Graduation photos are not a waste!
(Baonghean.vn) - In order to "leave a lasting impression" and stand out from other classes, many students have created unique yearbook photos that are both offensive and lose the innocence of school age.
 |
| Illustrative image. |
"Students only take photos once in their life?"
In order to preserve the beautiful memories of student life before graduation, taking yearbook photos has become an activity associated with final year students. With creativity and dynamism, many students have come up with unique ideas and happily implemented them in their final yearbook photos.
However, in recent years, there have been times when yearbook photography has been distorted, many photo sets have inappropriate content, even offensive and violent... Although Nghe An has not recorded yearbook photo sets with offensive content, many photo sets are made too elaborately, there is no shortage of yearbook sets with investments of tens of millions of dong, some classes spend up to 70 - 80 million dong on photography.
Not only that, finding a setting to have a multi-layered "sparkling, magical" photo set has had unfortunate consequences. There have been cases of students having unfortunate accidents while taking yearbook photos, such as the incident where two 12th grade male students in Hung Nguyen drowned while taking photos in 2017.
Phong *, a photographer with 5-6 years of experience in taking yearbook photos, said that the price for a yearbook photo shoot ranges from 200,000 - 500,000 VND/person. This price does not include makeup, costumes (for classes that want to take photos with special costumes), music video filming, transportation, etc.
“With the mentality of wanting unique yearbook photos, many classes spend a lot of money. One student even said, "A student can only take photos once in their entire life, so they don't regret it." As a result, the total cost for taking yearbook photos (photographing fee, transportation, costume rental, makeup, food...) for some classes is up to 1.2 million VND per student."
The purpose of yearbook photos is to preserve memories, but during the shooting process, Phong witnessed many conflicts between class members, the conflicts and arguments were mainly due to disagreements in opinions during the yearbook shooting process.
According to Phong, when taking yearbook photos, photographers like Phong do not have the duty or responsibility to manage the students, but the students must ensure their own safety. Usually, this is clearly stated in the contract. “A photography team only has 2 or 3 photographers, if there is filming, there will be 1 or 2 more people. Meanwhile, each class has up to 40 or 50 students, so when taking yearbook photos, the students must "manage themselves". The photographers will not be responsible if an accident occurs,” Phong said.
Taking yearbook photos must be a truly meaningful activity.
 |
| The most important thing in taking yearbook photos is to preserve the meaning, good values, and purity of students. Photo: NVCC |
Graduating from high school 1 year ago, from her own experiences, Nguyen Dan Phuong, a former student of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, said: "Not to generalize everything, but I see that taking yearbook photos now mostly follows the trend of virtual life, to post on Facebook and no longer has the meaning of preserving memories. Personally, I think that the most important thing in taking yearbook photos is to preserve the meaning, good values, and purity of students. Not taking photos and posting them on social networks according to "hot trends" and then letting everything fall into oblivion, returning to class reunions and visiting teachers, only remembering a few friends."
A few years ago, when learning that some classes with about 40 students each spent up to 2 million VND/person to take yearbook photos, the Board of Directors of Huynh Thuc Khang High School and the School Youth Union issued a policy and guidance for students to take more economical photo sets.
Another factor that the school always emphasizes in photography activities is to ensure safety. The school has reminded homeroom teachers of each class to choose photo locations right on the school campus, classroom, Ho Chi Minh Square... For some classes that choose photo locations far away such as Cua Lo beach, Bai Lu Resort... the school requires teachers and parents to accompany the students.
Taking yearbook photos can be said to be a meaningful activity, helping students preserve memories of their school years. However, yearbook photos need to maintain the innocence and mischievousness of students. Do not let yearbook photos become distorted and ugly with offensive images.
* Name changed at character's request
Recently, the Department of Education and Training issued an official dispatch requesting: For final year students who wish to meet and say goodbye to their teachers, school leaders must develop a plan, organize a meeting with the Parents' Association to discuss the method and form of organization, and have close supervision.
In addition, it is not allowed to collect money from students to take souvenir photos or make yearbooks, which is costly and wasteful. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden for students to use wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages when organizing end-of-term parties.
Do not organize picnics, outings, or parties in deserted, dangerous, or unsafe places for students.