Schools

Discuss: Appropriate High School Yearbook Content

Earlier this week, Sumner High School Principal Bill Gaines issued a public letter and apology regarding certain content that made it onto the pages of the 2013 yearbook that appeared to celebrate reckless and irresponsible behavior.

Student polls are nothing new and have celebrated everything from 'most popular,' 'most likely to succeed' to 'biggest flirt' or 'nicest eyes.' This year, however, the category 'worst driver' called out two students and asked them what was the most reckless thing they'd ever done while driving. Both responded with some variation of speeding, and both ended their answer: YOLO.

"Got pulled over in downtown Sumner going 55 mph in a 25. #YOLO"

"Ticket for going 60 in a 25. yolo."

The acronym stands for 'you only live once,' and the seemingly celebratory tone of what would otherwise be seen as reckless behavior prompted at least a few families to contact the school about their concerns.

One parent shared with Patch: "...Kids love to get their pictures in the yearbook, so let's make a category that they can endanger themselves and everyone else on the road by glorifying worst driving and letting them BRAG about what reckless things they have done!! Our roads are dangerous enough without encouraging reckless behavior among the teens, while they try to see who wins the title next year...."

Gaines and other school and district administrators agreed. Sumner School District spokesperson Ann Cook called the inclusion of both this 'worst driver' category and another that Gaines addressed in his letter, 'worst attendance' an oversight and efforts would be made to ensure this type of content would not be included in future student publications. 

"Sumner High School and the Sumner School District do not condone reckless driving, nor do we want to promote the unsafe operation of a vehicle. We are discussing our process for reviewing the content of the yearbook for next year," wrote Gaines.

While there was no argument the 'worst driver' category was inappropriate, Cook said this wasn't the first year it has been included as an item in the school yearbook. In the past, however, no complaints were received about it which kept it out of the spotlight. 

However, because students create the content for the yearbooks, the school does receive a variety of complaints about a range of content, including past celebration of tattoo art, and handles them accordingly, she said.

Tell Us: What have you seen in any school yearbook of late that gave you pause? 


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