High School yearbooks and questionable content

Parent Cafe
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No. Actually it’s not. You are dead on when you say that this is RAMPANT in the high schools, and actually I <em>DO</em> know what’s going on as my kids (and their friends) are VERY open with me. Some of my son’s (he’s a college soph now) friends drank in h.s., and some of them smoked pot and such. And I know this because HE told me. He has also been very open with me about his own activities.</p>

<p>I think one of the differences is that if a college-bound gal found herself pregnant, she might be more likely to terminate the pregnancy and continue her education. I have no statisics to back this up with regard to our community but have heard from several women MY age who chose this option when they were younger, one of them being my best friend from h.s.</p>

<p>Like you, my kids tend to run with crowds that don’t drink or drug, but that is not to say that they don’t associate with some kids who have/do. One of my D’s best friends (and the most delightful girl EVER) has four tattoos, and my D knows how <em>I</em> feel about those. I definitely don’t have my head in the sand, and thank G-d, my kids <em>AND</em> their friends have a great deal of trust in me and feel comfortable talking with me about uncomfortable subjects.</p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>

bhg~</p>

<p>I really thank you for your understanding and your sweet response. My reaction was not so much disappointment as befuddlement. I probably would not have even SEEN the yearbook for AGES except that some kids who are friends of my kids had come by after they had picked up theirs (my D’s had not picked up theirs yet) and were pretty incredulous and outraged. It was at that point that <em>I</em> looked at it.</p>

<p>I’m not NEARLY so concerned about what’s past as I am about what direction our school district is taking for the FUTURE. That is what my involvement is all about. As a mom of six and an ex-teacher with a masters in education, I feel that I really DO have a vested interest in this. It is precisely BECAUSE we have all sat by and said nothing that these things have slowly slid by. I guess after fifteen years in this district, I feel it is time for me to stand up and at least be heard.</p>

<p>Again, thanks for the sweet thoughts…</p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>I think many of us have found ourselves temporarily or longer in communities which for what ever reason appear to celebrate and foster beliefs or aspirations which are not our own. It is a chance to circle the wagons, reinforce your family and decide what battle to fight.</p>

<p>Confronted with these sort of situations there is only one constant. Money. Yearbooks cost money to publish. Money comes from sponsors. Hence, when those who are in a position of nominal control choose not to see the need to enforce it, the only choice is to go to those who control the money…Viacom dumped Tom Cruise. Maybe the local hardware store will dump the yearbook- and then maybe those in positions of responsibility will take a step back and seek to find a way to be inclusive of the entire student body and still moderate some of the imagery?</p>

<p>I am of the opinion that in all published and public material it is best to adhere to the approach “don’t write or portray anything you would not want to show your grandchild or your grandmother.”</p>

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Now THIS is an EXCELLENT suggestion. Our kids pay $50.00 for their yearbooks, but I’m not sure what percentage of the cost it covers… Thanks a bunch!</p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>lol they included a page about pregnancies and student marriages? What is this? A yearbook is NOT a newspaper with wedding and birth announcements! The school seems to be forgetting that these girls are not even in college yet–it’s an embarrassment to get pregnant as a teen. It’s not something to be celebrated. I’m not advocating marginalization, but this is the other extreme!</p>

<p>However, I don’t understand why tattoos/piercings have to be equated with pregnant teen girls. Tattoos aren’t evil and neither are piercings. It’s not like you’re displaying your nakedness–it’s just decoration and a fashion. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. I personally don’t like tattoos and would never get piercings beyond the conventional ears, but I know too many accomplished Ivy-league educated kids with these “disgusting” decorations to think they are symptoms of moral depravity.</p>

<p>I wonder how the school treated the teenage fathers…</p>

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<p>I absolutely agree. Make yourself heard on this issue. However, it would have more impact if you could write up a petition and have as many friend parents as you know sign it with their addresses. That way, you do not stand alone when you approach them. You will gain more respect. You see, if you school is a public school there reaches a point with the admisinstration that they will not speak to you. Their attitude is rather cocky if they are a public school. “WE are a public school, WE have a state mandate, WE don’t have to bother with a noisy parent.” I feel their arrogance is totally out of line. Of course I realize they have many important everyday issues. But WE THE PARENTS do matter. I also feel that as our children enter and advance in h.s. there is often the attitude among the administration that our children are no longer minors and it is they who matter and not us the parents. I have encountered this time and again and it takes some perseverence to make the them listen to US as we say, NO , MY CHILD is still a minor, I AND MY OPINION MATTERS.</p>

