Why are there no pictures of my kid at their school?

[Anonymous]

Sickening? Really?
Don't be such a drama queen.
At most, you could ask the teachers how photos are selected as you would like to offer up some great ones that you have taken. There will be many larger hills to die upon as the years go by. Let this one go... It's all about stroking your needs and nothing to do with DC who is oblivious; unless you've clued DC in. If that's the case, shame on you.

[Anonymous]

You probably never signed the release form.

[Anonymous]

This is what you get with mommy volunteers.

[Anonymous]

Kids aren't banned from pictures but our school ONLY highlights kids who are "diverse" or whose parents contribute a lot to the school. I talked to teachers at the school and they say that even they have never been on a single slideshow or newsletter or on the website even though they've worked there for years because the communications director doesn't think they are important enough. She only has pictures of teachers that are her friends or of students who fit into the categories already mentioned. It's just the way it is.

[Anonymous]

A few thoughts:
1. Schools want the pictures to be something that people like -- not a source of anger/bitterness/envy/cynicism/frustration. So a polite (emphasis on polite) mention that it seems like it is not a wide variety of students in the photos, and maybe the school could mix it up on which classrooms get visited and which kids get photographed, could be feedback the school would find useful. Again, they're not putting up photos in the expectation it will increase parent dissatisfaction.

2. This is assuming that there is some section of the website with photos of the week or something like that. If it is just general website photos, they may have an outside photographer coming in twice a year so you won't see a lot of turnover of photos, and the photographer (as others mentioned), is going to go for photogenic kids/groups.

3. Even with #1, above, consider if you want to use up "capital" complaining about something that, while irritating to you, does not sound like it directly impacts your child's experience. There is a "boy who cried wolf" phenomenon -- certain parents become known as frequent complainers and that can dilute the impact of your communication. In other words, think about "saving your powder."

4. If you believe this is a manifestation of ingrained and corrupt favoritism, perhaps you should re-examine if it is healthy for you to have your child at a school that you distrust so much (for example, use of the word "sickening" seems very strong). If you truly hate the atmosphere and think terrible people are in charge, why keep your child there? Conversely, if you are generally happy with the school and think highly of the teachers in particular, perhaps try to be less angry/emotional about relatively minor issues like this and focus on whether big picture you like the education your child is getting.

[Anonymous]

Teach your DC to photobomb anytime he/she sees a photo taking in process.

Issue solved!

[Anonymous]

Op here, Thanks for all of the helpful responses. Perhaps my language was a bit strong, because I really do love the school. The school has an external site where they have pictures that you can purchase and I would love to buy some pictures, but I never see any of my child. We are a "diversity family" so that't not an issue. I did sign the release. I think I will bring it up to the communications person and ask if the school photographer would try to take more pics of all of the students. My child is in high school this year and I want pictures to put in the album!

[Anonymous]

My son goes to a summer camp where they employ 2 FT photographers to take photos of the kids in different activities. My son has been in 1 photo in 4 years. When I asked him if they ever take photos of him and his friends, he said that he usually runs away or covers his face because he doesn't want his photo taken.

[Anonymous]

Are they big donor kids?

At all the schools my kids have ever attended, those who appear most often in the photos (online in any context) are the kids of the big donors or the famous parents.