Valedictorian's speech cut short by school district because she mentioned God...

[poohandwendy]

Because sadly numerous people have got up and turned what should be a uplifting and wonderful moment into a act of defiance and granstanding.

It used to be people would just do something to their cap and gown or do something silly while walking up to, or on the stage. Now as you pointed out we have the BEST students going much further and schools are left to deal with it.

And to that I say a BIG "So what?" Honestly, I have been to graduations where the valedictorian grandstanded, at one, the principal merely got up and cut the speech short and thanked him for his 'spirited thoughts' and the audience laughed and it was over. Big deal.

It is such a shame that anything outside of the rigid is such an offense that people allow it to ruin the day and make it a huge deal.

This girl got exactly what she wanted, more attention. If she had been allowed to continue, she would have said her peice...people would disagreed with her would have rolled their eyes and the ceremony would have just continued. But, no...they made it into a big deal.

I do not believe that the valedictorians speech should be pre-approved, ever. If it gets out of hand, it is up to the school administrators to step in with dignity and move the ceremony along smoothly.

 

[chobie]

Do you get the feeling that Karl Rove is cranking up for the election again?

There was an article in my morning paper about how a movie got a PG rating because a guy converted to Christianity in it.

Coincidence? I think not.

While you were discussing this - how many of you caught the news about the Supreme Court's ruling today that may or may not have overturned the environmental laws protecting the wetlands? Those same shrinking wetlands which could have decreased the strength of hurricaine Katrina before it pushed into populated parts of southern Louisiana.

I didn't mean to change the subject - just to point out that you are discussing exactly what you are supposed to be discussing today.

Exactly. This is just more "proof" that there is a war against Christians in the US.

 

[poohandwendy]

You might think it's sad we have to censor a Valedictory speech. I agree, but I also think it's just as sad that the top student needs to act childish, rebellious, and lacking in consideration for her fellow graduates by turning her speech into a sermon.

Graduations are tedious enough with all the speeches. Listening to someone prattle on about their personal relationship with their higher power (because when you make several mentions of God and Jesus and how they helped you through becomes prattling on imho) doesn't help.

How is that ANY different than her mentioning that her parents, friends, teachers helped her through the years? Since when has expressing how you came to the place you are become 'childish, rebellious or lacking in consideration'? That is her personal experience, why does it bother someone else that she feels God was an inspiration in her life...whatever the source, isn't it a positive thing for her to mention what inspired her?

Why not just not allow Valedictorians NO speech if it is so ''tedious'' to have to listen to their personal reflections? Haven't they earned that 5 minutes?

 

[disykat]

Smart kids don't necessarily know what is appropriate. I think the district absolutely has a right to approve a speech ahead of time and use consequences if they purposely use an already vetoed speech. In my experience, the smart kids are much MORE likely to pull a fast one than the average students.

As others have pointed out, we have no idea what was in the speech. If the district sensored her for thanking God personnally - shame on them. If they sensored her for using her time to sermonize - I think they were right to do so.

At any rate, she knowingly broke the rules at the ceremony so she brought it on herself.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Do you get the feeling that Karl Rove is cranking up for the election again?

There was an article in my morning paper about how a movie got a PG rating because a guy converted to Christianity in it.

Coincidence? I think not.

While you were discussing this - how many of you caught the news about the Supreme Court's ruling today that may or may not have overturned the environmental laws protecting the wetlands? Those same shrinking wetlands which could have decreased the strength of hurricaine Katrina before it pushed into populated parts of southern Louisiana.

I didn't mean to change the subject - just to point out that you are discussing exactly what you are supposed to be discussing today.

Bonus points for turning this into a political conspiracy.

 

[cardaway]

And to that I say a BIG "So what?" Honestly, I have been to graduations where the valedictorian grandstanded, at one, the principal merely got up and cut the speech short and thanked him for his 'spirited thoughts' and the audience laughed and it was over. Big deal.

It is such a shame that anything outside of the rigid is such an offense that people allow it to ruin the day and make it a huge deal.

This girl got exactly what she wanted, more attention. If she had been allowed to continue, she would have said her peice...people would have rolled their eyes and the ceremony would have just continued. But, no...they made it into a big deal.

I do not believe that the valedictorians speech should be pre-approved, ever. If it gets out of hand, it is up to the school administrators to step in with dignity and move the ceremony along smoothly.

You really have me confused. You say they should not be censored but you are OK with somebody stepping in as necessary. Isn't that different versions of the same thing?