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<p>Last night, as I was entering the gate to attend our high school’s first football game of the season, I was stopped by a woman taking tickets. She is a teacher at the high school and also has a senior D at the school. </p>

<p>She began to thank me for my editorial and stated how she was in full agreement with it. I found this paricularly interesting because she is the FAMILY LIFE teacher at the school and as such, she has nearly all of the pregnant girls in her classes and has come to know them intimately. And obviously, she has dedicated her career to working with these girls and so has NOTHING against them.</p>

<p>She basically corroborated my thoughts about our school’s attitude toward teen pregnancy and about the yearbook layout. She said that by and large, the girls’ friends find their conditions “cute” and “adorable” and that they get a huge amount of reinforcement for this in school. She felt that the yearbook layout by their peers was one more way of giving this message. </p>

<p>I really felt vindicated in my feelings about this matter because, in her position, this teacher could easily have said to me, “You know, you are <em>really</em> miscontruing this, and this layout was only included in the yearbook because…”, etc. But she didn’t. She, with all of her experience and intimate knowledge of this situation, agreed with my assessment of it.</p>

<p>Just thought I’d pass that on…</p>

<p>~berurah</p>

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<p>backhandgrip~</p>

<p><strong>YOU ARE MY HERO!!!</strong>* :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :)</p>

<p>Seriously, I agree about a MILLION percent with what you said…EVERYTHING you said. We have EXACTLY the same thing going on here…</p>

<p>I don’t know how much of this thread you have read, but I reported that another editorial hit the paper two days ago fully agreeing with me, and I do not know the woman who wrote it. The superintendent also told me that he had heard from several other parents besides me. Last night, in my conversation with the teacher mentioned above, I asked her to point any other disgruntled parents in my direction. I <em>AM</em> going to try to get a large group with whom to approach the administration and/or school board. Excellent suggestion.</p>

<p>~b.</p>

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<p>Berurah: I missed it. Did you write an editorial in a paper? Good for you, way to go!</p>

<p>You may want to take the approach of a parental ‘ethics’ board. I mean, good standards. good ethics, raise the standards of the h.s. sort of thing. I mean, I truly understand the kids were being inclusive. I truly understand it is their yearbook. HOWEVER, come on now, these kids who have babies out of wedlock are getting free tax dollars to go to college and provide childcare while they are there. We, those who teach our children to be be moral and not a federal liability are paying for this. I say, School Districts , teach ethics, teach morals, teach shame. Yes, teach shame. Take that!</p>

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I actually DON’T equate the two, and I don’t think they are “evil” either, though I have expressed to my kids that I hope they NEVER choose to get a tattoo because I don’t personally care for them. (For the record, I do NOT consider teen pregnancy “evil” either.) The reason why I included that in my editorial was because I simply don’t find them (tattoos, unusual piercings) noteworthy and deserving of special mention in the same yearbook which neglected to highlight NMF’s (our school MAY get one or two NMF’s a year), Governor’s scholars, Byrd scholarship winners, and others who are “academically decorated.” It’s as simple as that…I thought the pages could have been better utilized. ~b.</p>

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<p>Haven’t read thru this thread but the title reminded me of an occurence at my niece’s school.</p>

<p>One of the yearbook superlatives was: Most in Need of Driving Lessons. There was a picture of the guy and girl smiling next to an automobile. The word was these 2 had received multiple tickets, been in accidents, etc and now they were being glorified!!</p>

<p>Niece’s mom, my sis was one of several who wrote to the school principle…the category was omitted beginning with the next year.</p>

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!!!
OMG, that is OUTRAGEOUS. C’mon! <em>SO</em> glad that your sis was successful in getting this omitted the next year! ~b.</p>

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<p>Concerning the piercing, tatoos, etc. I would not bother with that, I would save my punches on the parents ethics board for the big issues.</p>

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<p>backhandgrip~</p>

<p>I was trying to pm you, but you have your pm off… ~b.</p>

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<p>I can’t do that. I have put the foot in my mouth too many times and don’t trust the internet. You have some good ideas. Hey girl, you can do this! Do you have another child to go in the h.s.? Thing is, if you do not it may be difficult to keep up the energy. Nothing works at motivation like having a child in the school to motivate a parent to action. Good luck and keep us informed as your developments. I see your point, I see the kids point, the school needs to compromise. I guess they could not do that UNTIL they had some reinforcement by parents.</p>

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I have two in right now, a senior and a sophomore. And I have three more to put through this h.s. after THAT… <em>lol</em> I feel my energy and determination waning already…<em>sigh</em> ~b.</p>

