So there is this big brouhaha going on about a Colorado high school student’s yearbook photo. Sydney Spies, an 18-year-old Durango High School senior, and her mother are making the TV talk show circuit, claiming the teen’s freedom of expression is being squelched.
Spies told 9News, “I’m a dancer, I’m trying to be a model, I really enjoy photography and I think that this is a good thing to represent me and I think they are taking away my freedom of expression.”
As a former high school yearbook editor, I think this is a crock of crap.
I am all for freedom of the press, personal expression, yadda yadda yadda, but this is high school. There are things called dress codes and editorial discretion. These rules are in place to protect the children. Spies claims the student yearbook editors first voted to allow it, then changed their minds. Good for them. Perhaps they had time to think about their decision, and cooler heads prevailed.
This is a PUBLIC high school. The dress code requires students “fully cover the chest, back, abdomen, and sides.” Clearly this get-up violates the code. Period. That’s not even getting into the come hither, practicing for Playboy pose or the photo’s inappropriateness.
Stick it in your modeling portfolio, Honey, but not in the public school yearbook.
I’m not sure if I’m more irritated with the teen or her mother, Miki Spies. Yes, it is a mother’s job to support her child, to stand by her, and encourage her to stand up for what she believes in. But this is more like shopping her out for a modeling contract or a reality show. It’s cheap. It’s tawdry. This girl is totally getting pimped out by her mother.
By pushing this issue and the photo into the media, Miki Spies has allowed open season on her daughter. I’ve read comments calling the teen a future porn star, a stripper, and stating she’ll be knocked up before she graduates. Is this fair? No. We don’t know this girl. She could be a straight-A student on her way to Harvard. Which she can pay for by working for an escort service. (Oh, damn, I did it myself.)
And before you say I am judging the mother/daughter duo too harshly, check out the alternate photo Spies submitted to the yearbook (which was also rejected):
Seriously? These photos weren’t stolen from a cell phone or leaked without permission. This isn’t a character assassination. They flaunted these on the Today Show (see clip below).
This is the type of situation mothers should protect their daughters from, not promote.
Now Mama is saying they are hiring a civil lawyer to take on the case. Give me a break. There is no case. This is a shameless quest for notoriety and publicity (granted, yes I am feeding it, but it ticked me off).
You’ve had your five minutes of fame. Stop embarrassing yourselves, put some clothes on, and go back to school.
So lame. It's as if we make it TOO EASY for them to grab their 15seconds.
It's such an old debate. It bores me… and annoys me at the same time.
Since when did students even SUBMIT their photos? The ones from the "student card" photo shoots go directly from the photographer to the yearbook database. End of.
Barf.
My recent post The Great Whipped Cream Debate of 2012
I have a daughter who I am trying to raise as sex-positive, and it sometimes seems as if there is a fine line between being sex-positive and being tawdry [old fashioned word, sure, but it fits, I think]. These photos? Do not even SEE the line.
They are not appropriate for a minor. Period.
Yes, yes, yes, and YES! I was raging at the Today Show this morning too. Like you, I'm a former yearbook editor, too, and I said almost the same exact thing to my husband. This is not censorship. This is just ridiculous. Period. Ugh. Why are we like this as a society now? WHY???? And can someone tell me how I can raise my daughter to think burqa's are sexy because this is just insane. I'm terrified for her teen years.
My recent post Tale as Old as Time
Seriously. We never got to "submit" our photos. We got a lame black draped cape (some years they got a tacky faux maribu trim) and a boys wore a faux tux. It didn't matter if it was flattering or showed any personality. It was a freaking yearbook photo. Smile and deal with it.
It's one step away from her pole-dancing shot.
I agree – it's a shameless quest for notoriety and publicity. For me, the story isn't about the photo. I mean, who really cares if some little hoochy coochy from Colorado High wants to pose suggestively in her yearbook? The real story is the way the mother is pushing the issue. And now she's thinking about suing? Who would she sue? The teen-aged yearbook editors who choose not to print the photo?! Some people have no class.
My recent post Middle-Aged Stripper Puts on Show in Busy Restaurant
what was interesting to me is that the student editors but the kabash on this picture. i do see a future modeling job for her though – in Penthouse…(oh that was mean).
My recent post Why I Have Been Missing In Action Rant
Honestly when I first saw the thumbnail pic in my facebook feed, I thought it was a picture of Holly Madison! Then I read "High School Student…." and had to come see what was going on. I agree with everyone else. Shameless publicity stunt all the way.
My recent post Till Death Do Us Barf
Oh, thank God. I thought for sure you were going to talk about how we should allow it. I'm with you. There should be some standards. It's not quashing her freedom of speech or expression. Last I read, there was no High School Yearbook clause in the Bill of Rights.
My recent post The Hardest Lessons Learned Often Involve Wet Shoes
Agree with you. Really, so not needed. Between Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game and the constant onslaught of "dancer" images bombarding our minds and souls daily it's enough to make me want to lose my breakfast.
Like you, I'm all for freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of expression – And I've been known to show off some leg from time to time. But seriously, this is ridiculous!!! The school has a dress code and the above picture(s) clearly violate that dresscode.
Not to mention the fact that they are incredibly inappropriate! Her mother is not only promoting such insane behavior, she's pimping the situation to the hightest bidder, just like she's pimping out her daughter.
My recent post Dear Rick Santorum:
I had my moment of screaming outrage last night when the news was on my feed.
