So here's the short of it: A valedictorian uses the word "hell" in her speech in Oklahoma. Speaking about how she's been asked often what her future plans are, she quipped, "How the hell do I know? I've changed my mind so many times." This was met with a laugh by the graduation class and other attendees. A week later, at the school, she is denied collection of her diploma by the principal, who demands a written apology to himself and staff before releasing it.
Here are a few news-y bits on it:
- http://abcnews.go.com/US/oklahoma-valedictorian-denied-diploma-hell-speech/story?id=17042883#.UDYfnqCJv8s
- http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/valedictorian-denied-diploma-hell-apology-141901681.html
- http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/high-school-valedictorian-denied-diploma-a-hell-a-graduation-speech-article-1.1140170
Again, wow.
So a girl who performs the best in her class academically is denied her hard-earned diploma because she used a word that many of the population would consider mild, and with the given context, very inoffensive?
What is the principal compensating for in his own life by making this statement? Or is this yet another case of "irrational demand made, but we can't revoke it now or look weak"? Who seriously thinks this is the correct way to handle the situation? Didn't those early-childhood education classes mention it's OK to revise your demand when you, as the adult, realize it was unreasonable? Those lessons work all the way through adulthood, people. And you look the bigger person for it, admitting your mistake.
Kaitlin Nootbaar being denied her diploma: it's such a big to-do about a little bit of nothing. Sorry academic champions out there, but this is yet another reason that so many of us leave your influence being somewhat less than impressed by your suppression of reality and opportunistic perpetuation of your own, misguided notions about the world in the classroom. I wonder how many individuals (who wouldn't make it in the "real world") take refuge in academia and seize the opportunity to tyrannize the young and the parents, who have no choice but to beggar to the school system holding captive their children's future hopes and dreams?
Oh yes, most teachers and administrations are the wonderful individuals out of school we all know, and we all love those in our families who do this for a living, etc, etc. I'm talking about the administrations who focus on the stupid in order to make "a point" that we will all learn from!
I won't name my high school (of which I graduated in the top 10 of the class by the way, so I'm no slouch), but I remember an incident with a student wearing a Burger King paper crown to the lunch table one day. When he refused to remove the hat, it escalated to staff calling the cops, who then cuffed the boy and dragged him out of the building...To the supportive cheers and instant martyr-status acclaim by his fellow students. No one was impressed by my school's actions then. No one is impressed by the Oklahoma Prague High School now.
"But... but... if he had been allowed to wear that hat, people would think they could wear ANYTHING to school, even masks, and stuff, and that is the kind of thing crazy kids like with the Columbine incident would wear, so you'd have no warning something was going to happen..."
"But... but... if she is allowed to use the word 'hell' in a commencement speech, she'll think it's fine to use that language in the workplace and the REAL WORLD won't tolerate it; she'll end up living in a homeless shelter, unemployed, due to her profane ways. Future husbands will also be so turned off by this irreverent and mouthy nature, she'll die alone, an old maid."
Academics. "Slippery slope logical fallacy" -- it gets you no where. Apply some real reasons behind why you take your stand with these nit-picky, lightening-rod issues. I will bet it is a "Because. I'm. In. Charge." mentality. And that will get you no where in the Real World.
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