Recent headlines surrounding the Bark and its interactions with school and district administration have been alarming, if not shocking. We have gained recognition not only from local publications like the Marin Independent Journal (IJ) and EdSource Oakland, but also nationally recognized publications such as the New York Post’s “California Post.” While these stories have brought attention to our publication and some of our many important stories, we feel that important context may be missing that could help better inform readers.
On Feb. 23, select members of the Bark staff were informed that one person mentioned in our Instagram story about Marin towns mentioned in the Epstein Files was threatening to file legal action against the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) for libel and defamation. The post was researched using keyword searches of the Epstein Files. Principal Dr. Barnaby Payne then received a directive from Superintendent Dr. Courtney Goode for the Bark to redact the woman’s name from our post.
On Feb. 24, after lengthy discussion, Bark leadership staff decided to remove the slide containing the woman’s name from Instagram. While statements from certain individuals claim that the Bark staff felt scared or pressured by the district, this was not the case. With assistance from lawyers from the Student Press Law Center and our former adviser Erin Schneider, Bark staff knew they were protected under student free press rights granted by California Education Code 48907. Instead, after intense analysis of the post’s wording and input from trusted adults, students involved decided to take the time to ensure they were not personally liable to legal action and decided to remove the post. Bark staff communicated to school and district staff that it was an entirely independent decision by the students involved to remove the slide.
The district’s directive seemed vague and unreasonable, even if it was rooted in fear. Before removing the slide, select Bark staff wished to speak with Dr. Goode and Dr. Payne to understand their request further. This was, however, made impossible by world events, as Dr. Payne was stuck in Mexico due to ongoing violence in Puerto Vallarta. The removal could be attributed to our inability to meet with Dr. Payne, as when Bark staff met with Dr. Payne and Dr. Goode, a quick and simple conversation about the sources for our post restored the district and school administration’s full confidence in our decisions, and the slide was quickly restored to Instagram, where it can still be seen.
While the Bark has had perhaps more interactions with district staff than usual, TUHSD is required to investigate all complaints lodged against its programs, staff and more. This was why the district was required to investigate the cover published in February, which received complaints for its depiction of a protester with a sign expressing anti-Zionist sentiment. There are also, contrary to some reporting, currently no complaints against the Bark or the district as a whole regarding the Bark. Unfortunately, reporting can be controversial, meaning complaints and, as we have learned, increased interaction with district staff. While we are grateful for the attention and readership our publication has received, we hope to move forward and focus on more current issues of greater importance and substance than something that could be confined to a simple misunderstanding. While it was unfortunate that the district’s decisions were not well-researched and abrupt, they have met with the Bark leadership multiple times since and honored our free press rights. We hope these reflections provide some context for the muddied stories surrounding our publication.
