Well, we've finally done it...

We've landed on the national news. Sigh.

Of course, the media has completely blown the entire story out of proportion, to the point that the superintendent was going to have to appear on "Fox and Friends" (they cancelled).

ABC
Time
NY Daily News

This is just a small sample. Double sigh.

The funny part is, the biggest "newsworthy" part of the story LOCALLY is the fact that the school board voted unanimously.

 

Further:

Our community is great. A population of about 3,500, great stores, fantastic people, and a booming economy. In the last year, our community has had about $135 MILLION in development (new jobs, housing, new businesses, etc). That's millions.

That's what should be newsworthy (it is, actually, just not by Time and NY DN).

We have quite a name as far as shooting sports, and many kids are part of that team. National champion team.

And finally...just because you (general) do not participate in something doesn't make it bad. I've seen posts from people saying we're raising serial killers. Don't do that to kids and families from a small town who just want a pic taken that represents what they loved to do on the weekends…probably with their grandpa.

 

Ummm, senior portraits come out of the families money. That is their business what they choose to put in the portrait. As long as it's tasteful I don't see the big deal... However- I do think it would be more appropriate for the yearbook photo if they chose to do a pose without the weapon and submit that one. That's just my personal opinion. But the pictures in the stories, I think those are very nicely done.

 

If I saw that picture without you pointing out the gun I would have just thought it was showing the student's hobby. It clearly shows the "trophy" with the gun so it is in context. How they got "serial killers" out of that I don't know. It's clearly a regional thing since I doubt it would be done where I live. I don't think I'd do it but I don't see why my opinion should count in what others do. People don't know how to MYOB.

 

I wouldn't want that in my high school yearbook, but I understand why others would feel differently.

 

I get it's a regional issue, but it's not a good look. That girl looks way too proud holding that gun. The serial killer comments are farfetched and ridiculous but there's the media for you.

And the second picture... Lawd. It all screams redneck.

Not my thing but to each his own. I miss the days of normal yearbook photos (though that one recently with the student holding his cat in his senior photo was pretty funny and not controversial).

 

If a good portion of the students hunt then it would not seem as strange. If one kid did it and nobody else then I could see someone making a case for it.

 

Sorry. On the bright side, you could be in the news for worse things.

I think the controversy is ridiculous.

 

I can see both sides, and I can see why it's hit national news. Guns are often controversial, schools are ALWAYS controversial, and blending the two together in something that isn't a student club / sport will catch attention. It's an individual thing, like some of my students who wanted to pose with their horses or at a certain location (one by her mother's grave).

 

For the record, none of the students shown actually attend the school in question.

I probably should just let this go, but what the heck...why would she not be proud? I don't know that girl and what she does, but you do realize that shooting is a sport, right? A sport for which you can earn medals and trophies and recognition and scholarships? And a spot on the Olympic team?

And your redneck generalization is just plain offensive.

 

I agree with all of your comments.

I, too, thought the other poster was projecting their dislike of guns onto those students pictured.

 

And I know exactly why this is "news". You can't write a story with the words "gun" and "school" in the same vicinity and not expect a firestorm to begin. People comment without actually reading or thinking about the issue, but go with what they know. And right now, all everyone knows is that guns don't belong in schools.

But that's where the not reading and thinking comes into play-students are not bringing guns to school. This isn't some backwoods, "redneck" (ahem) school system that has your stereotypical jacked up pickups in the parking lot with gun racks in the back window. In this area, it is our culture for students take senior pictures outside of school, paid for by their parents, and using props or locations that show the personalities and interests of the student. Most schools allow students to turn in a picture of their choosing for inclusion in the yearbook. Initially, the school board rejected a picture which showed a senior posing with his competition shotgun, which he had used to win a national championship. Parents asked the school board to revisit the policy, the SB did some local research, and wrote a policy that worked for all involved. Vote, pass, done.

It was literally a non-issue. No one cared.

Then the Omaha paper caught the story, and posted on their Facebook page an inflammatory question along with a stock photo of a kid holding a gun (incorrectly).

Look out. It exploded from there. And every version of the story has twisted, manipulated words, and generally caused a firestorm that this town does not want.

If anything, it has been fascinating to watch modern media at work-our students have really learned a lot from watching how something that just didn't matter has been blown out of proportion.

 

This is exactly what the school has tried to say in all of this. This policy wouldn't work everywhere, but it works here.

 

I do not believe you feel 'to each his own' because you just finished calling someone a derogatory name for being his or her own.

 

Guns are a touchy subject. So let's not delve into that. Personally, the first thing I found odd was them having senior photos outside. At my HS (with 260 seniors/1000 students) everyone had the same exact picture. Every guy literally wore the exact same outfit - we were given the one-size-fits-all front-tux when we sat down for the photo. All girls were required to wear an outfit where a thing could be put down the front to make it look like a dress - it was the same color for everyone. Only thing that changed from picture-to-picture was the color of the background - which for boys was green or blue and for girls was purple or pink.

But it varies by region, as long as the students aren't doing anything bad in the photo with the gun, why not allow it?

 

And see...if I were in a position to judge, I would find that odd. But I'm not, so I don't.

 

People feed on drama. I'm sorry their feasting at your table, KC. I find nothing wrong with this at all. When I first heard about it, it was on the radio and they made it sound like kids could sit for their yearbook picture with a gun (think photographers in the cafeteria). I found that odd. But senior pictures? Of course it's fine.

