Mom sues over yearbook photo - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 12-13-2006, 09:26 AM

MSNBC.com

Mom sues over yearbook photo

Senior’s picture with sword nixed because of school’s no-weapons policy
The Associated Press
Updated: 4:38 p.m. PT Dec 12, 2006

In this 2006 photo released by Heidi Farrington, her son, Portsmouth High School senior Patrick Agin, 17, is shown in his Society for Creative Anachronism costume in Portsmouth, R.I. Portsmouth High rejected the photo for use in the school yearbook.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The mother of a high school senior who posed in chain mail and held a medieval sword for his yearbook picture sued after the school rejected the photo because of its "zero-tolerance" policy against weapons.

Patrick Agin, 17, belongs to the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization that researches and recreates medieval history. He submitted the photo in September for the Portsmouth High School yearbook.

But the school's principal refused to allow the portrait as Agin's official yearbook photo because he said it violated a policy against weapons and violence in schools, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The lawsuit seeks an order that would prevent the yearbook from being published without Agin's senior portrait.

Agin's mother, Heidi Farrington, said she and her son believe the decision defies common sense.

"He doesn't see it as promoting violence," Farrington said Tuesday. "He sees it just as a theatrical expression of the reenactment community that he's involved in right now."

According to the lawsuit, principal Robert Littlefield told Farrington she could pay to put the photo in the advertising section of the book, but he would not allow it as Agin's senior portrait.

"That in and of itself demonstrates to us that there's absolutely no legitimate rationale for banning Patrick's photo," said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU.

Littlefield said he thought there would be less editorial scrutiny given to paid advertising space, and that an ad would not be viewed as receiving the school's endorsement.

The complaint says there is nothing in the weapons policy that would apply to the picture Agin submitted. It also says the weapons policy is arbitrarily enforced, noting theatrical plays at the school have included prop weapons and that the mascot — a patriot — is depicted on school grounds and publications as carrying a weapon.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

MsOrange · 12-13-2006, 11:11 AM

oh good grief

Hollow · 12-13-2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

"He doesn't see it as promoting violence," Farrington said Tuesday. "He sees it just as a theatrical expression of the reenactment community that he's involved in right now."

and it's not the way he sees it that matters.

dlemond · 12-13-2006, 07:16 PM

I dub thee Sir Dork of Geekingham.

In about 5 years or so he will begin to realize what a great favor the school inadvertently did for him.

TJL · 12-13-2006, 08:23 PM

Nice outfit there Aragorn.

You must be the most popular boy in school.

FOLrocks1 · 12-13-2006, 09:06 PM

Who would want to wear that for their senior picture in the first place? And the picture is a horrible quality senior picture.

MsOrange · 12-13-2006, 09:13 PM

i thought senior pictures were taken at school....i never knew a school to allow students to submit senior portraits

FOLrocks1 · 12-13-2006, 09:38 PM

I've always know it to be the other way around. My school doesn't have a special senior photo day.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 12-13-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOLrocks1

I've always know it to be the other way around. My school doesn't have a special senior photo day.

Same here, most people get them down on their own senior year, so they look professional.

haha that kid is lame. Okay, it's one thing if you want to be weird and make your senior pic a friggen knight, but to sue over it?

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 12-13-2006, 09:59 PM

That is an awful picture. And usually you can't use full-length pictures as yearbook portraits.

~LadyJess~ · 12-13-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOLrocks1

I've always know it to be the other way around. My school doesn't have a special senior photo day.

Ditto. We had a special studio that our school wanted to get our senior pictures taken at so all the backgrounds for the yearbook would be the same. You had to get all sorts of weird overrides and stuff if you wanted to go to a different studio.

Jonathan · 12-13-2006, 10:26 PM

People complain about ANYTHING.

Courtnee · 12-13-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsOrange

i thought senior pictures were taken at school....i never knew a school to allow students to submit senior portraits

mhm. I'm on the yearbook staff at my school, so I've learned about how all of this works.

