Yulee High School senior yearbook quotes must now come from reputable source

YULEE, Fla. — Some students and their parents said a Nassau County school is violating their freedom speech.

Yulee High School students told Action News Jax their senior quotes can’t be original and have to come from a source.

A student said they found out about the new restrictions Wednesday. Now, her senior quote she planned on using for her final yearbook is not allowed.

"I feel like if I can't say how I feel, I don't need to say it at all," the student said.

A senior at Yulee High School, who didn’t want to be identified in fear of possible backlash from the school, said she doesn’t agree with new restrictions put in place to limit what is said in their senior quotes for the yearbook.

"We should be able to say what we want to say because it's our freedom of speech and expression," the student said.

Ray Poole, the chief of legal services for the school district, said that senior quotes are now required to come from brainyquote.com, the Bible or a reputable source.

"I don't think you can limit it down to everyone has to do that because not everyone feels the same way about certain things," the student said.

A parent, who also didn’t want to be identified, said she was upset when her daughter came home and told her about the new rule.

"The kids were looking forward to expressing themselves and now they are getting limited to how they do it," the parent said.

Poole said that the concern is that they don’t want sayings to be inappropriate with teenage code about sex, drugs or illegal conduct.

"I feel like the teachers who are in charge of all that should look at it and if they have a question ask that student," the student said.

A senior said several students are now taking a stand and won’t be turning in senior quotes unless something changes. The quotes are due in about two weeks.

Cox Media Group