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.
"I was appalled, and I'm not a prude. I know what kids do," said a mother of a Massaponax student who asked not to be identified
The mother said Rodkey had been calling students' families and telling them he wants the books returned. She said she wasn't sure if she would return her child's book or not. The books cost $70 if ordered in advance, and $80 after the deadline.
Another parent said she hadn't yet heard from Rodkey. She said last year's yearbook, called "Scandalous," also had questionable material in the form of a photo of an "unclad" young woman and someone who appeared to be smoking cocaine. The photos were labeled as illustrations, she said.
"When I looked through the book, I was livid," she said. "A lot of us thought there should have been a discussion last year. And now, this."
Rodkey said that because the "confessions" were submitted anonymously, there is no way to know whether they are factual.
"I see things that cause me concern and that cause our director of counseling to be concerned," he said. "If these things are going on, we want to be supportive and we want to help those students and provide them with appropriate resources."
Rodkey said the yearbook is a student publication, overseen by an advisor. He said he did not want to cast the staff or advisor in a negative light.
"We've had a process in place for 11 years, and it's worked fine," he said. "And now, in our 12th year, we have this.
Rodkey said some yearbooks were distributed at an after-school "signing party" May 14, but he was not sure how many. He said he is trying to get information from the yearbook advisor on who received those books.
"I'd like to get in contact with them and apologize, and I'd like to recall those books that went out," he said.
Rodkey said he has been in touch with the company that produced the yearbook. He is attempting to have a new book, without the inappropriate material, printed and distributed to students before the end of the year June 11. Massaponax seniors graduate June 4.
Rodkey, who is retiring at the end of this school year, said he has been working to get all the facts together to let the community know what happened, and to apologize.
"This is not at all representative of the good things going on here," he said.
Laura L. Hutchison:
Email: lhutchison@freelancestar.com