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An Amador Valley High School senior will be allowed to have his “distinctive” photo in the school’s yearbook after all.
Amador Principal Jim Hansen originally told Kenton Koos, an 18-year-old independent study student, that he’d violated school policy and the photo wouldn’t be allowed.
Although Koos did wear a tuxedo as required, he’d spiked his hair and colored it green. He also painted a tribal tattoo on his face and sported a large nose ring in the shot.
Banning the photo caused a stir and the American Civil Liberties Union nearly got involved, but the district shifted gears almost immediately.
District guidelines allow for photos to be banned if they violate what Odie Douglas, assistant superintendent of educational services, described as “one of the protected classes.”
“Something that’s racial, something that may have some sexual overtones or profanity, something that may be obscene or project a level of hate, those things would not be allowed,” Douglas explained. “His photo did not reflect any of those.”
Douglas said Hansen has met with Koos to see whether he still wants his original photo in the yearbook.
“He was given the option to have his picture as it is, if he wants to change it, or if he wants to photoshop it, whatever he decides, that’s what it will be,” Douglas said.
He said the ACLU did not step in. Neither Koos nor his family could be reached for comment.
Kudos to Mr. Hansen for being human and willing to change his mind. You are one of the best principals in this district, available to the students and parents, open and honest. While it might go against our sensibilities, it is a great lesson for all AVHS students on freedom of expression.
One step over the line. Then another. And another. Just one more block in the district’s socialist agenda. Today, socialism which is then communism. Our history books – not the revisionist one written by socialists for the Socialist State of California – tell us as much. This is the Truth!
Only in America
To Arnie who is ranting about socialism and communism. Did I understand your point? Are you saying that by the district allowing this young person to express himself that that is a step in the direction towards communism? Do you know what communism is?? Allowing freedom of expression and individuality is in DIRECT CONFLICT with communism, which requires the state be held higher than the individual person. So called conservatives always talk about liberalism being equal to communism, when in reality, the social conservatism they promote is closer to the social agenda of communism. Think about it, Arnie, and forgive me if I misunderstood your point.
I thought about your point, Fair, and I’ve concluded you don’t know what you’re talking about. Under communism, Marx said the state by then has ‘withered away’ and that men and women can hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, and read philosophy before bedtime. In other words, Marxist communism gives way too much freedom for people with too much time on their hands. And that’s exactly what liberals, deep down, want. Everyone just taking freedom for granted and lolling about all day long. This kid tattooing his face and spiking his hair cuts against all that is good in our capitalist society: discipline, conformity, subordination to authority. Would you like this kid waiting on your table in a swank restaurant? No, he’s a communist rabble rouser who is refusing to make sacrifices as part of waiting tables and living the American Dream.
Wake up America. A tsunami is coming, and this kid will assuredly end up being part of the 47% who feed off of all the rest of us. Such antics are unsustainable and translate into unfunded liabilities that’ll end up chasing my grandkids to Idaho. See what’s occurring in Greece!
Congrats Kenton! That’s how you show “the man” who’s the boss!
Now in preparation for your going out & kicking the rest of the worlds butt just repeat after me…”you want fries with that?”
Rock on Kenton! “You’ve got to find a thing that makes you different. My hook around the office is that I wear the crazy outfits.” –Jane DeFlorio, a managing director at Deutsche Bank, as quoted in Knowledge@Wharton
Thanks, Arnie. I believe you and I will just disagree. You seem to equate individualism with rabble-rousing. I’m sure nothing I say will change that attitude and leave it up to the others on this thread to decide what position is worth living by.
For the record, I wouldn’t mind being served by this kid (even if he had a permanent tattoo on his face) if he treated me like a customer should. I’ve been mis-treated by enough “conforming”-looking people to know that it’s not about what you look like but about how you treat others.
The question that is on my mind is “Where are the parents?”. Do they have their heads completely up their a**es? The mother took her head our of her a** long enough to say she fully supported her meatball son’s actions, and then she stuck her head right back up her a** to enjoy the surroundings. Kudos go to Jim Hansen for putting his foot down. Too bad he got overruled by the District Superintendant who clearly has her head squarely up her a**. While she is supporting this meatball’s freedom to demonstrate he is a meatball, the students in her district are falling further and further behind the students in the rest of the developed world. Its a case of a left-wing loon student, with left-wing loon parents, attending a school district with a left-wing loon Superintendant, in a city with a population that now has a majority of left-wing loons. What a pathetic situation. Too bad all Pleasanton’s loons don’t move to Washington state, so they can smoke weed to their heart’s content and enhance thier looniness.
