Diploma Denied to Student Who Blew Kiss to Family,

[RainbowsAndGumdrops]

A judgement call was made and whether or not we agree with it, it was reasoned out and in accordance with the agreement the teen had signed.

The article didn't say he didn't graduate. The student didn't get to hold the "diploma" and get the photo opportunity. I really doubt they were handing out real diplomas. They were likely papers that said, "to get your diploma, please fill out this form, pay all school fees, and mail this in. Diploma pickup will be on xyz date - or diplomas will be mailed after xyz date. And buy the way, this other company has great frames"

 

[lew657]

I was at a HS graduation last week - the crowd was asked to hold all applause until the end so each person's name could be heard. Well of course once 1 person ignores this everyone does - but the yelling does not slow down the people who were announcing over 1,000 names. So some parents never heard their child's name announced as a graduate.

There was also one student who stopped in the middle of the stage - and made a production of waving to his family. This was disruptive to the flow of the event and in my mind was childish behavior from someone getting set to embard on his adulthood.

BTW: I went to Catholic School and we had a conduct grade - a girl in my class had to spend a week in summer school to get her diploma because she wore flip flops to graduation.

 

[Donjeta]

It's possible that waving might interrupt the flow of the event but I imagine that any disciplinary action they might take to punish the student for waving would do so worse. Someone needs to stop what they're doing and tell the student to go away, you ain't getting your diploma, and the student might argue and people in the audience start whispering and wondering what's going on and once they find out someone might disagree with the decision and protest vocally and people will remember the resulting commotion although they probably wouldn't remember the kid who waved a week later.

 

[Anubis]

I can't believe we're even debating this! LOL Since we are and since I have four kids (two graduated, one just last week) and two more to go, I'm going to give my opinion. I think the principal should be reprimanded. I believe she went way too far. Showboating? Blowing a kiss and waving ins't showboating. Doing a handstand and a backflip as two young men did at my daughters graduation, yeah, that is perhaps showboating. One young man even had his name announced and then right after, the principal said proudly "otherwise known as WILDFIRE". The audience laughed and applauded. LOL. Graduation is a time of joy and relief, sadness and looking to the future in anticipation. It should not be some dire, dreary, tradition laden ceremony. Reserve that for Masters degrees or Doctorates. Within reason, let the kids celebrate. I don't feel a beach ball and a kiss and wave are out of line. Yes, the boy signed a contract but he believed that meant no shouting or crazy antics. One young man had to be escorted out by a SHERIFF for goodness sake because he was so upset over the whole thing. A beautiful, happy, fun filled moment ruined because some uptight broad can't stand it that her "decorum" was disturbed. She might consider a job in the military or Catholic school (tip my hat to you LEW657). BTW, my daughters graduating class had over 500 kids and they used this device called a "microphone" and " p.a. sound system". You could hear every kids name loud and clear over applause and shouting. What a concept.

 

[Kat]

I just had a thought, while we are all debating this...

We only know the Mother of this kids version of the story. There are always two sides to a story right? I wonder if what was related by the Mom is exactly what happened?

Anyhow,

Found this:

http://www.wmtw.com/news/19791657/detail.html
UPDATED: 3:27 pm EDT June 18, 2009

...The teen denied his diploma at his high school graduation is seeking legal counsel.

Justin Denney and his father are meeting with Portland based attorney Dan Lilley Thursday afternoon...

...News 8 spoke with Bonny Eagle High School principal, Beth Schultz, who said she has called Denney's home several times in an effort to give him his diploma.

HUH. Law suit? hmmmm....

 

[kgeaux]

I just had a thought, while we are all debating this...

We only know the Mother of this kids version of the story. There are always two sides to a story right? I wonder if what was related by the Mom is exactly what happened?

Anyhow,

Found this:

http://www.wmtw.com/news/19791657/detail.html
UPDATED: 3:27 pm EDT June 18, 2009



HUH. Law suit? hmmmm....

