over the use of the racial slur ‘Redskins’ is seeping into more than just the NFL and the discussion there. All across the country, like-minded folks are taking a stance against a word they feel is an outdated slur that is somehow as generally accepted as other slurs were up until recently.

More from NFL

In an issue of censorship versus morality, a Neshaminy High School in Pennsylvania has come down hard on the school’s newspaper following a ban on the word ‘Redskins’ by the journalism staff. In what has been a year long battle by the school to clear the word for publication, the paper has stood firm in its stance against the slur and are now being punished as a result.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, adviser Tara Huber was suspended without pay by the school following her refusal to budge on her stance against using the word. In addition to that, the newspaper has been docked $1,200 in funds — all over a slur.

"In an e-mail to the Pennsylvania School Press Association that was obtained by The Inquirer, adviser Tara Huber said that she was suspended without pay for “willful neglect of duties and insubordination,” and that the newspaper would have $1,200 docked from its student activity fund."

This comes after the newspaper refused to publish a letter penned by a student gushing over how awesome the Redskins name is and how much it means to him and his community.

It’s amazing that people fight over a slur as though you’re trying to abduct their only child, but that’s the case with Neshaminy High School. Things get tricky when you bring up censorship, and perhaps the paper could have handled things better by publishing the letter than editorially retorting on how stupid the student was for thinking a racial slur represented his community.

Then again, high school is all about algebra, bad lunches and infidelity, so we can’t be all that shocked.

What this shows is that the debate over the Redskins name is bigger than Daniel Snyder and the NFL. It’s a national movement targeting more than just professional sports, and the list of collateral damage by those defending the name continues to mount.

More From FanSided.com

What Roger Goodell should have said
NFL, NFLPA issue joint statement on new drug policy
NFL’s 25 highest-paid players for 2014 season
The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide to the NFL Week 3