I holy agree with Justin’s Bustin’ classy post. Get me out of this left-wing loony bin so that Justin’ Bustin’ and myself, as he so eloquently puts it, don’t have to confront all the meatballs who smoke pot and ridicule the rest of us with their hairadical views.
I am 100% with Dr. King in thinking that people should be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin, which I take as including hair style, body art and fashion. I would also suggest that it is natural and healthy for people to experiment and explore when they are young.
The unfortunate reality is, however, that the farther people move from the statistical norm as they age, the more difficult it is to succeed without demonstrable talent, say, for example, artistic skill or a better than average ability to call the ponies.
This is why we benefit as kids from having experienced people around us who care enough to help us to grow into adulthood.
Mike
“If by chance some day you’re not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I’ve said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.”
Red Skelton
Thanks to Kathleen, whose inside gossip trumps even the PW. In fact, it trumps most of us who are untalented on the gossip front.
As was stated a few posts ago, Posted by Mr. Geeneyuss:
Now in preparation for your going out & kicking the rest of the worlds butt just repeat after me…”you want fries with that?
What are the odds this kid ends up part of the near majority of takers in this country?
But, at least he and his parents are satisfied that he had a chance to have his 5 seconds of infamy.
For those of you a little slow on the uptake, the sick guy who hates everyone has stolen Cholo’s name and is using it to spread his sickness. Cholo — the one who ordinarily posts as Cholo — is not a hater like this guy who’s using his name.
I’ll go ahead and say it that this all ties in with BART to Pleasanton. We have people like Obama to thank for this left wing loon, tax increase government regulation. Take one look at that guy and you know why the crime rate keeps going up. Murders, bank roberries and all. I look around and I know this town is not safe anymore.
@PW Staff – when will you stop letting Jake the troll post? His comment drags BART and Obama into this conversation, which is totally off topic. Can’t you remove it as irrlevant?
My goodness, people. Give the kid some props for exercising his constitutional rights and for challenging the authority of Principal Hansen, who apparently didn’t have a leg to stand on after putting his foot down.
AMEN to the parents who have encouraged their child to be confident and creative in socially stifling Pleasanton. Just because a kid expresses their personality through exterior decoration (every culture does it!!) does NOT automatically make him a future drug addiced derelict deviant that is going to parasitically collect unemployment checks.
The kid has a personality and a sense of humor. If you can’t remember what it’s like to be a kid then you have my sympathy!
Congratulations are in order to Kenton.
I’ve lost count of the times Pleasanton Unified has broken the law in some form or another — how many times in the press do we read about PUSD breaking the law in everything….not putting contracts out to bid (judge’s decision in Neal that PUSD broke the law), PUSD’s shady dealings with bond refinancing (broke the law and State constitution), PUSD’s shady dealings that involve a local judge being removed from the bench. The list goes on.
Below is a link to a publication which indicates what rights students have. Kids, knowledge of your rights, particularly in Pleasanton where there are so many people in power who have a certain contempt for the public including kids, is an important tool for protecting yourself against their abuses in Pleasanton by police, school officials, and other adults.
Here is the publication https://www.aclunc.org/issues/youth/asset_upload_file183_2977.pdf
Basically, the gist is that children do not surrender their constitutional rights when they enter school. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press in general are guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
But in California, there are also two special laws that specifically protect students’ rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press at school.
These laws are found in the California Education Code—Section 48907 and Section 48950. They are important ones to remember particularly for Pleasanton residents!!
Kenton,
You painted a tribal tattoo on his face. So already want to do was make fun of the system.
If you had any guts and wanted to make a statement get the tattoo on your face for real.
There are so many kids at Amador doing great things in the class room, on the fields and voluntary.
But some of you want to hold this kid up as what great about Amador.
What happen to us holding up the kids doing the right thing.
@lessismore,
Have you ever thought about opening a home schooling center? I bet a lot of Pleasanton parents would love to have you teaching their children. I especially liked your trenchant remark about Kenton needing to show some guts by getting a real tattoo on his face. Please continue to speak truth to power as you do. Very impressive!
