Blow a kiss to your mom while getting diploma = you dont graduate HS

[DaRizzle]

For teens, there is no greater joy than graduating high school. Shaking off the shackles of education and claiming that hard-fought diploma is truly an epic day. Unfortunately, for several students at Bonny Eagle High School in Maine, their natural exuberance has led to some surprisingly serious problems.

On Friday night, when the senior class was waiting to graduate, excitement began to grow. Students bounced a large inflatable rubber duck. The noise level rose. And then came "the kiss." When called, one student walked on stage to receive his diploma and blew a kiss to his family. The school administrator, clearly not the sentimental sort, sent the student back to his seat ... sans diploma.

The seemingly harsh punishment has sent the Web all aflutter. Searches on "student denied diploma" and "bonny eagle high school" are both through the roof. Additionally, blogs and news papers are chiming in with opinions on whether or not the administration overreacted. The student's mother has given interviews and is quite upset at her son's treatment. According to an article from Fox News the outraged mother said, "A bow, a kiss to your mom is not misbehavior."

But the administrators feel they were just enforcing the rules that students agreed to. At a meeting following the debacle, school superintendent Suzanne Lukas said that "if a student doesn't adhere to the expectations, then the consequences are clearly spelled out."

This isn't the first time that rambunctious (dare we say "fun"?) behavior affected a graduation ceremony at Bonny Eagle. "Four years ago we had some issues with silly string and beach balls," said Lukas.

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92681?fp=1



I bet you the administrator is shitting his pants and the kid already has his diploma

 

[NJNetz]

What's the reason behind this?

 

[MrJayremmie]

That super intendant is a bitch. What a stupid thing to do, to embarass a kid on his graduation day in front of his family.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

That's so hoplessly cruel that I hope someone gets fired over it.

 

[Ed O]

It seems pretty straightforward to me... the rules are you aren't supposed to blow kisses. The student blew a kiss.

Why does the rule exist? Presumably to stop people from dancing or yelling or something and slowing down the ceremony... or attempting to upstage others or the process. Is it a good rule? I dunno.

Assuming that rule exists, though, the kid was stupid for breaking it and a failure to enforce the rule would have led to more of what the rule was presumedly supposed to stop.

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

It seems pretty straightforward to me... the rules are you aren't supposed to blow kisses. The student blew a kiss.

Why does the rule exist? Presumably to stop people from dancing or yelling or something and slowing down the ceremony... or attempting to upstage others or the process. Is it a good rule? I dunno.

Assuming that rule exists, though, the kid was stupid for breaking it and a failure to enforce the rule would have led to more of what the rule was presumedly supposed to stop.

Ed O.

How dare anyone have fun at their graduation. It's not for the kids, it's for the administrators.

 

[DaRizzle]

It seems pretty straightforward to me... the rules are you aren't supposed to blow kisses. The student blew a kiss.

Why does the rule exist? Presumably to stop people from dancing or yelling or something and slowing down the ceremony... or attempting to upstage others or the process. Is it a good rule? I dunno.

Assuming that rule exists, though, the kid was stupid for breaking it and a failure to enforce the rule would have led to more of what the rule was presumedly supposed to stop.

Ed O.

What are you? David Stern in the PHX/SA series? "My hands are tied behind my back, rules are rules"

 

[Ed O]

How dare anyone have fun at their graduation. It's not for the kids, it's for the administrators.

Why is it for the kids? Who says it's for the kids?

Really. I want to know.

Maybe it's for the parents. Maybe it's for the school district.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

What are you? David Stern in the PHX/SA series? "My hands are tied behind my back, rules are rules"

If the kid were flashing gang signs, would that be OK? If the kid had grabbed his crotch in a celebratory fashion, would that go over fine? If the kid had taken off his pants, would that be acceptable?

Who DOES make the rules? You?

I would think that rules agreed to by both the administration and the students beforehand, as these were (according to the report) are the best way to approach the situation.

And any rules need to have enforcement.

We can argue that the rules were bad, or we can argue that the rules were not enforced correctly. I am operating under the assumption that the rules were agreed to by students and the administration, and that the blowing of the kiss was against the rules.

Ed O.

 

[DaRizzle]

Why is it for the kids?
.

Uh...cause they did the work to earn it....call me crazy

If it was for the parents then the parents should wear the robe and take the diploma

 

[Ed O]

Uh...cause they did the work to earn it....call me crazy

If it was for the parents then the parents should wear the robe and take the diploma

The parents paid for it. Actually, the COMMUNITY paid for it.

All the kids had to do was show up.

