High school student is punished for making a funny face in her school photo

danielgonzalez said on December 1, 2009 at 8:40 PM

I can remember, while taking high school ID photo, the photographer would try and catch you in an embarrassing pose. When you told the photographer, " I Wasn't Ready", they would just say," Thank You", and you had to leave. Then, that embarrassing pose would be on the ID. I do feel, there should be a line drawn for the photographer and the student because, if not, after allowing the Madison Student have way, get ready for the student's photos to get a lot more disturbing then, the yearbooks. Cut out the disturbing posing now or stay tune for more creations.

mmata2454 said on December 1, 2009 at 10:51 PM

I agree with Daniel, there should be a line drawn for yearbook pics. BUT, Miss Patton should have been given the chance at another yearbook pose, not just NO WE AINT GONNA PRINT IT!

fgregg said on December 1, 2009 at 10:55 PM

there are to many picture that are all the same. they don't show any personality.

dkw12002 said on December 1, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Just click and paste an apple in her mouth and it would look just fine.

eaglerider said on December 1, 2009 at 11:34 PM

It is a shame that our schools put more thought into pictures, rather than education. The "education" they now put meaning into, leaves a large portion of students uneducated, for the most part. Our school system now is more concerned with everyone looking exactly the same, no individualism, what animal humans came from, and too much else to list. Is it any wonder when the student graduates (if he/she does) that when they get out into the "world", they are unprepared for what they encounter? By the way, I do have a daughter-in-law in a school district in San Antonio! This girl deserves better than this, and is just one example of our "educator's" absolute failure!! The "powers that be" in that school should make amends, and hang their heads in shame!!

sulablue said on December 2, 2009 at 12:34 AM

Don't you know that High School is SERIOUS BIZNEZ!?

guest173 said on December 2, 2009 at 12:36 AM

she probably didn't know about the strict rule for pictures, she should be allowed to retake a normal picture since they didn't tell her the first time she couldn't do it (the photographer probably didn't know it was a rule either).

jmg35 said on December 2, 2009 at 2:22 AM

This is about one of the dumbest things Ive ever heard of ! I grew up with Charlies mom and Uncle and, they are really good people ! When, does smiling and having fun during a school photo pose a threat ?? Maybe, Texas should come down harder on the, "Gangstas" . Maybe you should put a few more to sleep at a faster pace. Texas does lead the states in capital punishment. Might change their mind about being a "Gangsta" and then, people could go back to smiling and having fun in school photos like it should be...:) Now I know, why i moved to Australia 51/2 yrs ago. I had to find normal people that still like to have fun...:) Good luck Charlie with the movie career and take care !!! :)

pattonsjp said on December 2, 2009 at 5:29 AM

Thanks for all the support! I don't know if we made a difference for the next kid who just wanted to express their individuality, but I do know that you all made me feel so supportive. Charlie learned a great lesson in this. She saw what American freedom was all about, and that our media is there to help us communicate our rights in a positive manner.

americanmamausa said on December 2, 2009 at 8:47 AM

our schools should focus on more pressing issues, i mean real issues! we live in an amazing country, we have a great constitution which allows us to "express ourselves"!!! this young lady did not do anything inappropriate in her photo! i will gladly post school pics of my children making faces, which by the way did not offend or bother or were compared to gang signs or such nonsense! leave the girl be...it is her right to express herself her way! besides, her mother did not see anything wrong with her daughters pose. LEAVE THE GIRL BE!!!! go after the real trouble makers, im sure you know plenty of them!!!!! "GOOOOOOOOO CHARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

tacoman said on December 2, 2009 at 10:39 AM

WE DON"T WANNA SEE HAPPY AND FUNNY FACES ANYMORE, ONLY LEMON AND SOUR FACES ARE ALLOWED .... it is very sad that this already messed up world, comes to this. Anyway I like you funny face Charlie .... and I don't care about what people thinking of you ...

danielgonzalez said on December 2, 2009 at 1:41 PM

If you want to see happy and funny faces, put them in your personal pictures. Lets see, if Charlie Patton's Mother would allow her daughter's pose in the next family photo. You don't need to look, like your getting ready to get hit by a car, for others to see your happiness. A simple smile looks great on everyone.

tacoman said on December 2, 2009 at 2:40 PM

Gonzalez, I like to share my happy and funny faces to people, they may give some new life to disparate people like yourself ...