Meeting with legal counsel does not necessarily mean they are filing suit. It may be that they are trying to determine how to get Justin's diploma. To try to determine if they are owed an apology and how to go about getting one. (Although this article says the principal has attempted to call the family, it was the superintendent of the school district who withheld the diploma, and the family has not been able to speak to HER.)

A judgement call was made and whether or not we agree with it, it was reasoned out and in accordance with the agreement the teen had signed.

The article didn't say he didn't graduate. The student didn't get to hold the "diploma" and get the photo opportunity. I really doubt they were handing out real diplomas. They were likely papers that said, "to get your diploma, please fill out this form, pay all school fees, and mail this in. Diploma pickup will be on xyz date - or diplomas will be mailed after xyz date. And buy the way, this other company has great frames"

The mother and the graduate do not agree that his behavior was NOT in accordance with the agreement.

 

[White Rain]

I am appalled at this, whether a behavior agreement is signed or not.
I was a senior who graduated 3 months after my baby was born. I went back to school less than one week after my baby was born simply to avoid being failed for missing too many days. I sat there bleeding and sore and more sleep deprived than I could imagine just to keep from failing.
true, this was nobody's fault but mine for having a baby in high school...
BUT I would HATE to thinkI did what I had to do and worked so hard not to get a diploma if I had simply blew a kiss.
At my graduation families were urged NOT to clap for each person, to wait until it was all done and of course no one did, each person's family whooped for them.
These kids have worked so had for so long...something as simple as one little kiss should not come between them and a diploma, IMO.
Besides, WHO or what is a 2 sec. blown kiss hurting? Would ANY of us sitting in the audience be offended?

 

[January.]

I can't believe we're even debating this! LOL Since we are and since I have four kids (two graduated, one just last week) and two more to go, I'm going to give my opinion. I think the principal should be reprimanded. I believe she went way too far. Showboating? Blowing a kiss and waving ins't showboating. Doing a handstand and a backflip as two young men did at my daughters graduation, yeah, that is perhaps showboating. One young man even had his name announced and then right after, the principal said proudly "otherwise known as WILDFIRE". The audience laughed and applauded. LOL. Graduation is a time of joy and relief, sadness and looking to the future in anticipation. It should not be some dire, dreary, tradition laden ceremony. Reserve that for Masters degrees or Doctorates. Within reason, let the kids celebrate. I don't feel a beach ball and a kiss and wave are out of line. Yes, the boy signed a contract but he believed that meant no shouting or crazy antics. One young man had to be escorted out by a SHERIFF for goodness sake because he was so upset over the whole thing. A beautiful, happy, fun filled moment ruined because some uptight broad can't stand it that her "decorum" was disturbed. She might consider a job in the military or Catholic school (tip my hat to you LEW657). BTW, my daughters graduating class had over 500 kids and they used this device called a "microphone" and " p.a. sound system". You could hear every kids name loud and clear over applause and shouting. What a concept.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[Soulhavoc]

This is kind of sad. I understand wanting to keep a proper decorum during the speeches and ceremony, but my nieces graduation last week, they all waved at their families, blew kisses and waved while not only getting their handshake and diploma, but a picture taken while doing it. And the end of the ceremony they got to throw their caps, bounce a beach ball around and even spew some baby powder into the air. And this was a pretty prestigious school in this area. That was definately the happiest part of the ceremony for the graduates. :blowkiss:

 

[poco]

They were made to sign behavior agreements before the ceremony??? How weird is that one??? "I promise I will behave and not blow kisses at my mommy, and not, in whatever way, draw any attention to myself. I will walk across the stage like a zombie and accept my diploma while showing any emotions."

What a bunch of crap -

 

[lew657]

There are 2 sides - wonder why there isn't much from the school's side.

I believe rules are set for a reason and unfortunately if you let something harmless slide people seem to try and get away with more and more. Dress codes in work are a perfect example - what some people wear on business casual day doesn't look fit to clean the house in!

On a side note: I think some of what is expected should be dependent on where the ceremony is held. My graduation was in a church - therefore behavior that may have been acceptable in a football stadium graduation would not have been appropriate there.