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Massaponax principal is trying to recall yearbooks that include 'confessions' and quotes with sexual innuendoes and double-entendres
Massaponax High School Principal Joe Rodkey is trying to have the school's yearbook reprinted to erase disturbing "confessions" and quotes full of sexual innuendoes in the original.
"It's totally inappropriate for a high school yearbook," Rodkey said yesterday. "The students, the school and this community deserve a better yearbook than what I have." The principal said he had stopped distribution of this year's book, titled "Glances 2010, Truth Be Told," and is attempting to collect the copies that were distributed at an after-school party Friday. A Facebook page created by Massaponax students in August 2009, called "Massaponax Yearbook," solicited anonymous "'Ponax Confessions." The contact e-mail listed on the Facebook page is a misspelled version of that of Massaponax yearbook advisor Courtney McGonnell. Under the group's description, they wrote, "here--in the honesty box--you may anonymously submit your secret or confession for this year's yearbook." Another post requested that students pick up fliers from Room 130 to advertise the "confessions" and to tell their friends about it. Pages 4-7 of the book are all scattered confessions, and confessions also appear in smaller text on the right margin of many pages. Many are innocuous or just silly. Others say things such as: "I have sex with people just to feel wanted." "I worry all the time my ex-boyfriend will use the naked picture I sent him to ruin my life." "I had an abortion and my mom doesn't know." "I once did so much pot that I woke up high." "I'm pregnant with my best friend's boyfriend's kid." Also throughout the yearbook, in large font, are "Quotable Quotes," many containing sexual innuendoes. Unlike the confessions, most of the quotes are attributed, but Rodkey said two students have told him they did not say the things that were attributed to them. "When you look at the layout, the pictures--this is the first year we've ever had a complete color yearbook--it's beautiful," Rodkey said. "I think it has the potential to be an award-winning book. But then you see the sexual innuendo, double-entendre, it puts the focus on something negative." Some parents of the nearly 2,000 students at the school are definitely seeing the negative.
Has anyone asked the HS students what their opinions are? I guarantee that almost 100% of them know what goes on every day. If it hadn't been published, you can bet it would have only been GOSSIPED about.
And beyond that, everyone is making assumptions about the principal and the yearbook adviser when no one knows the whole story. Yearbooks are generated by students -- they wanted it in there. The adviser's job is to make sure that the building doesn't burn down. Not to dictate content.
I understand the principal was given an advance copy to review and liked it. Maybe the content should have been tempered by the adults more but the idea was sound. Don't blame the kids for wanting to truly capture their year, blame the ones that reviewed and allowed for not ensuring that school appropriate censorship was utilized. A disclaimer on the facebook page that tells the students their submission may not be included based on content may have stopped much of this entries from even being submitted.
The yearbook is a school publication. As such, the school has the legal right and ethical responsibility to approve its content. While one may stand behind the First Amendment in public publications, it isn't applicable in this instance. There have been instances where schools have been sued, and rather than fight a suit, the schools simply abandoned publishing yearbooks. Can you say "Win the battle and lose the war"?
Has anyone asked if the principal had read the pages before
the yearbook went to press? Is that a common practice with
school media there?
The mother of a Massaponax student who made the quote "There's no pictures of the football team, or of JV field hockey" obviously didn't see the yearbook. There are pictures of both...and a quite extensive layout of the football team. The FreeLanceStar should check it's quotes before posting them.
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