High School Principal plays yearbook Nazi

DaemonSeid · #1 05-21-2010, 08:08 AM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - Taking deep, dark secrets of teenagers and publishing them in a high school yearbook has won national awards for students in other parts of this country. But that most unusual way of sharing the hidden truths of adolescence has backfired in Spotsylvania County.

17-year-old Massaponax High School senior Kate Cummins was a copy editor on the yearbook staff that decided to solicit and print the anonymous secrets of her classmates in the Massaponax school yearbook titled: Truth Be Told.

"We didn't want to hurt anyone," Cummins told FOX 5. "We didn't want to offend anyone. We wanted to make sure everyone was included."

By everyone, Cummins means teenagers on the fringe of society.

"We didn't want to ignore the darker side of high school," said Cummins. "We wanted it to be the truth, the real life of what goes on. What happens."

Here are some of the secrets published:

"I say mean things to people because like to see their reaction."

"I get so lonely that I set my phone alarm to go off in intervals and pretend people are texting me."

"The bullying I went through in elementary school still ruins my life everyday."

"I used to be afraid of dying. Now I would do anything to see my brother again."

"The image of my dad putting a gun to his head right in front of me has scarred me for the rest of my life."

They are the anonymous confessions of Fredericksburg teenagers. Kate Cummin's classmates.

"People aren't stupid," said Cummins. "They know what goes on in high school. But to have it printed and have it out there - that's a very, very, very large step."

And now Massaponax High School principal Joe Rodkey has reportedly ordered all copies of the yearbook already handed out be turned in. A new version of "Truth Be Told" will be printed without the student confessions. Kate Cummins called that disappointing, but understandable considering the firestorm that has erupted.

link

DrPhil · #2 05-21-2010, 08:27 AM

Children and especially those of the Internet Generation don't think about the longterm consequences of their even anonymous actions. That's why they aren't the key decision makers in high school and in life. The principal made the right decision.

We had fun and quirky things in our yearbook, but nothing like what these kids want to anonymously share.

DaemonSeid · #3 05-21-2010, 08:33 AM

That's what Facebook and MySpace are for.

SydneyK · #4 05-21-2010, 08:33 AM

I agree with DrPhil; the principal made the right decision. I only skimmed the article, so this may have been addressed and I missed it, but I'm surprised the principal didn't have to approve the yearbook before it got printed to begin with. Was there a yearbook adviser? If so, why wasn't this addressed in the early stages of the yearbook?

DrPhil · #5 05-21-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

That's what Facebook and MySpace are for.

Haha...and that's a damn shame.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I agree with DrPhil; the principal made the right decision. I only skimmed the article, so this may have been addressed and I missed it, but I'm surprised the principal didn't have to approve the yearbook before it got printed to begin with. Was there a yearbook adviser? If so, why wasn't this addressed in the early stages of the yearbook?

I didn't see that in the article, but I assume the principal trusted someone else to approve the yearbook beforehand. Someone who isn't too lazy to fully read the article, please correct me if I'm wrong.

DaemonSeid · #6 05-21-2010, 08:41 AM

No mention of the advisor in that article but I do believe there is another detailed article that did have something in it about the advisor

ree-Xi · #7 05-21-2010, 11:13 AM

In my HS, seniors had the chance to write "blurbs" to be published in the back of the yearbook. People wrote to friends, remembering events, parties, classes, inside jokes, etc. Because we only had THISMUCH space, we often used abbreviations and code words. We were warned that every one would be read carefully, and that anything deemed inappropriate would be edited. Of course, a lot of stuff passed through because the advisers didn't know the context of some stuff, but I remember some very specific overt things that had to be edited out (drugs, swearing, sex, drinking, cheating, dark themes, etc.). The kids were followed up with disciplinary actions (detention) for not following the rules.

But this was in 19(too long ago), and it was a Catholic school.

knight_shadow · #8 05-21-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I agree with DrPhil; the principal made the right decision. I only skimmed the article, so this may have been addressed and I missed it, but I'm surprised the principal didn't have to approve the yearbook before it got printed to begin with. Was there a yearbook adviser? If so, why wasn't this addressed in the early stages of the yearbook?

When I was editor, our principal had no input on the yearbook whatsoever. It came down to the yearbook advisor and the editor(s).

This was a pretty stupid idea, so I'm surprised the advisor didn't stop it earlier.

Senusret I · #9 05-21-2010, 11:33 AM

I don't think this was a bad or stupid idea at all.

Yearbooks are part of student journalism and I view this as unnecessary censorship of ideas. I can understand having a standard of language (such as no swearing), but the thoughts the students were putting forward were important.

I'm disappointed in the reaction of the administration.

DaemonSeid · #10 05-21-2010, 12:23 PM

However, there is still the possibility that someone, somewhere knows who said what, and it's human nature to ask, 'who said this??!' and sooner or later who revealed the worst of the secrets will be known, and that could create a problem. But even if no one knows, just seeing your 'secret' in print for all to see could make someone else (example: “I worry all the time my ex-boyfriend will use the naked picture I sent him to ruin my life.” or “I’m pregnant with my best friend’s boyfriend.”, no matter how far out it may seem) a bit paranoid, thinking that everyone knows whose secret it is, even if no ones knows or even cares.

A secret is never a secret if more than one person knows.

AGDee · #11 05-21-2010, 12:50 PM

I can also see idiot kids making up stuff just to make it sound juicier.

I agree with the principal. I just paid $76 for my daughter's yearbook. If she comes home and it has that isht in it, I'll be really ticked off. I expect a yearbook to be more professional than that.

knight_shadow · #12 05-21-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

I can also see idiot kids making up stuff just to make it sound juicier.

I agree with the principal. I just paid $76 for my daughter's yearbook. If she comes home and it has that isht in it, I'll be really ticked off. I expect a yearbook to be more professional than that.

Exactly. I think students forget that a yearbook is essentially a time capsule. What seems "OMG SOOO CUTE!!!11" when you're 17 will often make you think "WTF?" when you're 25.

DaemonSeid · #13 05-21-2010, 01:00 PM

...especially when it comes time for that first reunion.

AXiDMeesh · #14 05-21-2010, 01:08 PM

I would imagine that since Post Secret has become so popular they were just trying to emulate that style. I also don't think anything was wrong with this, but why did a firestorm erupt? Didn't the people know when they were submitting anonymous secrets what they were going to be used for?

*off to read the article*

DrPhil · #15 05-21-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Exactly. I think students forget that a yearbook is essentially a time capsule. What seems "OMG SOOO CUTE!!!11" when you're 17 will often make you think "WTF?" when you're 25.

Every middle schooler and high schooler should have to sign this statement at the beginning of the school year.

I will scream if I see one more kid facebook page or text message that is inappropriate. I mean, there were fastass kids when I was in school but now it seems like almost everydamnkid is fastass.