Jordan Smith Ain't Laughing
A yearbook staff student intentionally replaced the names of nine African Americans, including Smith, with "Tay Tay Shaniqua," "Crisphy Nanos" and "Laquan White" - next to their Black Student Union club photo.
What kind of crap is this?
The school's yearbook, The Chronicle, will clearly not be the same for these kids who are just trying to do the right thing by going to school and getting involved. As a parent, I'm really pissed about how Charter Oak High School in Covina, CA has handled the incident.
"Someone was just trying to be funny but it's not funny," said Jordan, 18, a BSU member. "It's upsetting. It's a mistake that should not of been overlooked."
School Board President Joseph M. Probst has said that "appropriate actions will be taken." Probst said he did not know the gender or race of the student who changed the names, but he did know the student will be a senior next year.
"We are discussing the intent and impact of the student's actions. The first step was to remedy the issue." The students whose names were changed were given stickers with the correct names to be placed over the error in their books.
"What else can you do?" asked Probst. "It would be nice to snap a magic finger, but I think it was incredibly well done."
SMH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How about agreeing to meet with the families in person to apologize? What about committing to having a school assembly in the Fall to discuss the issue of race and how important it is to show respect to individuals who may not look like you? What about implementing a policy that final approval before printing must be signed-off by a school official? What about expelling the student unless he or she apologizes on camera and it gets uploaded on YouTube???
That's what I'm talking about!
Instead, BSU student Evanne Jackson, a junior, said she was given a handful of stickers and told to pass them out to her friends on the last day of school.
"How humiliating," said Evanne's mother, Toi. "The school is responsible, and they ask the victim to pass out the stickers."
But BSU students like Paisley Moore, said the corrective sticker is not enough.
"I kind of laughed at it," said Moore. "Show that you are sincerely apologetic. I don't think they realize what happened here."
School officials are not aware of any previous similar incidents.
Past editions of the yearbook have received awards from the University of Columbia Scholastic Press with gold and silver medals in 2006 and 2007, respectively, according to school staff.
Of the 2,000 students who attend Charter Oak High School about 45 percent are Latino; 30 percent white and 4.5 percent black, according to school officials.
"We have a wonderful diversity on our campus which makes a richer educational experience," said Harwick.
But Moore said she is not surprised something like this happened.
"People of color, Latinos and African Americans, are viewed at the school as a joke," she said.
The affected picture appears in the back of the book and shares a page with other group photos including Class Councils, North American Unity and Asian Unity.
"This has hit us pretty hard," said Principal Kathleen Wiard. "We take great pride in producing a great yearbook with positive, good memories."
The BSU students' families, however, aren't so sure this yearbook is something they'll want to remember.
"A yearbook is very significant and something you always hold on to," said Toi. "When she shows it to her kids she will have to explain why she has the name Crisphy."
Source
A yearbook staff student intentionally replaced the names of nine African Americans, including Smith, with "Tay Tay Shaniqua," "Crisphy Nanos" and "Laquan White" - next to their Black Student Union club photo.
What kind of crap is this?
The school's yearbook, The Chronicle, will clearly not be the same for these kids who are just trying to do the right thing by going to school and getting involved. As a parent, I'm really pissed about how Charter Oak High School in Covina, CA has handled the incident.
"Someone was just trying to be funny but it's not funny," said Jordan, 18, a BSU member. "It's upsetting. It's a mistake that should not of been overlooked."
School Board President Joseph M. Probst has said that "appropriate actions will be taken." Probst said he did not know the gender or race of the student who changed the names, but he did know the student will be a senior next year.
"We are discussing the intent and impact of the student's actions. The first step was to remedy the issue." The students whose names were changed were given stickers with the correct names to be placed over the error in their books.
"What else can you do?" asked Probst. "It would be nice to snap a magic finger, but I think it was incredibly well done."
SMH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How about agreeing to meet with the families in person to apologize? What about committing to having a school assembly in the Fall to discuss the issue of race and how important it is to show respect to individuals who may not look like you? What about implementing a policy that final approval before printing must be signed-off by a school official? What about expelling the student unless he or she apologizes on camera and it gets uploaded on YouTube???
That's what I'm talking about!
Instead, BSU student Evanne Jackson, a junior, said she was given a handful of stickers and told to pass them out to her friends on the last day of school.
"How humiliating," said Evanne's mother, Toi. "The school is responsible, and they ask the victim to pass out the stickers."
But BSU students like Paisley Moore, said the corrective sticker is not enough.
"I kind of laughed at it," said Moore. "Show that you are sincerely apologetic. I don't think they realize what happened here."
School officials are not aware of any previous similar incidents.
Past editions of the yearbook have received awards from the University of Columbia Scholastic Press with gold and silver medals in 2006 and 2007, respectively, according to school staff.
Of the 2,000 students who attend Charter Oak High School about 45 percent are Latino; 30 percent white and 4.5 percent black, according to school officials.
"We have a wonderful diversity on our campus which makes a richer educational experience," said Harwick.
But Moore said she is not surprised something like this happened.
"People of color, Latinos and African Americans, are viewed at the school as a joke," she said.
The affected picture appears in the back of the book and shares a page with other group photos including Class Councils, North American Unity and Asian Unity.
"This has hit us pretty hard," said Principal Kathleen Wiard. "We take great pride in producing a great yearbook with positive, good memories."
The BSU students' families, however, aren't so sure this yearbook is something they'll want to remember.
"A yearbook is very significant and something you always hold on to," said Toi. "When she shows it to her kids she will have to explain why she has the name Crisphy."
Source