RESTRICTION: Senior quotes at Poly are now required to relate to the PRIDE acronym
By Celeste Johanson, Staff Writer
During the senior panoramic photo, Graphics Design and Video Production teacher Sidney Llera announced to all seniors that their senior yearbook quotes are now required to relate to the school’s acronym of Passion, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Extraordinary (PRIDE). This new rule was implemented due to the inclusion of a crude quote in one of Poly’s previous yearbooks. The yearbook staff had overlooked this detail and published it without proper knowledge of what they were allowing to slip past.
Seniors at Poly have shown varying opinions regarding the restriction placed on these beloved quotes. “I think it’s a good idea. I’m not too sure why seniors would do stuff like that. I wouldn’t put any nonsense on there. It would be from the heart.” Parker Moore (12) said. Others believe it restricts their freedom to put in fun quotes. “A yearbook is something that we keep for the rest of our lives and something I would love to show my children and grandchildren. I wouldn’t care to show my loved ones some cheesy quote that I was forced to write about PRIDE. It should be our own creative works.” Torrey Mateljan (12) said.
Upcoming seniors at Poly have shown negative responses to the new rule too. “We plan our senior quotes out in advance, or at least I do, to be something funny or clever or deep and they are a way for us to show everyone a little but about ourselves and the PRIDE requirement limits that freedom of expression.” Rheyana Scott (11) said. “I’ve been looking forward to my senior quote for a while and I don’t even like this school and they want me to relate it to something I don’t care for or care about.” Kennedy Kent (11) said.
This is not the first time an inappropriate quote like this has snuck its way into a yearbook. Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, Colorado faced the same problem in its 2003 yearbook as well. Due to this, the student was not allowed to walk at their graduation. Students were upset at this and blamed the yearbook for not catching it.
Most students at Poly want to be given the opportunity to be creative with their Senior quotes. They don’t want to be restricted by school rules and regulations.