Sincerely,
Arnie
can someone decipher what this means about this kid …”18-year-old independent study student”, I am guessing this means he sits at home in front of the computer, but I could be wrong, maybe he is on assignment for Livermore Lab?
“I’m in trouble because I’m normal and slightly arrogant. A lot of people don’t like themselves and I happen to be totally in love with myself.”
Mike Tyson
Hope this solves the puzzle…have a great weekend!
The kid is on independent study which means he doesn’t even go to AVHS. Great, someone who doesn’t go to the school can put a stupid picture in the yearbook. This is certainly showing society about the rights of free expression. Honestly, it’s a yearbook…who really cares after about mid-June. It will get shoved in a closed and opened again when somebody buys a copy on eBay for the 50 year reunion. Of course nobody will no who this guy is because he didn’t go to the school. If you feel the need to call is a social statement or something with significant meaning, go ahead.
This kid is trouble. I bet we haven’t heard the last of it. I vote for n photo in yearbook.
James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were ‘trouble’ too. Long hair hooligans if you ask me! And Benjamin Franklin with that long hair…how dare he?
Thank goodness James Madison took time to write the First Amendment.
Maybe the school administrators can take some time out of their regular golf games and retreats and read it over some time.
Well, it seems the fun loving jokester Kenton Koos was arrested on a drug charge, and a felony one at that, at a park here in Pleasanton. Guess we know why he is at Village. Not the perfect child you portraited him as huh mama Koos. Throw the (year) book at him.
Yes probably meeting his supplier who conveniently rode hear on BART. Meanwhile are taxes and crime keep going up and the president keeps shredding the constitution!
Kenton is a kid who really didn’t fit in socially at Amador. His parents had high hopes and expectations. He found a creative and funny way to get noticed and the news picked it up. His parents are proud of his 15 minutes of fame, he is excited by the attention. At the end of the day he has found a brief and exhilirating sense of power over his fellow students and faculty. He’ll please himself with a stunt, humor some students, discused others and hurt the kids who put their heart and soul into the yearbook. Down the road, none of this will matter, he will laugh at his picture and everyone will move on.. I just wish he’d do something positive to be noticed and not something that forces his will on others. Good luck everyone.
my child told me that Kenton got caught smoking pot at school. He is now an “independent student”, so he studies and smokes at home.
@Kathleen…from the “other” Pleasanton news outlet (aka Pleasanton Patch)
@Jake…get off your BART connection…he was no where near a BART station at the time of his arrest.
A can of worms this one…so, everyone has their ‘right’ to do whatever they want, regardless of the effect on others. In terms of ‘rights’, does my son, who is a graduating senior, have the ‘right’ to have Kenton’s photo removed from his yearbook? I understand the need for individualism and there are kids who demonstrate it at AV everyday in their appearance and opinions -and more power to them, it’s part of growing up. But, as a one-off, “I wanted to see how far I could push boundaries” -so why not instead get the yearbook staff to put it in as one of their random photos? Nope, not enough impact. So, since Kenton thinks this is such a great idea, how about instead try pushing this in an environment that only affects Kenton, like going to apply for a job, or some type of community service? So for all of you supporters of his ‘rights’, would any one of you hire him to show up with that appearance at your small business or maybe community service work with seniors? Didn’t think so.
Hat’s off to Jim for having the courage to say ‘no’, shame on PUSD for not having the spine to support him -nothing like letting a 17-18 year old kid give you his best K-my-A in perpetuity on the way out the door. For his parents, where this really sits -first, learn to say ‘no’ to your kid, and second, how about thinking of the bigger picture and not just about your kid. I’m curious to see how many kids decide to push the envelope next year…the precedent has now been set.
Kathleen, had Kenton taken “No” for an answer, instead of going to the media, it wouldn’t be a “thing” at this point…
I guess Kenton’s 15 minutes of fame aren’t quite up yet.. the little outcast was arrested for posession of Hash.. Kenton..the gift that keeps on giving.. you’re already starting to live up to the person you portray in the year book. I am sure your parents continue to be proud of your performance.. I can only imagine what is next.. you and the Kardashians..
http://www.pleasantonweekly.com/news/show_story.php?id=10530
one bad choice after another – Kenton. No self respected girl with a right mind should want to hook up with him. wonder if he has any plans after high school (oh, independent study). His parents are proud of him for what ever he is doing (or not doing). It explains a lot.