I'm all for the students enjoying it and savoring it, but I fail to see the sense of entitlement for them that so many of you seem so quick to ascribe.

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

Why is it for the kids? Who says it's for the kids?

Really. I want to know.

Maybe it's for the parents. Maybe it's for the school district.

Ed O.

No offense, but I have absolutely zero interest in feeding your contrarian fix today.

 

[DaRizzle]

If the kid were flashing gang signs, would that be OK? If the kid had grabbed his crotch in a celebratory fashion, would that go over fine? If the kid had taken off his pants, would that be acceptable?

Who DOES make the rules? You?

I would think that rules agreed to by both the administration and the students beforehand, as these were (according to the report) are the best way to approach the situation.

And any rules need to have enforcement.

We can argue that the rules were bad, or we can argue that the rules were not enforced correctly. I am operating under the assumption that the rules were agreed to by students and the administration, and that the blowing of the kiss was against the rules.

Ed O.

I operate under this thing called common sense.

Common sense says an 18 year old blowing a kiss to his family while receiving his HS diploma is not a bad thing. In fact, its a good thing.

Common sense says that you throw gang signs while receiving your diploma you sit the hell back down and dont get your diploma that day...but do several days later after being embarrased and profuse apologies

Common sense solves a lot of problems. You are analyzing this WAAAY too much, just like the administrator who decided to not give the kid his diploma

 

[DaRizzle]

The parents paid for it. Actually, the COMMUNITY paid for it.

All the kids had to do was show up.

I'm all for the students enjoying it and savoring it, but I fail to see the sense of entitlement for them that so many of you seem so quick to ascribe.

Ed O.

Yeah, all the kids had to do was show up...for 15 years, 5 days a week, 7 hours a day, 9 months out of the year.

 

[Ed O]

Common sense says that you throw gang signs while receiving your diploma you sit the hell back down and dont get your diploma that day...but do several days later after being embarrased and profuse apologies

What if the gang signs are unknown to most of the audience? Or if the signs are unknown to the student?

What if it's a dance that is associated with gangs but could just be an expression of joy of receiving the diploma?

Common sense is often useless.

Common sense solves a lot of problems. You are analyzing this WAAAY too much, just like the administrator who decided to not give the kid his diploma

Actually, I'm doing very, very little analyzing. Here's my analysis:

1. Were rules put in place?
2. Were the rules properly enforced?

See how easy that is?

Nothing squishy called "common sense". Very little room for disagreement. Two very simple questions, with two pretty straightforward answers.

Ed O.

 

[DaRizzle]

Actually, I'm doing very, very little analyzing. Here's my analysis:

1. Were rules put in place?

Yes

2. Were the rules properly enforced?

For this kid, not even close.

If you look at the OP:

This isn't the first time that rambunctious (dare we say "fun"?) behavior affected a graduation ceremony at Bonny Eagle. "Four years ago we had some issues with silly string and beach balls," said Lukas.

rambunctious?!? You think blowing a kiss to your family and waving to your friends while getting your diploma is rambunctious?!?...cause that is what the dumbass administrator thought thereby justifying their no horseplay rule..

Rambunctious = blowing a kiss to your mom....gotcha

I totally think a rule like they had should be in place but this is not what the rule should be used for

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

If the kid were flashing gang signs, would that be OK? If the kid had grabbed his crotch in a celebratory fashion, would that go over fine? If the kid had taken off his pants, would that be acceptable?Ed O.

B.S.

If you can't tell the difference between a small and completely harmless display of public affection for ones mother and the stuff you mention quoted above, then sit and think about it for a while. If it doesn't dawn on you eventually then you are certifiably clueless for life.

Lastly, I understand about rules. Some people only see the letter of the law only. However, there is also something called the spirit of the law. And for this particular act of blowing a kiss to mother, to yank the kid from the stage and so forth is uncalled for. There were other options clearly available rather than a collosal embarrassment like this. People, generally, only graduate from HS once and it's a special occasion. This administrator has ruined a once in a lifetime moment over something so minor that it pretty much defies reason.

 

[BlazerWookee]

It seems pretty straightforward to me... the rules are you aren't supposed to blow kisses. The student blew a kiss.

Why does the rule exist? Presumably to stop people from dancing or yelling or something and slowing down the ceremony... or attempting to upstage others or the process. Is it a good rule? I dunno.

Assuming that rule exists, though, the kid was stupid for breaking it and a failure to enforce the rule would have led to more of what the rule was presumedly supposed to stop.

Ed O.

