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Valedictorian denied high school diploma for saying hell in speech

LOL - her stealing a speech concept from a teen flick VS her principle getting up in arms over the word 'hell' - I think everyone at that school needs to rethink their grasp on reality.

I'll donate some Brunton Compasses - see if that helps them out. :D
 
Aunt Spiker said:
For a Valedictorian speech it's not acceptable. To me it screams 'idiot' :shrug:
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That may be but there is no call whatsoever for denying the young lass her diploma. If there was a problem it could have been resolved amicably and reasonably. A public appology for a debateble infraction is in niether amicable or reasonable.
 
PirateMk1 said:
As far as hell being a curse word. Really, we gona go there?:roll:
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To some it is, to some it isn't. The reason for that would be because if you let one do it, you have to let ALL do it. Really, is this concept really that foreign? This "valedictorian" is acting FAR from a mature adult.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
LOL - her stealing a speech concept from a teen flick VS her principle getting up in arms over the word 'hell' - I think everyone at that school needs to rethink their grasp on reality.

I'll donate some Brunton Compasses - see if that helps them out. :D
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Works for me.:lamo
 
I'm sure the principal's actions were not personally directed towards this girl. I'm sure she was WELL liked; she was the valedictorian after all. This is about setting standards. It really isn't that hard to understand.
 
Anybody else get the feeling that the only people defending the disobedient child are themselves fresh out of high school?
 
They should have done this:

For future graduations - Set specifications for speech-content and made speech 'only approved upon review' or something. IF anything at all.

The principle might have been frustrated, angry and embarrassed that she said 'hell' - but now the principle made it INTERNATIONAL NEWS. Did she really think that denying the Valedictorian their degree wasn't going to hit the airwaves and get serious recognition?

How many marbles is she missing? She just created this situation FOR HERSELF. any other action would have just resulted in maybe a small number of people being aware and involved - now it's worldwide.

So - this LACK of solid thought is what makes me wonder how much emotion was behind it - it does seem personal. It does not seem like a measured and thought out 'punishment' for a perceived 'crime' . . . for a principle who has to deal with violence, bomb threats and all teacher scruples I'm surprised she reacted so harshly. This is the straw? Someone needs to check her back.
 
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If it had been a presentation for work to possible clients or something, she would have been FIRED.
 
ChrisL said:
To some it is, to some it isn't. The reason for that would be because if you let one do it, you have to let ALL do it. Really, is this concept really that foreign? This "valedictorian" is acting FAR from a mature adult.
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Hell is at best debateable as a curse word. I could see words that you cant use on public airways being not kosher. Its even understandble. The priciple is being a bully though with the word hell. By the way you should expect the boundries to pushed a little thats what kids and young adults do. That principle is being foolish making his stand on this particular word. If she said F*** or some other then he would have a valid point to make a stand. She said one word in the context it was apporiate for. There is no real offence here.
 
PirateMk1 said:
Hell is at best debateable as a curse word. I could see words that you cant use on public airways being not kosher. Its even understandble. The priciple is being a bully though with the word hell. By the way you should expect the boundries to pushed a little thats what kids and young adults do. That principle is being foolish making his stand on this particular word. If she said F*** or some other then he would have a valid point to make a stand. She said one word in the context it was apporiate for. There is no real offence here.
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I guess that would be debatable. I wouldn't take offense to it, but my grammy might.
 
Guy Incognito said:
Anybody else get the feeling that the only people defending the disobedient child are themselves fresh out of high school?
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Actually I am fairlly fresh out of school. I have my 20 year reunion this year. ;)
 
ChrisL said:
If it had been a presentation for work to possible clients or something, she would have been FIRED.
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This wasnt for clients or work and was in context for what it was, a graduation. I do public speaking because of my buisiness and words can be appropriate one place and not another. Cursing at the rotary club probaly not kosher, using a few choice words at a saftey meeting with roughnecks pretty much kosher.:lol:
 
Aunt Spiker said:
They should have done this:

For future graduations - Set specifications for speech-content and made speech 'only approved upon review' or something. IF anything at all.

The principle might have been frustrated, angry and embarrassed that she said 'hell' - but now the principle made it INTERNATIONAL NEWS. Did she really think that denying the Valedictorian their degree wasn't going to hit the airwaves and get serious recognition?

How many marbles is she missing? She just created this situation FOR HERSELF. any other action would have just resulted in maybe a small number of people being aware and involved - now it's worldwide.

So - this LACK of solid thought is what makes me wonder how much emotion was behind it - it does seem personal. It does not seem like a measured and thought out 'punishment' for a perceived 'crime' . . . for a principle who has to deal with violence, bomb threats and all teacher scruples I'm surprised she reacted so harshly. This is the straw? Someone needs to check her back.
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If the school wishes to control the content of their public speakers then they need to just have the speahes recorded and played back at the ceromony.
 
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ChrisL said:
If it had been a presentation for work to possible clients or something, she would have been FIRED.
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No she wouldn't. At least not by any rational manager in the world. No manager is going to fire a good employee for a mild slip of the tongue. And (with a few minor exceptions) no clients are going to be offended by the word hell, especially when it was uttered unintentionally.
 
PirateMk1 said:
If the school wishes to control the content of their public speakers then they need to just have the speahes recorded and played back at the ceromony.
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I see now - she was trying to punish for the slip-up and denying the diploma was the only thing she could think of.

Hmm

I think when students graduate - by that time - that's the schools relinquishing of punishment-abilities. . . they just should have sucked it up.
 
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