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opinion guest_columns
Friday, June 06, 2008
Crucial Yearbook Issue Missed
By Walter Bradley
Former Lieutenant Governor
Remember the game of quoting a story—telling 10 or more people and the last person tells a different story? The recent yearbook issue in Clovis is a perfect example.
I commented on the issue at the request of a local reporter and subsequently two other reporters. No other interviews. After being told about and seeing the two pages of pictures of students with quoted captions, and being a parent with a child in middle school, I raised the issue of protecting our children from public exposure of their current thoughts that may harm their future. I never mentioned the orientation of the students and in fact told the reporters I thought all the pictures on those pages violated the school code regarding public display of affection.
The quotes from me were accurate, but people read the words with their own interpretation. I said, “This was not the appropriate venue” meaning a student yearbook highlighting our children's school year. The display was “negligent exploitation” of our children. Many people seem to have missed this most important point. These students are minors and by law are protected.
We, the adults, parents and school officials are responsible. Children do have limited (diminished) constitutional rights. Example, if they break a law they are not treated as adults nor can they be personally sued in civil actions.
Not wanting to break certain confidences, I kept silent until after the school board meeting where public disclosures dramatically exposed my concerns:
n This yearbook is a part of the school curriculum and has an adult teacher assigned to its instruction just like a English class. Part of that teacher's responsibility is to assure no school policies or codes are violated and no laws are broken. The teacher in charge has recently resigned that position. Adults were in charge and are accountable.
n The minor student yearbook staff was supervised and simply proceeded with their understanding it was OK.
n Most important fact brought out by parents of minor students was not every parent had knowledge their child's picture with comments was to be printed. Where are consent forms? One student and mother who did know objected and asked several people in the school to not publish the picture. They were denied. This mother and student were obviously distraught over, as she said the “labeling” of her child. One parent said legal remedies are being explored.
n The superintendent admitted in a meeting with pastors it should not have happened and stated in public that school policies will be reviewed and, if necessary, rewritten to ensure it doesn't happen again. This is good but it is no excuse for the lack of proper adult supervision and oversight that has hurt these children and families. We have no idea how much damage has been caused by these “negligent” actions.
The issue is not and never was sexual orientation, it is the lack of proper adult protection of our children.
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