wcb2009 said on December 2, 2009 at 3:45 PM

How pathetically rediculous!!! The school officials making this decision obviously have some unresolved issues or are hopelessly conservative republicans (just had to make that cheap shot). Who are they to determine what society deems appropriate! We live in a country that celebrates things like, free speech, indivual freedom, and tolerance of alternate views. Her funny face definitely put a smile on my face. She reminds me of my own whacky 11 year old daughter. Instead, I think this girl ought to give them the polar opposite. Dress in all black and put on her best Wednesday Adams face. Or better yet, she could put on a Burqua. Afterall the schools is behaving like the Taliban!.

stpf8 said on December 2, 2009 at 5:02 PM

I think it's a delightful photo that expresses personality. The whole affair says a lot about the school. Sure, they have to carefully set the bar, but setting it this high is ridiculous. It's a kid having fun, nothing more; surely that should be allowed.

heatherze said on December 2, 2009 at 8:57 PM

Those officials have to get their hands out of their pants and pick up the chalk. Then they can write "I r insipid" on the board', and since they are 'adults', they can continue writing until they get it. Educate! Don't pervert life itself.

guesswho said on December 2, 2009 at 9:54 PM

I think the school is doing the right thing by not putting this picture in the yearbook. If Madison were to put this ridiculas picture in the yearbook then the school would have to put everyones silly picture in. Morgan aka Charlie and her MOM will do anything to get Charlie on TV. It is sad they had to get the school involved for their big break.

i308i said on December 3, 2009 at 12:14 AM

NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND POLICY= that is a REAL PROBLEM, not some student making a humors face for the year book.

stargod said on December 3, 2009 at 4:27 AM

let's make a rule for all schools so all pictures take on a true likness and are the same nationally ... we'll have Pres Obama sponsor this one as he is the father of 2 school girls ... ALL YEARBOOK PHOTOS TO BE TAKEN BY A POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER AND WE'LL PUT MUG SHOTS IN ALL YEAR BOOKS!!! tHEY ARE RIDICULOUS ... let the young lady who has my second name take her pic standing on her head if that is what she wants ... it is her yearbook photo! the only thing that should be wrong is obscene gestures of any type ... if not obscene or against community standards, LET IT BE!!!

sunrose said on December 3, 2009 at 11:36 AM

Several thoughts. First, she'll probably be thankful years from now if that picture doesn't appear and she's running for office. Second, every public school in America keeps at least one copy of every student's photo in their personal files. (Many parents don't know this. And it doesn't matter if parents buy the pictures or not - the schools get a copy.) Third, if she makes it big as an entertainer or actress, that picture will come up on some type of Leno or Letterman show and everyone will have a good laugh. So no big deal. Fourth, the photographer was under contract with the school and probably had a good idea the pic wouldn't fly. Why wasn't there another pose taken? Fifth, the school should have given her the option to retake the pic. She was just a kid being a kid. If this is the worst thing she ever does, everything's all good. Lighten up. BTW, "looking for gang signs"? Someone at the school needs a broom-ectomy.

jmparent said on December 3, 2009 at 9:41 PM

The only reason why this is such a big deal is because her parent(s) and the student wanted their 15 mins of fame, considering a previous comment that she wants to make a career in movies. I dunno jussayin. Good luck with that by the way. I also want to add that the student gets multiple opportunities to have the yearbook photo retaken and will have another chance, but will she? I do not think her rediculous face should be compared to throwing gang signs though...that's a whole different thing. Oh and these "yearbook" photos are used for school records, not just for yearbooks. I think she should take a "normal" pic for the school records and put her "i'm about to get hit by a car" pic in the yearbook. Why not? It's not that bad afterall. Might make her famous and her dream come true. If movie making is her dream. I dunno jussayin.

jjk135 said on December 3, 2009 at 9:50 PM

ha. this really is something charlie and her mom would do. it was all a big scam to get charlie on T.V. wow they went way to far and beond just to get her on the news. they also embarressed Madison High School. the officials made the right choice to punnish her. she got what she deserved!

