Diploma Denied To Student Who Bowed, Blew Kiss To Family

ABC 8 WMTW ^ | 6-15-09

[rawhide]

Justin Denney's family watched on as he ascended the Cumberland County Civic Center stage during graduation Friday night to accept his diploma, but the superintendent told him to return to his seat

Mary Denney said she can't believe how her son's taking a bow and blowing a kiss on stage was grounds for the superintendent to withhold his diploma.

"I'm like, 'Did she not hand him his diploma?' I'm like, 'What's going on?'" Mary Denney said.

She said she and Justin both signed a code of conduct regarding the graduation when she picked up graduation tickets on Friday, she doesn't think he violated it.

"There was no misbehavior. Showboating is not misbehavior," Mary Denney said. "A bow, a kiss to your mom is not misbehavior. There was no need of my son not getting his diploma."

Before the school began handing out diplomas, some students pulled out beach balls.

While in his seat or waiting in line for his diploma, Justin Denney never touched a beach ball. After his name was called, he took a bow, blew a kiss to his family and pointed to friends, but he didn't get his diploma, leaving a whole family in disbelief.

"I said, 'What did she ask you?' And, he goes, 'She said, 'There's no fooling around up here,'' and he just kind of looked at her because he wasn't fooling around. He didn't consider that fooling around or misbehaving in any sense of the word, and she goes, 'Why do you feel you deserve your diploma?' He goes, 'Because I worked hard and I earned it,' and she goes, 'No go take your seat,'" Mary Denney said.

The crowd booed, but Justin Denney still doesn't have his diploma. Now, his mother wants her son to get what he's worked so hard for.

[Kimmers]

My son and a few others received blank diploma folders @ their HS graduation because they wore sandals and in my son sons case his Birkenstocks (yes, he is a conservative) instead of dress shoes @ graduation.....

After the ceremonies my son found the diplomas in the common area distributed them to the rightful owners and they walked out the door......

[astounded]

We all can be guilty of that. My larger point is that if the mother and son signed an agreement forswearing whatever it defines as “disruptive” behavior - then the son commits an act of what the school believes to be “disruptive” - the mother’s actions in trying to override said agreement sends the wrong message to the son. In my view, that’s a big problem in our society - the lack of accountability.

[MEGoody]

In my view, that’s a big problem in our society - the lack of accountability.

I don't disagree. But clearly, there is a difference of opinion as to whether the behavior was a violation of the contract or not.

I wonder if the administrator who refused to give the kid his diploma (and thus caused his own disruption) would be willing to bet his job on the judgment of the courts on whether the contract was violated or not.

Further, since the administrator caused his own disruption, shouldn't he be disciplined by the school system? I certainly believe so. He caused more of a disruption than the kid did.

[astounded]

Neither of us was there, so we rely on the reported account that may or may not be accurate. So, who knows. I’m inclined to side with the school system, especially given the mother’s obvious vacuity in expression and her apparent willingness to abrogate terms of previous agreement with the school.

This situation reminds me of one we had in the Chicago area recently where a mother who was late to her son’s graduation raised a ruckus after not be admitted, despite knowing in advance that the doors would be closed for further admittance at a certain time. Again, lack of accountability. Where does it end?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

We all can be guilty of that. My larger point is that if the mother and son signed an agreement forswearing whatever it defines as “disruptive” behavior - then the son commits an act of what the school believes to be “disruptive” - the mother’s actions in trying to override said agreement sends the wrong message to the son. In my view, that’s a big problem in our society - the lack of accountability.

Except it doesn't look like the mother is trying to "override" any agreement. Just because the mother and son signed an agreement prohibiting "disruptive" behavior does not necessarily give the school the power to arbitrarily decide what is "disruptive." The mother is not trying to override the agreement, she is simply arguing that her son's conduct did not violate the agreement. How does arguing against the arbitrary actions of government officials "send[] the wrong message to the son" or show a "lack of accountability"?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

First, there is video of this incident, so we’re not just relying on the reported account. From the video, the kid’s behavior looks no worse than what you will see at any graduation ceremony. He blew a kiss, and pointed at his friends. It’s a celebration, the kid was happy/proud, and he showed it in an entirely nondisruptive manner.

Second, where are you getting that this mother wants to “abrogate terms of [a] previous agreement with the school”? Arguing that conduct does not violate an agreement IS NOT “abrogating” that agreement.

[Waco]

Actually he was blowing a kiss at 2 queers across the way,,,,,QUICK!! STAT!!! SHAKE A LEG!! FIND THIS KIDS DIPLOMA!!!! GET TO HIM TOUT SUITE!!!

[MEGoody]

I tend to side with the student and parent, especially given the nonsensical nature of public schools these days. Two words “Zero tolerance”. We know how silly the public schools have been around that issue.