I sat my soon-to-be teenager down and showed her the picture, made her read the article, and then had us a lovely little chat about how women need to respect themselves and if I ever saw her trying to leave the house with a lace scarf as a shirt, she'd be home-schooled until she was 30.
Then I calmed down, apologized, reiterated my threat and moved on.
I feel bad for the children who are used by their parents for a few moments of publicity… this confused girl, the little boy stuck between Michelle Bachmann and his cowardly mother with an agenda and countless 6-year-olds wearing more make-up than Tammy Faye Baker who are forced to strut on a catwalk for their mothers' lost dreams.
My recent post Visual Inspiration to Enhance Creative Writing
I am not a prude.. far from it. But as the mother of 3 daughters, you can bet your sweet patooh they'd be sent packing to their rooms on this one. It's suitable for her modeling portfolio (and like others, I'm betting this was all a well thought out plan to get the attention for that) but not for a book that is going to the entire student body. There were other comments about her rights and freedom (which is true) but what about the rights and freedom of the rest of the student body who may or may not want to see that today or in 20 years. Someone should bookmark this and check back in on it in 5 years
My recent post Daukas Diner: Skillet Steak
Besides the obvious of making her look like a $10 hooker, the outfit violates dress code. That's all there is too it, legally or otherwise. I would say I'm surprised they made the talk-show circuit today (is there anyone on their side??), but that's the new "in" thing, so I'm really not.
My recent post Beginner’s Guide to Walking/Running
Nay, nay, as a mother of boys, 6 times nay! It's hard enough with all the smut that's out there for them to find, they don't need it in their yearbook, too.
Oh, that is so stinkin' ridiculous. It does not belong in a yearbook, obviously. She is milking it for all it is worth. I hope she loses, but she's still getting the publicity she wanted. Boo.
My recent post Wigs are the answer!
I saw something about this on Yahoo this morning but didn't click it – just read that little snippet of info. Totally inappropriate and the mother should be ashamed of herself. Can you imagine what would be written in the yearbook next to that photo if it HAD been allowed? Sue away – she won't get anywhere.
I am with you lady. Can we please protect our daughters from exploitation in the name of "freedom"? Ugh. Anything but.
My recent post The History of Sleep
I could not possibly agree more. As the mother of a twenty year old I have always made it my duty to raise my daughter to not only respect others but to most importantly respect herself. It saddens me that this mother feels that this is the best representation of her daughter…..maybe on the pages of vogue it would be but not in an academic yearbook.
My recent post Search Keywords
I think her mother is more in the wrong. She should be teaching her daughter to have a positive self image not to sell her out for some cheap publicity.
My recent post Dear Nathan…
This whole issue is very confusing…who would even try to submit a photo like that? It's almost as if they knew the answer would be "no way" and were already preparing to cause a scene. I feel bad for the girl because clearly she has no one to even tell her that posing for pictures like this at such a young age is wrong and dangerous. There's no way the lawyer could get this photo approved, right?
My recent post {WIAW #10} A Peanutbutter Day
Effing horrifying, Miki Spies. Just…ugh. Great post.
My recent post Unresolved.
Best line! "We don't know this girl. She could be a straight-A student on her way to Harvard. Which she can pay for by working for an escort service."
Oh, this is ridiculous! The school should have a say in the photos. I could never see wanting my daughter's photos like that to be out where everyone could see them!
My recent post What is Okay to Post Online When it Comes to Our Kids?
I 100% agree with you!!!!!! I had "heard" about this story on my local radio station today but never had the time to sit down and read the story. Your blog is the first I have been able to read…..as you said, it is highschool for goodness sakes!!!!!! I have two daughters (4 and 6) no way, never, would I approve of this.
My recent post Hello Bulimia, I am your new best friend!
I am so ashamed for this mother.
As a mother, I feel it is very important, not only to encourage your children, but to teach them what is right and wrong morally.
And to teach them appropriate behaviour for the time and place.
This is definitely not the right time or place for a sexual display that this is.
This Mom is teaching her girl to go to all ends to get what she wants, at all cost to herself.
Yes I also feel that she is pimping her daughter.
How sad. How very sad!
On the interview I saw, the mom called the photos artistic. I snorted. Seriously? I get the support thing, but… I guess it comes down to what you value in teaching your children. If I had a daughter, I wouldn't ever let her take these kind of pics, because I value modesty, and not being viewed as a sex-symbol. I think it's ridiculous. Completely.
I too was a high school year book editor as well as photographer-many moons ago but still…these photos have NO PLACE in a high school yearbook. Kudos to the editors. Shame on the Mom. Pushing her daughter like a cheap call girl. Have some self respect Spies women!
To say the photo is "art" is an insult to the art world. It's a sexy photo that says little about the girl except that she likes to pose in a sexy photo. I have a daughter and would never allow this to happen. Who is the mother here? What modeling agency is going to look through a yearbook to scout for potential models?
What happened to showing who you are by what you have done in school and how you have touched the lives of others? It's a CHEAP shot to get publicity.
I'm with you. Clean it up for school. Besides, looking like that, exactly what type of {ahem} modeling jobs is she hoping for? Definitely reaching for publicity…and looks like she accomplished her purpose. At the risk of sacrificing her integrity. Pity.
My recent post you know the answers…just finish the test
an 18 year old minor?
im ready and waiting
THIS is smut? a little too racy? sure… much too racy? debatable… smut? i think not..