Valedictorian denied diploma over graduation speech
bootlegga @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:44 pm
$1:
An Oklahoma high school valedictorian who used the word "hell" in her graduation speech in May has yet to receive her diploma.
Kaitlin Nootbaar graduated from Prague High School with a 4.0 grade point average, her father, David Nootbaar, told KFOR-TV. But school administrators told him that Kaitlin would have to submit a written apology in order to get her diploma.
"We went to the office and asked for the diploma and the principal said, 'Your diploma is right here but you're not getting it. Close the door, we have a problem,'" David Nootbaar told the network.
"She worked so hard to stay at the top of her class," he said. "This is not right."
In her speech—inspired by a similar address in "Eclipse: The Twilight Saga"—Kaitlin recounted how annoying it is to be constantly asked what she wants to do as graduation approached. "How the hell do I know?" she said, according to her father. "I've changed my mind so many times."
In the version she submitted to the school for approval, "hell" was "heck." But in the version she delivered at graduation, "hell" it was.
The school declined to comment. "This matter is confidential and we cannot publicly say anything about it," Prague schools Superintendent Rick Martin said in a statement to KFOR.
Kaitlin Nootbaar graduated from Prague High School with a 4.0 grade point average, her father, David Nootbaar, told KFOR-TV. But school administrators told him that Kaitlin would have to submit a written apology in order to get her diploma.
"We went to the office and asked for the diploma and the principal said, 'Your diploma is right here but you're not getting it. Close the door, we have a problem,'" David Nootbaar told the network.
"She worked so hard to stay at the top of her class," he said. "This is not right."
In her speech—inspired by a similar address in "Eclipse: The Twilight Saga"—Kaitlin recounted how annoying it is to be constantly asked what she wants to do as graduation approached. "How the hell do I know?" she said, according to her father. "I've changed my mind so many times."
In the version she submitted to the school for approval, "hell" was "heck." But in the version she delivered at graduation, "hell" it was.
The school declined to comment. "This matter is confidential and we cannot publicly say anything about it," Prague schools Superintendent Rick Martin said in a statement to KFOR.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/ ... tml?_esi=1
raydan @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:50 pm
But, but... Oklahoma is Republican and give so much to charity. 
Unsound @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:32 pm
raydan raydan:
But, but... Oklahoma is Republican and give so much to charity.
![[huh]](./images/smilies/icon_scratch.gif "huh?"){kind=icon}
Lost me dude, don't see the connection.
BartSimpson @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:35 pm
Looks like a school district and a jackass principal are going to be hearing from the ACLU in the next day or so.
raydan @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:37 pm
Just me being stupid. 
But there is Bart's thread about how some states are better because they're Republican and donate to charity.
us-politics-f18/report-how-america-gives-to-charity-t102047.html
Unsound @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:42 pm
I understand now. 
BartSimpson @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:43 pm
raydan raydan:
Just me being stupid.
But there is Bart's thread about how some states are better because they're Republican and donate to charity.
us-politics-f18/report-how-america-gives-to-charity-t102047.html
But there is Bart's thread about how some states are better because they're Republican and donate to charity.
us-politics-f18/report-how-america-gives-to-charity-t102047.html
I didn't say 'better' but the data itself clearly indicates more generous at lower income levels.
And no way in hell is Alabama 'better' than California or anywhere else aside from Mississippi.
raydan @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:55 pm
Who said anything about Alabama?
Besides, California just went up in my esteem, they have mountain lions. 
xerxes @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:55 pm
Stupid. Like any of those students haven't heard that word before. They've heard worse from 10 year olds playing CoD.
Benn @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:56 pm
Someone really needs to school these schools in some areas. This is about as stupid as the kid from Ohio who had their diploma withheld because their parents were too loud at grad.
"No diplomas for grads whose families cheered too loudly"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/06/08/graduation-diplomas-withheld-cheering.html
In the end the diploma itself is only symbolic. At least out here a school cannot deny a transcript. So if you need to prove you passed HS (does anyone anymore?) then just show them your transcript. I can see however that it is the principle of the issue.
ShepherdsDog @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:03 pm
$1:
So if you need to prove you passed HS (does anyone anymore?)
Well.....he gets upset everytime someone mentions it.
RUEZ @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:25 pm
So they prepared her for adulthood by playing keep away when she says a naughty adult word.
CanadianJeff @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:29 pm
Since when is "hell" an adult word? Seems to me they introduce a lot of kids to it in Sunday school at age 4 or 5 and they go into full detail as it's meaning.
RUEZ @ Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:30 pm
CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:
Since when is "hell" an adult word? Seems to me they introduce a lot of kids to it in Sunday school at age 4 or 5 and they go into full detail as it's meaning.
2Cdo @ Tue Aug 21, 2012 6:52 am
raydan raydan:
Who said anything about Alabama?
Besides, California just went up in my esteem, they have cougars.
Besides, California just went up in my esteem, they have cougars.
Fixed for clarity.