My mantra lately has me minding my own business. I don't have the emotional energy to get involved in other's drama. I hope they back off soon-this must be exhausting for you.

 

What I do find sad is that these senior pictures may come back and bite them in the behind some day if the picture ends up in the view of an employer who is against anyone having any type of gun. We know there are those people who will judge someone harshly for owning a gun.

 

What a great example of modern media at work. I'm sorry your town (and the school system) is being put under the spotlight like this.

 

When we did Sr pix we paid for all our own & were taken outside of school. We were asked to give year book staff a head shot. I had some down with props & what not (not a gun), but also a few just head shots. I'm sure these Sr's didn't have just that one pic taken....

 

You would be correct Diz, and accurate on how things work here. MOST students take a headshot type photo for scholarships and such, but others want a picture in the yearbook with a little more...personality.

 

That's how its done at every high school in my district and at least the 6 closest districts as well.

 

I call it like I see it.

OP, you posted an article. I gave my opinion. Like I said before, the media is definitely overblowing it as they do with, well, everything. I can see why you're bothered. It just bothers me seeing a teenager holding a gun. That's how I feel.

But more power to you and your community.

 

I just skimmed the articles a bit, and here are my thoughts: students' families pay for the pictures, so who cares what they decide to pose with? It's hobby/sport.

At my old high school, senior pictures are only allowed to be from the shoulders/chest up, like a traditional school picture. Hands are not allowed to be in the pictures, either. This prevents a lot of possible issues from popping up. The gun pictures are fine and dandy, but why is that necessary for a yearbook?

 

My high school also required a 'head and shoulders' shot on a solid background for the yearbook.
Parents could by a page in the back and many would put other senior pictures on it (as well as childhood photographs). I'm not sure what restrictions they had for those pictures.

 

I agree on all accounts.

 

I imagine that if someone is fond enough of their firearm that they want to use it in their senior photos, they're not going to work for a place that would be so stupid about guns.

 

Last year they tried to ban guns pics in our yearbook. They finally worked it out to everyone's satisfaction, but it is a touchy subject in areas where hunting is a major recreational sport: if the surfing page gets pics with their boards, the fishing page with pics of their rod and catch... why is it an issue for a hunting page with their game and gun?

For the record, our seniors all have the same headshot, done in the same studio, with the same background.

 

Well, that's not really true since - no matter what the family wants - the girl most likely can't show cleavage because that's not considered tasteful. Killing machines, though, are apparently not regarded as "tasteless" by the majority.

I don't like it to put it mildly, but I realize that guns are a very touchy subject here and everywhere so I'll just leave it at that.

 

Companies have different hiring policies in place for different reasons. I know hiring managers and the like that will Facebook the living crap out of a candidate and google them extensively. We have all seen teachers get fired for less. Is it stupid? More than likely. Is it becoming more realistic? Unfortunately yes.

You have to be careful with what photos you let go public. It could come back to bite you. More and more "stupid" employers have that policy. Alcohol, guns, skimpy clothes, etc. I think it sucks but prospected employers are on the hunt (no pun intended).

 

I totally agree.

I've heard of this controversy before. Bow hunters could have their bows in their photos but rifles weren't allowed. Stupid.

Kids could have photos taken with their cars. But not their guns. And we all know that more people are killed by cars each year than they are by guns.

It is just political nonsense.

 

You may not know the opinions of those in charge of screening and checking on potential employees. Just because an entire company doesn't dislike guns doesn't mean that bias won't happen within the company hiring process.

 

Oh, I'm fully aware of this. I'm also aware that people usually get to choose where they work. I cannot see a hunter choosing to work at a place that would make hiring choices based on whether or not the prospective employee has a gun.

 

Agree with everything you have said.

 

This is exactly how I feel; I don't like it at all but I see that this is a touchy subject on here so I'll keep my comments to myself.

 

True. But I'm not going to take down my wedding photo of my black husband and I simply because I'm afraid that a prospective HR person is against inter-racial marriage.

 

Agreed.

I'm glad I'm not alone with the dislike. It makes me super uncomfortable. I agree that it's touchy.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I saw this issue on my FB feed several times today and all my friends agreed that it was no big deal. I'm pretty sure it would be acceptable in the HS in my district. All the best kcjo. I've been in the middle of this type of national controversy. It's not fun.

 

Must be a slow news day! I feel badly for the kids who probably did not sign up for their pics to be splashed all over the 10 o'clock news.

I grew up out in the country and in a school that literally had a Rifle Club-(this was in the olden days before anyone really thought about possible school shootings), the kids brought their guns to school and met down the street at the Rod and Gun Club. It's actually where we hold our reunions. So obviously, I definitely don't think it's a big deal!

 

I don't see it as a big deal since in the area where it is happening hunting is nothing unusual. It's a hobby. It's not a hobby I have any interest in pursuing, nor introducing my children to, nor do I know anyone living in my general area who hunts, but I do get that it's a hobby.

The photos show students showing their gun as part of their hobby. Nothing about it screams violence. I don't get why it has made such a big deal in the news. Heck, I'd probably be more offended with a girl in an inappropriately tight top showing too much cleavage than I am with any of the sample photos shown.