Missouri high school yearbook leaves parents in UPROAR after its pages were filled with very explicit content – including stories about sex, DRUG-taking surveys, and images of Plan B, condoms and pregnancy tests
- Parents were ‘horrified’ by the yearbook from Kirkwood High School in Missouri
- It featured spreads on ‘hook-up culture’ as well as surveys on drug taking
- Organizers of the Pioneer Yearbook have since defended their editorial choices
A high school yearbook has ignited controversy after including stories about sex, drugs and alcohol.
Parents were left ‘horrified’ by the latest edition of the Pioneer Yearbook from Kirkwood High School in Missouri.
It featured spreads on ‘hook-up culture’ and surveys on drug taking as well as being plastered with images of condom wrappers and pregnancy tests.
The organizers behind the yearbook have since defended their editorial choices and argued that they have ‘the right and freedom to publish what we believe is relevant.’
Parents were left ‘horrified’ by the latest edition of the Pioneer Yearbook from Kirkwood High School in Missouri which included features on ‘hook-up culture’
One particularly risque page was adorned with pictures of bras, condom packets, pregnancy tests and emergency contraceptive Plan B
The yearbook was released earlier this month to mark the end of the academic year.
Mother-of-two Nicki Walker, whose son is in eighth grade, told Today: ‘The yearbook is a really big deal in our town. We were both so excited.’
But, when it finally arrived, she received quite the shock, adding that she was ‘horrified.’
She explained: ‘You start flipping through, and it’s really nice — you see the swim team and the basketball team, and all their accomplishments.
‘Then you turn the page.’
One of the spreads in the magazine, titled ‘Hooked-ish,’ had a blurb that read: ‘Students share their opinions on hook-up culture, the concept of a casual sexual relationship without labels, and it’s benefits and consequences.’
It included results of surveys which included ‘do you keep track of your kiss list?’ and ‘what is the weirdest place you have hooked-up?’
The page itself was adorned with pictures of bras, condom packets, pregnancy tests and emergency contraceptive Plan B.
Another feature centered on drugs and alcohol which boasted pictures of vape pods and beer as well as surveys asking the students whether they prefer drinking over smoking
Another feature centered on drugs and alcohol which boasted pictures of vape pods and beer as well as surveys asking the students whether they prefer drinking over smoking.
Nicki questioned: ‘What kind of sicko is allowing this sort of stuff to be published?’
Other parents have also taken to social media to express their anguish, including Kerri Tumminello Fenton.
She took to Facebook with a post that read: ‘Kirkwood High School Yearbook… This is an incredible community and their kids deserve much better.
‘My heart breaks for all of our children and their entire generation.’
In a follow-up post, Kerri added: ‘It is deeply disturbing to see a school openly exploiting the illegal sexualization and drug and alcohol abuse of minors.’
In a statement posted to Instagram by Pioneer Yearbook, the group behind the book said: ‘We are aware of the current controversy our book has caused but we stand by our book and are proud of what we have accomplished’
The book was reportedly not reviewed by school officials prior to publication and the content is dictated by its students, a spokesperson for the district told the outlet.
And, in a statement posted to Instagram by Pioneer Yearbook, the group behind the book said: ‘We are aware of the current controversy our book has caused but we stand by our book and are proud of what we have accomplished.
‘We are grateful for the right and freedom to publish what we believe is relevant to what students are experiencing and discussing.
‘We deeply appreciate the [Kennewick School District] for allowing our journalism programs to print what we feel is necessary for our student body to see.
‘Thank you to those who will continue to support KHS publications.’
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