Kiss to Family Denies Student His Diploma

[RandomPhantom700]

Story located at: http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92681?fp=1

Basic story is that, as one high-school student walked up to accept his diploma, he turned and blew a kiss to his family in the audience. One school administrator apparently decided that violated decorum and denied the student his diploma.

When I first read the original headline, I thought perhaps he's kissed either another student or one of the administrators on stage, but...this? WTF?

Anyway, thought it'd make for decent discussion.

 

[terryl965]

It is a complete waste of time, the way people think and act.

 

[Ken Morgan]

Silly string and beach balls?? A kiss to the family?
These people really need to lighten up...

 

[MJS]

Personally, I think its pretty damn stupid to deny someone a diploma because they blew a kiss to their family. I suppose this person would also think its unprofessional of a student to wave at their family or show any emotion other than being a stone faced robot, that walks up, gets the diploma and returns to their seat, not once looking anywhere but straight ahead, as if they were a zombie.

Please....the school seriously needs to lighten up just a bit.

 

[shesulsa]

You can't kill your family, you can't kiss your family, you can't hug your friends ... what is the world coming to?

 

[celtic_crippler]

You can't kill your family, you can't kiss your family, you can't hug your friends ... what is the world coming to?

An end.

 

[arnisador]

We went to a H.S. graduation this Spring. They had lots of the same rules, including a "hold tyour applause until the very end" rule, and none were respected.

This "zero tolerance" policy seems a bit draconian to me.

 

[Empty Hands]

...or show any emotion other than being a stone faced robot, that walks up, gets the diploma and returns to their seat, not once looking anywhere but straight ahead, as if they were a zombie.

That is exactly what the school wants. Not just during graduation either, but at all times and locations, especially the classroom. The less individuality and spontaneity from the students the better!

 

[shesulsa]

LITTLE BOXES - Melvina Reynolds

[yt]KmNSEbgt1Dg[/yt]

1. Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky,
Little boxes, little boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.

2. And the people in the houses
All go to the university,
And they all get put in boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
And there's doctors and there's lawyers
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.

3. And they all play on the golf-course,
And drink their Martini dry,
And they all have pretty children,
And the children go to school.
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
And they all get put in boxes
And they all come out the same.

4. And the boys go into business,
And marry, and raise a family,
And they all get put in boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.

 

[arnisador]

Flowers are Red
by Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And are responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one

But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.

 

[Haze]

Seems they are holding a special board meeting Monday June 22. It may be about this episode.

School web site - http://www.sad6.k12.me.us/behs/index

 

[Deaf Smith]

In Maine?

Never though the state of Joshua Chamberlin would be that way.

Now things like mooning or silly string, I can see them banning and being strict. But blowing a kiss to your own parents?

And what about Freedom of Speech?

Weird.

Deaf

 

[seasoned]

This is a bit over the line. I can see my kids doing something like this. Seems innocent enough.

 

[crushing]

One school administrator apparently decided that violated decorum and denied the student his diploma.

My high school principal would constantly stress to us the importance of "maintaining proper decorum". His words. His passion. I always wondered, but was to chicken to ask him, "As opposed to improper decorum?"

I agree with the other comments, blowing a kiss to family does seem innocent enough.

This video has a video clip of Mr. Denney's outrageous actions on stage.
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[Archangel M]

Education has become full of mindless...discretionless..."zero tolerance" morons. People who want to take common sense, judgement and decision making out of society.

Its disturbing.

 

[K-man]

I was under the impression that the good old US of A was the home of litigation. Where can you get a good lawyer when you need one!!!!:lfao:

 

[Carol]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 9,285 people, 3,205 households, and 2,464 families residing in the town. The population density was 157.2 people per square mile (60.7/km²). There were 3,987 housing units at an average density of 67.5/sq mi (26.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.08% White, 0.39% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

So, some kids were throwing beach balls....

And the Sheriff had to get involved with others....

But...in a town that is over 98% white...they jump on the brown skinned kid for blowing a kiss to his family and withhold his diploma. Ayup.

 

[MJS]

That is exactly what the school wants. Not just during graduation either, but at all times and locations, especially the classroom. The less individuality and spontaneity from the students the better!

Sad but true. IMO, being relaxed is much more productive than trying to conform everyone into robot mode. I can understand the school wanting the audience to hold off on applause until the end. God knows the graduation process is long enough with all of the speeches, but people are still going to applaud prior to. The process still goes on. In this case, the student did nothing wrong. I could see if they started acting like a fool on stage, but a simple wave, kiss, thumbs up...IMO there is nothing wrong with that.

The school needs to lighten up.

 

[rocksham]

Sad but true. IMO, being relaxed is much more productive than trying to conform everyone into robot mode. I can understand the school wanting the audience to hold off on applause until the end. God knows the graduation process is long enough with all of the speeches, but people are still going to applaud prior to. The process still goes on. In this case, the student did nothing wrong. I could see if they started acting like a fool on stage, but a simple wave, kiss, thumbs up...IMO there is nothing wrong with that.

The school needs to lighten up.

Yet another BS example of a "Zero tolerance policy", this is one of the dumbest things on the news this week. I don't nessicarily approve of home schooling but this kinda crap makes a case for it.

 

[celtic_crippler]

When everyone is uniform and standardized they're easier to control.