Utah students upset about school’s digital modesty modifications to their yearbook photos
Some Utah students are upset about their yearbook photos because the school decided to photoshop some modesty modifications into the images.
A group of female high school students in Wasatch County say their school took “modesty” standards too far when their yearbook photos were digitally altered to cover up skin.
Several girls at Wasatch High School opened their yearbooks this week to find sleeves and higher necklines drawn onto their images — in some cases haphazardly, they said.
“I was shocked,” said sophomore Kimberly Montoya, whose sleeveless blouse appeared in the yearbook with short sleeves added.
Sophomore Shelby Baum found a square neckline drawn over her v-neck tee, and her collarbone tattoo was erased from the photo.
The tattoo is a simple line of script Baum chose — after consulting the school dress code — to remind her of her journey out of difficult times during her childhood.
It reads, “I am enough the way I am.”
“My tattoo was a huge thing in my life,” Baum said, choking back tears. “I’ve come a long ways. My tattoo means a lot. It reminds me I am enough. For them to cover that up? They should inform me first. They never said anything to me.”
District officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Baum said she raised the issue with high school administrators, who said the yearbook couldn’t be changed after printing.
She didn’t know whether the yearbook staff chose to edit the photos or were directed by school employees.
Students say altered yearbook photos meant to shame them (Salt Lake Tribune)
Comments
Stop whining. Next time, make a pennant with the inspiring words. This yearbook change is a dose of reality for these kids. You are not in control of anything external to you in this life, but you can learn self-control.
They should publish their own version of the yearbook, only put the faces of all the administrators on naked bodies.
A sleeveless blouse. Sounds like pretty rough stuff, fer sure. Maybe the administrators should get out more – I’d guess the last time someone let them out was during the Harding administration.
On the other hand (assuming it’s not just a reporter’s clumsy attempt to liven up a dull story), something like this –
“My tattoo was a huge thing in my life,” Baum said, choking back tears
– makes me suspect that somebody isn’t quite ready to leave high school yet.