Yearbook Page About Gov. Walker Draws Criticism
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 5:14pm
By:
Dana Thayer
Photojournalist:
Harry Baker
FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT
MAPLE - Every yearbook has a mixture of memories on its pages.
But a specific page from Northwestern High School has generated some mixed reactions.
For yearbook editors at the school, last year's student and staff walk out in protest of Gov. Scott Walker's anti–collective bargaining bill was worth a full page design.
However, not everyone was on board with the message.
"My daughter had come home from school the other day and she took a photo of it," Mark Gary, a Gov. Walker supporter and father of a Northwestern freshman, said.
When Gary saw what was printed in the yearbook, it did not sit easy.
"It seems one–sided," Gary said. "They talked a lot about what we lost because of Governor Walker's bill but they never mentioned what we gained."
Gary said it was irresponsible to exclude opinions of people like his daughter, who chose not to walk out of school in March 2011.
A portion of the text on the page reads, "Here at Northwestern we have felt the impact" when referring to Gov. Walker's "budget cuts to various institutions."
"I think there needs to be accountability for whoever put it in there or how they got it in there," Gary said.
However, administration at Northwestern High School said that the page is not a political statement.
They said student editors simply wanted to record another school event.
"The students really felt the effects of last year in regards to the political upheaval that all of us went through in Wisconsin," Northwestern High School Principal Steve High said. "It was important to them in terms of history, in their school career."
School officials said it was unfortunate that the page was being perceived as "politicizing" by some, and not "a mere fact of history;" adding that it appeared to be mostly adults with the concerns.
"I haven't had any students come to me at all," High said. "It's a historical happening that they felt was important to include in the yearbook."