unclefrank said on December 3, 2009 at 10:16 PM

It’s a yearbook picture. Let the children express their own individuality. Dose the school want cookie cutter robots that walk the liberal line, or individuals that can think for them self’s and express their own personality and individuality. I think the Patton’s should sue the James Madison High School and the School District to have the photo put in the yearbook. PS and for you jjk135 I feel sorry for your soul that it is so sour that you cant laugh with someone having fun…

unclefrank said on December 3, 2009 at 10:20 PM

It’s a yearbook picture. Let the children express their own individuality. Dose the school want cookie cutter robots that walk the liberal line, or individuals that can think for them self’s and express their own personality and individuality. I think the Patton’s should sue the James Madison High School and the School District to have the photo put in the yearbook... PS; and for you jjk135 I feel sorry for your soul that it is so sour that you cant laugh with someone having fun…

trevbmxxx said on December 3, 2009 at 10:21 PM

ok so i've know this family before charlie started at madison high school, and they are just rude. The mom once told a 5 year that he would never be as good as her son in bmx. Aslo this women on madison campus verbally assaulted a stundent. So its no wonder this women has another problem! she needs to get over her self and so does her daughter! oh and i know they say the camra adds 15 pounds, but charlies mom looked like she gained alittle more than that!

oldguy36 said on December 4, 2009 at 11:14 AM

I agree that the girl should be allowed to have her picture re-taken. School annual photos are supposted to be formal, and a section part of the book is for the funny or candid ones. There is a difference between a formal photo and a candid one, and the class photos are for the formal ones. In this case I feel the school was right in rejecting that one, but contrary to the school's public response, the bad part is that so far, a re-take has not been offered.

trevbmxxx said on December 4, 2009 at 6:34 PM

i go to madison and the announced the day for retakes for about a week over the intercom so everybody could here, but do you think she went to retake it? well let me answer that for you, no she did not! so its her own fault for not being in the yearbook.

vt0346 said on December 4, 2009 at 11:05 PM

First, i would like to say that what y'all are saying on here is shameful and wrong. You people are condemning an administration that does everything possible for the kids at Madison High School. The Principal has been at Madison for 25 years. He has put more into that school, and he has done more for those students than most have done for just one other person. Second, the yearbook picture, as you have learned, is used as the student ID photo. Student ID's are needed in order to keep the campus safe. How are we supposed to make an accurate ID if she has her face in such a strange expression? The military would not allow that on a Military ID, nor would the state of Texas allow that on a driver's license. This is no different. Lastly, almost the entire yearbook is full of candid pictures of the kids being individuals and expressing themselves. There is only one picture for each student for them to look dignified. One picture out of a 400 page publication.

vt0346 said on December 4, 2009 at 11:08 PM

I would also like to add that the school never accused her face of being "gang related", it was used as an example of something inappropriate and disruptive, just like violation of the dress code, picking your nose in the picture, etc. If you are leaving a comment on this news article, you should be educated enough in order to realize that any News channel, like Kens 5, will spin any story, or blow it out of proportion in order to raise their ratings. Don't be juvenile reactionaries, learn the facts, and don't condemn an administration, a school, or a state education system that looks out for every child it has. Thank you

vt0346 said on December 4, 2009 at 11:25 PM

Charlie, I hope you enjoy the spotlight for your 15 minutes. FYI, Hollywood doens't care. They look for talent, not someone who just wants her ridiculous looking face all over the tv.

vt0346 said on December 4, 2009 at 11:33 PM

MKliewer: Well Charlie, if your as talented as your mom thinks you are, you would already have a name for yourselve. Youre 15 years old, with the maturity level of someone in 4th grade. There are tons of actresses who are much younger than you who already have been in countless movies, tv shows, etc. They got those parts on pure talent, not by their mothers acting completely insane. People on here dont know that her mother verbally assaulted a student, or that Charlie's attitude towards rule and regulation is less than charitable. Clearly the only purpose of this story was for someone to give her attention that she'll never achieve from Hollywood. Maybe one day you'll look back on this situation and realize that you can't get fame from acting like a complete idiot.

pattonsjp said on December 5, 2009 at 8:16 AM

I appreciate all the support. The reason for using the media with this issue is that NOT everyone agrees that this is the line that should be set for "inappropriate" yearbook picture. The schools stand is that this picture would be acceptable in other parts of the yearbook, but not all kids are given the opportunity to be presented in the other parts of the yearbook. Charlie has now been offered to have her school pictures retaken. She would rather not conform. She is exercising her right to decline the offer. She likes the school ID that she has and would like to have the right to keep it...since it really is just a yearbook "picture placement" issue. And, my vote as a parent it yes, I would like to see my children's personality in their school pictures that I buy. It is hanging proudly in our family room with my three sons pictures.

