NASHUA, N.H. – A New Hampshire teenager's yearbook photo has been rejected — because she's holding a flower.
Merrimack High School student Melissa Morin's senior photograph featured her and a small red flower. School officials, however, said the picture is not going to make it in the yearbook because props aren't allowed.
"I totally understand that schools have right to dictate policy," said Manchester photographer Brad Mallard. "I think the issue is people need to be made aware that we've thrown common sense out the window. When we're restricting kids from holding a stupid flower in their hand, it's kind of silly, quite frankly."
The policy stemmed from a 2005 controversy in Londonderry, where a student posed with his gun. A judge ruled in favor of the school, but Nashua officials said they didn't want to face similar scuffles.
Morin's mother says she wasn't aware of the policy.
"I understand [the school's] dilemma in trying to make it black and white ... and not blur the line," said Kathie Roy. "On the other hand, if something is allowed in the classroom, something benign, then I think it's perfectly acceptable [to allow it in a photograph]."
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox