Should Schools Edit Photos?

Henry: I think schools should have the right to edit yearbook photos to help keep students safe. Think about it this way: Most schools have dress codes for students. That’s because if a student wears something inappropriate, like a shirt with an offensive slogan, they not only potentially hurt their peers. They also make themselves vulnerable to retaliation from people who object to the shirt. Students who wear inappropriate clothing in yearbook photos may put themselves in even more danger. Yearbooks contain students’ full names, and are often available online. If someone were to find a photo offensive, they could go after the student or the student’s family. Obviously, schools shouldn’t implement this policy unfairly, like by editing photos of girls but not of boys. But if used appropriately, editing photos can help keep all students safe. 

Isabella: I believe editing students’ yearbook photos can be dangerous to our well-being. It’s disturbing that in most cases where photos have been edited, it was girls’ photos that were altered. School administrators may claim they edit photos to keep students safe, but I think their real motivation is to make sure the photos conform to their ideals of what a teen is “supposed” to look like, especially girls. Schools are supposed to be safe places for students to explore their identities, and school photos should represent who students really are. Maybe in the future students will look back at the photos and cringe at what they wore, but they should be free to make these decisions for themselves. A photo should capture a moment in time, not alter a memory so that it’s no longer an accurate representation of who the student was.