Most of the time (or at least here), they (the seniors) have their cap and gown pictures taken at the school, but their professional ones where they pose in regular clothes are taken at a studio and then the yearbook dept. recieves the photos and puts them in the yearbook.

*yearbook nerd*

KristinHerreraFan · 12-14-2006, 12:31 AM

Thats ridiculous.

dawsongirl · 12-14-2006, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Rock Chic

ha ha ha!!!; hell, she cannot help it, if her son is the dork of the senior class!
I just wished my mom would had sue my middle school for both my 7th and 8th grade photographs

(god, THEY were horrid!)

ha...my 7th grade pic was disgusting.

12-13-2006, 09:26 AM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Mom sues over yearbook photo MSNBC.com Mom sues over yearbook photo Senior’s picture with sword nixed because of school’s no-weapons policy The Associated Press Updated: 4:38 p.m. PT Dec 12, 2006 In this 2006 photo released by Heidi Farrington, her son, Portsmouth High School senior Patrick Agin, 17, is shown in his Society for Creative Anachronism costume in Portsmouth, R.I. Portsmouth High rejected the photo for use in the school yearbook. PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The mother of a high school senior who posed in chain mail and held a medieval sword for his yearbook picture sued after the school rejected the photo because of its "zero-tolerance" policy against weapons. Patrick Agin, 17, belongs to the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization that researches and recreates medieval history. He submitted the photo in September for the Portsmouth High School yearbook. But the school's principal refused to allow the portrait as Agin's official yearbook photo because he said it violated a policy against weapons and violence in schools, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. The lawsuit seeks an order that would prevent the yearbook from being published without Agin's senior portrait. Agin's mother, Heidi Farrington, said she and her son believe the decision defies common sense. "He doesn't see it as promoting violence," Farrington said Tuesday. "He sees it just as a theatrical expression of the reenactment community that he's involved in right now." According to the lawsuit, principal Robert Littlefield told Farrington she could pay to put the photo in the advertising section of the book, but he would not allow it as Agin's senior portrait. "That in and of itself demonstrates to us that there's absolutely no legitimate rationale for banning Patrick's photo," said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU. Littlefield said he thought there would be less editorial scrutiny given to paid advertising space, and that an ad would not be viewed as receiving the school's endorsement. The complaint says there is nothing in the weapons policy that would apply to the picture Agin submitted. It also says the weapons policy is arbitrarily enforced, noting theatrical plays at the school have included prop weapons and that the mascot — a patriot — is depicted on school grounds and publications as carrying a weapon. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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12-13-2006, 08:23 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Nice outfit there Aragorn. You must be the most popular boy in school.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

12-13-2006, 09:06 PM	#6
FOLrocks1 My favorite ladies! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,103	Who would want to wear that for their senior picture in the first place? And the picture is a horrible quality senior picture.
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12-14-2006, 12:31 AM	#14
KristinHerreraFan Dana is Buena Senior Member Join Date: Jan 16, 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,791	Thats ridiculous.
	__________________ Signed, >>>>Kristin Herrera Fan

12-13-2006, 11:11 AM	#2
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133	oh good grief

12-13-2006, 07:16 PM	#4
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	I dub thee Sir Dork of Geekingham. In about 5 years or so he will begin to realize what a great favor the school inadvertently did for him.

12-13-2006, 09:13 PM	#7
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133	i thought senior pictures were taken at school....i never knew a school to allow students to submit senior portraits

12-13-2006, 09:38 PM	#8
FOLrocks1 My favorite ladies! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,103	I've always know it to be the other way around. My school doesn't have a special senior photo day.

12-13-2006, 09:59 PM	#10
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	That is an awful picture. And usually you can't use full-length pictures as yearbook portraits.

12-13-2006, 10:26 PM	#12
Jonathan ***** Senior Member** Join Date: Aug 28, 2004 Posts: 2,304	People complain about ANYTHING.