1. The Profile

The typical administrator or school teacher is a middle aged yuppie in a minivan who never got much done with his or her life and really had no choice but to work at a high school. Most of them never reached the annals of higher learning, i.e. a university, or bastion of liberalism. So they really don't know a hell of a lot and what they do know, probably leans on the conservative side. Of course there are some pretty cool off-the-wall teachers who probably burned down banks back in the sixties, but those are far and few between. At least in my opinion, most of my teachers knew jack shit about case law, and even less about rights. Of course they liked to act like they knew what they were talking about, and if you challenged them, they got pissed off.

Why do you think you're always hearing about some kid from B.F.E (Bumfuck Egypt, USA) who refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance and either got expelled or suspended, only to fight back with a lawsuit and win? It's because administrators are dumb as shit and ignorant of the fact that the Supreme Court of our dear land held in a landmark decision that students don't and shouldn't have to pledge allegiance to the flag unless they want. But it happens time and time again; the administrators try to force the kid, the kid refuses and gets suspended, his parents sue the school, and they win a grip of money.

While you may know what you're talking about, they just see you as a punkass kid who probably won't amount to much. Certainly you're just stirring up waves, and they don't appreciate that. If you have piercings everywhere, you may as well be a child of the devil, that's how little credibility you have with them. Sorry, kiddo, but if black trenchcoats are part of your everyday wardrobe, please realize that "creepy goth kid in trenchcoat" conjures up images of the shooters behind Columbine. I don't want to read your email defending why you think it's unique or original to wear a trenchcoat and combat boots, by the way. Just be aware that they may not understand you and what you're about.

The best way to earn their respect is to talk to them politely, and yes, with none of that "fuckin' this," and "fuckin' that" and "Y'know, like..shittt." Speak intelligently and if you need to disagree, do it with respect and stick to the issues at hand. Don't make it personal. If they get personal, gently remind them that you are only interested in discussing why you have a constitutional right to put out a publication of your own choice, and why they can't censor you. If they flip out and threaten to suspend you, I'd have a name and phone number of someone from your local chapter of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) handy and a few judicial decisions by the Supreme Court ready to cite. Tell them that you will bring in a lawyer and threaten legal action if they abridge your rights. The trick is to remain calm, civil, and cold, if the situation gets crazy. Don't lip off and call them a "fascist-nazi pig" or something to that effect. That'll just make you look like an immature brat. You want them to take you seriously, so try, try, to act like an adult.

Always keep in mind that they see you as a threat to their establishment and to the status quo. They don't want someone to incite mass rebellion or civil disobedience.