tbolin10 said on December 6, 2009 at 9:48 PM

I think that you should let the kids live a little....give them a break...they are almost adults and they are high school students for gods sake........I feel that as long as the kids are not doing anything really really innappropriate then they should be able to do what they want in their school photos. Heck all the girl did was act supprised and make a funny....obviously a ton of people agree with me according to the pole rates......The girl was showing her personality...I see that she is a kind fun person...not a dumb gangster......cut the kids some slack...they already have it hard as it is with all the new responsibilities....JUST LET THEM LIVE A LITTLE!!!

audacityfights said on December 7, 2009 at 12:41 AM

That is not right to take someone out of the yearbook just for being herself. So she's different, what else is new, the school administration takes away all hints of the individual aspect of a person. What is this about a gang sign, she's not a crackhead, a black wannabe or the emo scene. She's excited for high school, that's what she's expressing. Let the kid in the yearbook!

wisdomgirl said on December 7, 2009 at 12:58 AM

I saw this story on AOL and had to take a minute to support this darling girl! Are these people kidding me?! The administrators at this high school (or school board)should clearly have bigger fish to fry! This young lady didn't show inappropriate flesh, she didn't flash a "gang" sign or wear gang colors. What she DID do was show some personality. The faculty and administrators of this high school need to concentrate on the drugs and illegal weapons that are being brought onto the premises. And one other reminder to the adults who appointed themselves the "Yearbook Police"...yearbooks are NOT for you...they're for the students to be able to look back on years from now and remember the good times. SHAME ON YOU FOR INTERFERING WITH THIS STUDENTS OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO!

sacocala said on December 7, 2009 at 1:00 AM

What part of a smile is gang-related? If smiling is not allowed, send ground rules home in writing before photo take. How errant of the school not to offer a re-take. The school is way out of line and playing unfairly.

blueangels said on December 7, 2009 at 2:57 AM

i think that she looked cute it was not inappropriate, but i will tell you what is inappropriate these high school kids sexting and kissing and touching in public fighting and the dirty dancing at proms that's what they need to be worrying about as well as the test scores and education

carlooompah said on December 7, 2009 at 3:21 AM

This school has a very dangerous board of administrators if they have to stoop this low to make this much trouble for one student who only wants to show some originality instead of looking like just one more of a line of prison mug shots. It's obvious to me they are using this as an excuse to ignore the real problems it what is probably a crummy school. Charlie, you come across as a real sweetheart, both in this picture, & in the interview. Keep your individuality & don't change just because of a bunch of stuffed shirts don't like it. The yearbook is for YOU to look back on as the definition of your life in High School. You take whatever picture you want. And if you are reading this, I hope after you turn 18 you will look me up to thank me for this comment & support. Best to you in the future in what ever you decide to do. Your whole life's ahead of you, you go girl !!!

brooks1975 said on December 7, 2009 at 12:37 PM

TELL THE SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO "GET A LIFE". I TOOK PHOTOS FOR MY COLLEGE MAGAZINE. YOU LOOK FOR WHAT STANDS OUT. I ALSO WORKED WITH MY HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK PHOTOGRAPHER. ONE OF THE BEST PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD. WHO CARES WHAT A STUDENT LOOKS LIKE AS LONG AS THEY ENJOY IT AND NO ONE AMONG THEIR STUDENT PEERS IS OFFENDED. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, EVEN THE JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL SCROOGES!!!!!

roboeducator said on December 7, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Cut to the Chase ! This illustrates the disconnect of middle management and students. It's no wonder that students can't relate to education !!! Been there 25 years? Well, he hasn't changed in 25 years - obviously.

mustardhead said on December 7, 2009 at 3:31 PM

I think the schools need to stop worrying about a young girl wanting to bring a smile to someone and start telling some of their students to pull up their pants. I would rather see a goofy smile than a pair of stained drawers !!!

muzikjock said on December 7, 2009 at 7:18 PM

look people, don't you get it? liberal Marxists have taken over our education system. part of their philosophy is that they care less about the individual. Its about the collective. You as an individual have no rights, and have no right to free expression. The govt dictates what you should do and how you should act. .....This is old play book tactics of Marxism from way back when. ...so, hows all this hope and change working out for you?

ratracer said on December 7, 2009 at 8:58 PM

Just wait until next year If this young lady is popular most of the student body will have a pose simular to this or worse. I am now 60 and did something like this with my HS photo Wig beads and head band, My kids have had a many a chuckle as have I I am soooo sick of being forced to be PC a little BS now and again is good for the soul