If the background were plain and he wore a gown (like all the others), his photo would stand out as “artistic” and he would have fit in with all the senior pictures from my high school. I would have preferred the traditional, but our seniors went for the “avant garde”. Where are those seniors today – hedge funds, oil, gov’t positions, embassy, software and health industry.
[Oh, if any of us got caught with drugs, we were deported – this was The American School in London. Kathleen Turner graduated from there in the following year.]
I support the student’s choice and agree that his photo should be allowed in the yearbook.
When I look at some of the teenage girls in Pleasanton (and everywhere in the U.S) I am sad at how our culture sexually objectifies girls.
We teach girls with the U.S. media that what is most valuable about them is their sexual attractiveness.
Many of them have identified with that cultural value and it is reflected in their appearance.
That’s incredibly sad.
This boy’s choice of self-adornment isn’t sad; it’s different and interesting.
I just read a survey showing that smoking weed is on the rise with teenagers.
Don’t make this kid out to be a pariah because he was caught.
If your child hasn’t tried weed in high school, the majority will in college.
Btw, the alcohol drinking that you all model for your children is far more toxic to them.
WOW! You actually mean to tell me that there’s a teenager that dresses in a provocative manner, is outwardly different than others in society, has some piercings, tattoos and wild haircut? Gee golly, I bet he also listens to that darn rock n’ roll music too? (I hear that the beat of the music is really the devils heartbeat ya know!) I hear that his parent(s) think that he’s just the best darn creative kid they know and all those 9th place participation awards aren’t just for show ya know?
Gimmee a freakin break. If Justin is still acting this way in a few years I’ll start to worry, otherwise Fearless Leader (The Great Obama) will undoubtedly find a place for him with a nice cushy federal job with subsidized rent, medical care, free contraception, tattoo removal and ESL classes. Otherwise let the poor kid alone. What would you expect out of a post-millennial generation entitlement teenager?
This is a clean cut kid who FAKED a photo and was told it wouldn’t be included in the yearbook because “he didn’t normally look like that.” The principal was further quoted as saying (paraphrased), if he normally looked like that I wouldn’t mind. The district administration may have had a role in the principal’s change of heart according to a story in the Tri-Valley Times this week.
So this does not appear to be a kid out on a limb that’s about to break; no reason to believe he’ll be serving fries; no need to worry about his parents’ skills in raising a child. So I would agree with Mike that this is just a test and some of the adults failed.
Here you go Gordy. This article includes the principal’s original quote: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22093007/banned-pleasanton-yearbook-photo-causes-stir?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com
And this article includes comments from district staff: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22100740/tattoo-or-not-pleasanton-student-can-appear-yearbook?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com
Cholo, I’m surprised. The student did nothing wrong. Neither did the parents. Why would he be a “taker”?
Students on independent study are assigned to a school, in this case, Amador. They can participate in many activities of the school where they are assigned.
“Independent or Self-Directed Study
A strategy to allow students to follow individual or self-selected areas of interest and specific aptitude by designing and implementing their own study plans. Close monitoring by teachers or mentors is an essential component of independent study. Independent study can be implemented through correspondence with a recognized program such as those offered by Stanford and Johns Hopkins Universities.”
This is from “Common Terms Related to Gifted Education”: http://pleasantonusd.net/?s=independent+study&x=0&y=0
Nancy, where are you getting that information? And it says he is an independent student, not a Village student. Rather a big claim with no link to it. It is unfortunate if true, but it doesn’t change his right to have his photo in the yearbook.
A piece of opaque tape or a Sharpie can easily solve the problem of not wanting this photo in your son’s yearbook (or not buying it). I am sure there are other students your son may not be fond of, for any number of reasons, that will be in the book because their photos are deemed appropriate. And clean cut does not equate directly to good employee. The photo doesn’t make the person from any perspective. I learned a long time ago to look past outer appearances to try to see the person behind the decorations to the contents. You remember, like a book cover.
Had the principal let this slide, it wouldn’t even be a “thing” at this point.
A true enough statement, Nancy; but it turns out the answer he was given was likely not legal. To be clear, I have no interest in the person, his family, or their personal lives. The question was whether he could put the photo in the yearbook. Seems yes was the answer. Should he put the photo in the yearbook is an entirely different discussion.