 

[DaRizzle]

I would love to see in writing the rules they laid down for the kids...I highly doubt it was written stern enough that the kids actually knew that blowing a kiss and waving to friends and family were out of the question, because saying no to that is beyond stupid

...I didnt know these kids were in military school

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I would love to see in writing the rules they laid down for the kids...I highly doubt it was written stern enough that the kids actually knew that blowing a kiss and waving to friends and family were out of the question, because saying no to that is beyond stupid

...I didnt know these kids were in military school

Sounds more like in prison.

 

[Idog1976]

Sounds more like in prison.

Another sign of the authoritarian direction this country has been headed in for about 30 years. Just sad.

 

[Ed O]

I would love to see in writing the rules they laid down for the kids...I highly doubt it was written stern enough that the kids actually knew that blowing a kiss and waving to friends and family were out of the question, because saying no to that is beyond stupid

I would like to see them, as well.

Doesn't it seem that more than one kid would have done it, if it had not been that big of a deal? Unless this was one of the first kids, it seems clear to me that the OTHER students all knew what was expected of them. Maybe it was magic.

...I didnt know these kids were in military school

Aren't those ceremonies for kids, too?

After all, kids in military school worked very hard for their diplomas, too. Why shouldn't they be able to moonwalk or give high-fives or blow kisses to their families when THEY get their diplomas?

Ed O.

 

[DaRizzle]

I would like to see them, as well.

Doesn't it seem that more than one kid would have done it, if it had not been that big of a deal? Unless this was one of the first kids, it seems clear to me that the OTHER students all knew what was expected of them. Maybe it was magic.

Before Bonny Eagle High School diplomas were handed out, some of the students pulled out beach balls to throw. One of the students had to sit away from the rest of the students with staff, while police escorted another student off the stage.

“No arrests were made,” the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department Deputy, Chief Kevin Joyce told WMTW. But Joyce told of one student who was escorted from the stage, whose behavior was to the point where authorities were contemplating arrest.

According to Joyce, the student took off his cap, threw it at the deputy, then left.

Afterward, the deputy returned to the crowd and took another beach ball away from the students, but the School Area District 6 Superintendent, Suzanne Lukas, was still upset

As Denney explains, Lukas “started speaking [and students] threw out a couple more balls and she turned around and said, ‘More people may not be graduating today if this continues.’”

http://www.collegenews.com/index.ph...nd_didnt_receive_his_diploma_061620091245512/

Sounds like other kids pissed her off and she took it out on him

Aren't those ceremonies for kids, too?

After all, kids in military school worked very hard for their diplomas, too. Why shouldn't they be able to moonwalk or give high-fives or blow kisses to their families when THEY get their diplomas?

Ed O.

Really?!? I know you are smarter than this. Dont play dumb. Its a military school. Strict discipline is one of if not the top thing they are trying to instill. Its MILITARY!!!

 

[Shooter]

What are you? David Stern in the PHX/SA series? "My hands are tied behind my back, rules are rules"

According to the article, the students themselves agreed to the rules. If rules aren't meant to be enforced, why even have them?

 

[BlazerWookee]

If you agree to the rules, are aware of the clearly laid-out consequences of violating those rules, and you intentionally violate those rules, you should not be surprised by having to face those consequences.

 

[barfo]

I think the students agreeing to the rule is a red herring. High school students don't agree to rules. High school students submit to, or defy, rules.

Personally, I think the death penalty is called for here. For the superintendent, for the kids, for the entire town.

barfo

 

[DaRizzle]

Do you think blowing a kiss to your family is rambunctious, disruptive, horseplay, or any other word they would have used in the memo to the students???

If you think it falls under any of those terms then well...i dont know what to say

Unless they had in writing "No gestures of any kind to the crowd"...then this is a joke

 

[BlazerWookee]

Do you think blowing a kiss to your family is rambunctious, disruptive, horseplay, or any other word they would have used in the memo to the students???

If you think it falls under any of those terms then well...i dont know what to say

Unless they had in writing "No gestures of any kind to the crowd"...then this is a joke

The students agreed not to blow kisses. Whether or not that is a silly restriction is irrelevant.

 

[DaRizzle]

The students agreed not to blow kisses. Whether or not that is a silly restriction is irrelevant.

did they? Sounds like you are just making that up

 

[Ed O]

Really?!? I know you are smarter than this. Dont play dumb. Its a military school. Strict discipline is one of if not the top thing they are trying to instill. Its MILITARY!!!

So military students don't deserve the same rights as other kids?

Why not?

Merely because the students AGREED to those rules? Or did the kids even get to decide?

Why is your expectation to the adherence to rules different? Why should rules be enforced differently, after accounting for the differences between rules?

Ed O.