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<p>Oh then you definitely want to approach this the right way.I would work on that parents board. Also if you haven’t been, get active in the PTA. I know that can be a hassle, PTA moms, have to take your place, do dirt work, fundraising, etc. I would make sure to join the PTA and be active doing what they want you to do, like be a help, not just a voice. BUT ALSO, start up the parent’s ethics board. Like I would institute having speakers come in, like have a handicapped kid speak about his difficulties and how others CAN HELP. After all, if the pregnant girls have their yearbook page, how about the handicapped kids, too. They encounter difficulties every day with ambivalent h.s. students who just don’t know what to do, how to help, and don’t want to act uncool. Teaching awareness is important.</p>

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<p>Hi y’all~</p>

<p>I thought that anyone interested in this subject might appreciate a recent update:</p>

<p>A week ago, I received an out-of-the-blue call from one of the local network affiliates. The wanted an on-air comment about a recent bill that was proposed in the Kansas legislature, HB 2325 which would provide for a review of student publications content by a small committee consisting of a school board member, a district parent, and the school superintendent (or designee). </p>

<p>I did the interview last Saturday night. I spoke in favor of the bill, and there was a local professor who took the opposing view. The interview went <em>really</em> well, and the subject got a MUCH more fair treatment in this interview than in any of the prior ones. </p>

<p>Though I think this is a step in the right direction, I do feel that this bill is inadequate and more of a “feel good” effort than anything else. After all, the KSPA <em>already</em> provides for (and frankly ENCOURAGES) sponsor guidance. The problem occurred because this did NOT take place to begin with.</p>

<p>I personally would like to see the legislation contain a clause that states that no school district should be compelled to put its name on ANY publications that contains material at odds with its educational mission. Schools have NEVER been a place where “free speech” has free reign. Never. Otherwise, my daughter would have never been asked to remove a pink headband that she was wearing because the classic bandana look resembled “gang wear.” Also, my 11-year-old would not have been asked to turn her shorts that said “softball” on the back inside out or go home. Neither would my oldest son have had to do three days in in-school suspension in middle school for using the word “intercourse” in a paper. As it was, he was made to do outside trash duty for THREE days for that. :confused:</p>

<p>It appears that in our district, we can HAVE intercourse–and proudly display the results of it in a yearbook, but we cannot utter the word! ;)</p>

<p>So, that blows the free speech argument out of the water. </p>

<p>I see this as something akin to asking the IRS to publish a pamphlet on “How to Cheat on your Taxes.” Free speech? Maybe. But appropriate to the context? Never.</p>

<p>Anyway, here is a little write-up about the bill from the Student Press Law Center:
<a href=“http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1433[/url]”>http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1433&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>~berurah, who is very proud of getting this far with this important issue</p>

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<p>Interesting Berurah - I wondered how things were going with this controversy! I know this is an issue near and dear to you and I genuinely commend you for taking a stand. I’m surprised at this…</p>

<p>“Kansas enacted the Kansas Student Free Expression Law in 1992 that has offered public high school students censorship protection with exception to the school’s ability to control the number, length, frequency, distribution and format of publications. It allows prior review by school officials, but does not require they review or approve of content.”</p>

<p>Do I read this correctly? Though administration may be asked to review or approve content, students are free to publish what they wish? I’m very curious as to what the actual rules are here in Texas. I know my d and the other yearbook editors were required to submit their pages, as they became available, to the principal for approval. The same was true when she was on the newpaper staff. I thought it was heavy-handed since they have a journalism teacher who was a former newspaper reporter with an impressive professional resume, and student editors who were basically hand-selected by administration. But then, I also think the above is inappropriate on the opposite end of the spectrum.</p>

<p>Very Interesting!</p>

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<p>^^Yes, you are reading that correctly, ld. Here’s the dealio:</p>

<p>In 1988, the Supreme Court issued a decision in this case:
<a href=“http://www.splc.org/law_library.asp?id=1[/url]”>http://www.splc.org/law_library.asp?id=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It is the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier case in which it was decided that school districts are under NO obligation to publish UNDER THEIR NAMES material which is at odds with their educational missions. As it should be, IMHO.</p>

<p>Six states out of 50 passed subsequent legislation to EXTEND the rights of the students to publish whatever they see fit. Kansas is one of those states. Apparently the other 44 states recognized the wisdom of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hazelwood decision. </p>

<p>I personally think that there is a happy medium, but hell, if the yearbook can publish what it did, then I’d at least like my 11-year-old to be able to wear her “softball” shorts! :confused:</p>

<p>~b.</p>