Local

'Freak' published with student's name in yearbook

Paulding County Schools administrators are investigating how a high school yearbook got published with the word "freak" attached to a student's name.

Some people are concerned that the situation is a case of bullying at South Paulding High School.

Word spread around the school that someone put a personal slur in a photo caption of a freshman after the yearbooks were distributed.
"I'm stunned. I'm shocked and I'm very hurt," the teen's mother, Susan Powell, said. "I don't know why he was targeted or why they would do this to him."
Added to the name of a marching band member was the word "freak."

"I thought it was really, really horrible," senior Brook Hart told Channel 2's Jeff Dore. "I just don't see how someone could do something like that to somebody, honestly."

Brooklyn Boyd thought the offensive label went beyond a prank.

"I would label it bullying. Calling someone a name that's as mean as that would be bullying, yeah," Boyd said.

Paulding school district officials apologize to the student and his family.

"We have not yet determined who is at fault in this case. But we are still investigating," said Brian Ottot, associate superintendent for Paulding County Schools.
Powell said she wants a direct apology from school officials.
"He says he's going to go through the rest of the year like it didn't happen and hold his head up," Powell said.

The central office had the publisher make little stickers that students can put over that caption, cover it up and change it. Except, it would only go in yearbooks when students specifically request one.

WSBTV

Most Read