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Valedictorian Defies School District and Recites Lord's Prayer [W:618]

Should the school have banned the reading of the prayer by the student?

  • Yes

    Votes: 24 27.3%
  • No

    Votes: 60 68.2%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 4 4.5%

  • Total voters
    88
What is expected of a valedictorian other than addressing his/her classmates? Most speakers "hired" for an event are well vetted and paid in advance as a part of the contract...

If you think that a proper valedictorian speech is about blathering on about whatever you want, something is wrong.
 
Can't believe this has to be explained again, but the bottom line is the boy didn't get into any trouble. Also, the problem was not so much the CONTENT of speech but the fact that he broke the rules and he did not allow school officials to pre approve the speech, so he was insubordinate.
 
Your ignorence tells you that. The Lord's Prayer is a message of peace. Thats just a fact.

Says the guy who is incapable of spelling "ignorance"? :roll:
 
Can't believe this has to be explained again, but the bottom line is the boy didn't get into any trouble. Also, the problem was not so much the CONTENT of speech but the fact that he broke the rules and he did not allow school officials to pre approve the speech, so he was insubordinate.

Had our Founders not been insubordinate, we might not be having this discussion...
 
Had our Founders not been insubordinate, we might not be having this discussion...

Again, trying to equate a high school boy's insubordination towards school officials to the Revolutionary war. :roll:
 
Again, trying to equate a high school boy's insubordination towards school officials to the Revolutionary war. :roll:

You can roll our eyes all day long, but it doesn't change the substance of the post...
 
I must have missed that substance. :roll:

Or it possibly flew right by you. Let me ask you this: Do you think speakers should always tailor their speeches to what is expected/desired by the audience or those who gave them the opportunity to speak?
 
Or it possibly flew right by you. Let me ask you this: Do you think speakers should always tailor their speeches to what is expected/desired by the audience or those who gave them the opportunity to speak?

I think that depends on the circumstances entirely.
 
Or it possibly flew right by you. Let me ask you this: Do you think speakers should always tailor their speeches to what is expected/desired by the audience or those who gave them the opportunity to speak?

and the answer I have given to way too many - IT DEPENDS! There is seldom an absolute "This way" or "That way" answer when dealing with human interactions but such absolutist thinking does seem to be highly characteristic of certain folks

I see ChrisL thinks the same way
 
I think that depends on the circumstances entirely.

Under what circumstances do you believe someone's speech should be limited only to what is desired to be given/heard?
 
Under what circumstances do you believe someone's speech should be limited only to what is desired to be given/heard?

High school graduation ceremonies and other public school-sponsored events. :mrgreen:
 
and the answer I have given to way too many - IT DEPENDS! There is seldom an absolute "This way" or "That way" answer when dealing with human interactions but such absolutist thinking does seem to be highly characteristic of certain folks

To paraphrase our recently retired SOS, Hilary Clinton, dissent is one of the highest forms of patriotism...
 
A teacher who is supposed to teach a specific subject

Do you believe their method of teaching is up for scrutiny? I do, but not everyone agrees. Again, an audience is free to react as it sees fit...
 
To paraphrase our recently retired SOS, Hilary Clinton, dissent is one of the highest forms of patriotism...

Do you truly want that in a public school setting? You want students to disobey rules in school?
 
Your point was that you can't spell?
You of all people should know that the only people who go after typos are those who can't argue the topic.

You went after a typo, which means you can't counter my point that the Lord's Prayer is a message of peace.

What matters is not if a message is religious, but if the message is constructive or harmfull. If the religious message were one to inspire war, that would not be appropriate.
 
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Do you truly want that in a public school setting? You want students to disobey rules in school?

Again, these students had already graduated. They were simply attending a ceremony to recognize that fact. IMV, from the reaction I saw on youtube, the vast majority of the audience was in agreement with the speaker. Are you also fighting to have "In God We Trust" removed from our currency? You see, I'm not a very religious person, but I have no issue with its public expression. I'm not interested one way or the other...
 
You of all people should know that the only people who go after typos are those who can't argue the topic.

You went after a typo, which means you can't counter my point that the Lord's Prayer is a message of peace.

What matters is not if a message is religious, but if the message is constructive or harmfull. If the religious message were one to inspire war, that would not be appropriate.


A religious message does not have "to inspire war" to be seen as harmful and disruptive in a society.
 
Absolutely!:mrgreen:

They would need to pick and choose the circumstances, but I think the more local the control of the schools the better without having to concern themselves with who might be offended. Good evening 2m...
 
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