File this under - ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!- Page 2

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:28pm

Here's your answer, family: Your son committed a minor infraction. The administrator's first response was a strict one; on second thought, she cut him some slack.

Move on.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:44pm

"Is it not similar to posting on BWW? Follow the rules or suffer the consequences, even if the rules are not to your liking?"

Or delineated or explained, I might add.

Or consistently applied, I might also add.

[singtopher]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:58pm

Once again a school issues a punishment that does not fit the crime simply to make a point.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:00pm

But he hasn't been punished.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:01pm

I'd actually call being sent back to your sent in front of hundreds of people without your diploma a punishment.

I would have been mortified.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:10pm

True enough, but it's not like they expelled him from the ceremony or - as we've ultimately found out - withheld his diploma completely.

If the other kids hadn't earlier been busted for pulling beach balls out of their robes I'm guessing he wouldn't have been reprimanded, but the faculty was already on alert due to the other kids misbehaving. How were they to know he was pulling out his lucky necklace or whatever?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:14pm

Yeah, the necklace was probably what put it over the edge. Just the kiss probably wouldn't have made them as annoyed.

And you're right about his finally getting the diploma. I'm just saying that I do think he was punished. And probably to a reasonable degree (no pun intended).

I do think he should have been given his diploma ultimately (which he was), and I think they should all get over it.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:18pm

I'm curious, though. Does withholding a diploma mean someone hasn't graduated or that they just don't have their diploma?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:22pm

That's a very good question. I have no idea.

Any of our teacher friends know the answer?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:33pm

Has anyone ever asked to see your diploma?

Mine is in a box somewhere, and hasnt been opened in 27 years.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:37pm

I can't recall ever being asked for my high school diploma. I don't even know where it is.

Sure, what he tried to do was sweet, but he knew the rules, which it sounds like were already being enforced amongst the graduating class. If the rules were clearly explained, and already being consistently enforced, why are we focusing on this guy and not the others? Because his intentions were more honorable? Because he's hot? From the way these things go, the faculty has to be tough and rigid or it can be utterly chaotic and had they let him slide, imagine the backlash from those already punished for their shenanigans. If he were the first, they might have let it go. I don't think they had much of a choice, but regardless, I don't think the faculty's reaction was inappropriate. The knee-jerk response is to say the faculty overreacted, but the reality is they did exactly what needs to be done when trying to keep a huge amount of anxious teens AND their parents and families during their last ever high school event in check for a couple of long boring hours.

Updated On: 6/17/09 at 04:37 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:44pm

All good points, Mister M. I actually didn't get the impression that others had been denied their diplomas; I thought he was the first (and I don't see equating blowing a kiss to your family with knocking around beach balls).

But if others had been denied theirs, I agree with you.

Even though he's ridiculously hot.

[Q]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 4:49pm

Reg - I'm glad you said it first. I was trying not to say anything about his looks - but honestly, he made me gasp.