RARITAN TWP. — The decade-long faculty adviser to Hunterdon Central High School's award-winning student newspaper has quit over a new school board policy that requires the administration's review of The Lamp's content prior to publication.

English teacher Tom McHale submitted his resignation as adviser on May 20, after an appeal to have the board amend the policy failed.

Update: Policy that led 10-year student newspaper adviser to resign is not new, say Hunterdon Central officials

"Sad day," begins McHale's May 20 post on his Facebook page, which included his letter of resignation.

“I've worked for the last ten years guiding kids to think critically and to make responsible and ethical decisions based on principles of journalism,” McHale wrote. “This year, however, prior review was instituted for the first time during my tenure." The policy, McHale wrote, "diminishes the educational value of being a member of The Lamp.”

On Dec. 17, the paper was awarded first place in Division A of the Garden State Scholastic Press Association's 2012 newspaper contest. Division A includes the state's largest schools.

In his resignation letter, McHale wrote that the policy demonstrates a lack of trust in the student journalists and lack of respect for the extra-curricular newspaper, which pays for its print edition without funds from the school and is produced entirely outside of the school day.

McHale resigned after a recent meeting among Lamp managing staff. “Mr. McHale feels very passionately about the detriments that prior review has on scholastic journalism,” student editor-in-chief Ilana Cederbaum wrote in an email on May 24.

“He decided to resign from the position as adviser because he felt he couldn't morally sit idly by with prior review in place,” Ilana wrote.

In his resignation letter, McHale told school officials that the paper has been weakened by the policy. “I've seen the staff become more cautious in what they cover for fear of it not getting approved which would cause a further disruption to their production schedule. I've watched the impact it has made on the attitude of the staff towards their work and the administration.”

“I cannot in all good conscience, continue in my role as adviser,” McHale wrote. “What is being lost is too great for me to sit idly by and condone it with my presence.”

More than two dozen of McHale's Facebook friends, many who identified themselves as former students and Lamp members, responded to his post with praise for his integrity and incredulity over the policy.

McHale did not return requests for comment.

Stay with NJ.com for updates to this story.

More Hunterdon County news: NJ.com/hunterdon • Facebook • Twitter