High School Valedictorian’s Diploma Withheld Because Of Graduation Speech (stupid adminstrators)

NewsChannel 5 (WTVF Nashville, TN) ^ | 5/25/05 | News staff

[mcg1969]

Just to be clear: he was not being prevented from graduating---he was being prevented from participating in the graduation ceremony.

[latina4dubya]

Holton said she withheld the diploma because Stoklasa had agreed to make changes to his speech and did not follow through with that promise.

his high school diploma had nothing to do with the speech... he was the valedictorian... i'm assuming he met the requirements...

oh well... at least it was memorable... "remember that time you tried to give that speech at your high school graduation?"

[latina4dubya]

In other words, insecure. If they were doing the job they were supposed to be they would laugh it off.

exactly... if they were confident that the students received "fine" educations, they would know that everyone would think his comments were ludicrous...

[Republican Wildcat]

My conclusion is that the principal is an idiot from both stories. Talk about thin skin. Afraid that people would get the wrong impression about the school when it was obviously a joke? She needs to find another job.

[Republican Wildcat]

Teenagers?

[mcg1969]

I agree, however, there were two jokes in question that the principal objected to. One ridiculed the entire school; and one singled out the wrestling coach. Had I been the principal, I think I would have let the first one slide, but not the second.

[WKUHilltopper]

Just think of the uproar if the kid mentioned God in that sentence...

[ChildOfThe60s]

Teenagers?

Which one, the kid or the principal?

If there is one thing I learned from being a parent (and it was hard), it was to pick your battles. The principal obviously did not learn that lesson.

If she had just let it pass by, it would not have even shown up on the radar.

I'll bet she makes a federal case out of every misdimeanor that occurs on campus, just to prove she is right and has the authority to do so.

Knowing when not to exercise one's authority is equally as important.

[feralgypsydragon]

Honestly I was a little disappointed to find out it was a joke. I grew up in the county where this took place and basically his comment fits my opinion of the education system here. I have school aged children and I homeschool for this very reason. When my child graduates and says something in humor that ,as this boys mother said "is just his personality." I hope I should have a thick enough skin to laugh.