How about we give somebody a delay button like they use in radio? Seriously! It would be a shame that any place with a microphone would have to have a delay box, and somebody to operate the button, but at least it would cut down the pre-censoring at some level.

 

[poohandwendy]

Bonus points for turning this into a political conspiracy.

 

[poohandwendy]

You really have me confused. You say they should not be censored but you are OK with somebody stepping in as necessary. Isn't that different versions of the same thing?

How about we give somebody a delay button like they use in radio? Seriously! It would be a shame that any place with a microphone would have to have a delay box, and somebody to operate the button, but at least it would cut down the pre-censoring at some level.

Sorry for the confusion, I meant if they started using profanity or verbally attacking people. Something that would not be allowed in school, per the student handbook.

Just going by the article, if their stopping her speech resulted in roars of protest by the crowd, they made an error in judgement, IMO. It's obvious that her speech was not 'offensive' if that is the case. And they certainly drew much more attention to it that was necessary or appropriate. JMHO.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant if they started using profanity or verbally attacking people. Something that would not be allowed in school, per the student handbook.

That's the problem. Some would see a sermon as a verbal attack. They have the right to not be preached to when they come to see their child graduate.

 

[Aidensmom]

I do believe that a student is obligated to follow the rules set forth by the school, and should have given the speech that was approved. She chose to disobey the rule, and there was a consequence. However, I think the school is wrong in not allowing the student to attribute her successes to whoever she feels she should, be that Jesus Christ, Satan, or her pet dog. Separation of Church and State, as it applies to public schools, is in regards to what the school district and its employees can teach and endorse, not what its students can believe and speak about. The girl does have have the freedom of religion to follow and believe the doctrine she chooses, and the freedom of speech to express her beliefs. The audience is not guaranteed the freedom to not be "offended" by other's beliefs.

 

[cardaway]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant if they started using profanity or verbally attacking people. Something that would not be allowed in school, per the student handbook.

Just going by the article, if their stopping her speech resulted in roars of protest by the crowd, they made an error in judgement, IMO. It's obvious that her speech was not 'offensive' if that is the case. And they certainly drew much more attention to it that was necessary or appropriate. JMHO.

The problem lies with the many different defintions of profanity and verbally attacking people.

I do agree that the audience reaction works in most cases but how would you feel the student got booed (sp) of the stage. Wouldn't people then be going on about how the person speaking should have been given the respect of letting him/her get through their speech? I would.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The audience is not guaranteed the freedom to not be "offended" by other's beliefs.

Some believe that profanity adds color to what they have to say and do not believe there is a problem with using such language.

This courtesy should be extended to them if there is no guarantee to not be offended as a member of the audience.

 

[poohandwendy]

That's the problem. Some would see the sermon as a verbal attack. They have the right to not be preached to when they come to see their child graduate.

I guess they also have the right not to hear about anything else that inspired her, because that could be considered a 'sermon' too. Pretty soon, you won't be able to mention your father/mother...because other students or audience members may feel that is a verbal attack on their family situation.

This sort of political correctness has gone too far, IMO. You cannot please all of the people all of the time, nor should you have to when you are making a speech about how you came to be the HIGHEST student of the graduating class. The valedictorians speech is not about the audience, it is about the student...after all.

 

[poohandwendy]

The problem lies with the many different defintions of profanity and verbally attacking people.

In school handbooks, the rules are pretty clear. I have never seen a rule in a student handbook that said you cannot express your religious beliefs.

Let me know if this student said that the audience should believe in the same thing she did. If that is the case, I agree that she should not have been allowed to continue.

 

[lucyblondecat]

More PC crap run amok. I'm not a Christian, and that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The valedictorians speech is not about the audience, it is about the student...after all.

ABSOLUTELY!

There is a good reason there are private schools and homeschooling as an option.

Public schools censor...period! It is all bogus. But it is what it is.

However--she got in trouble for breaking the rules as a public school student. She could have used a baccaulerate (sp?) service at her church to not be censored when it came to religion.

Her right to attend public school did not guarantee her the right to turn her valedictorian speech into a religious homily.


(****We don't know what the contents of her speech is--so this is all just speculation at this point).

 

[Maleficent13]

Off the cuff I think I have to go with PAW. Let the kid say whatever he/she wants. If as valedictorian they can't figure out where the appropriate place to draw the line is, then it's a sad reflection of, well, everything. Including the education he/she received at the school they're offending.

 

[Bob Slydell]

ABSOLUTELY!

There is a good reason there are private schools and homeschooling as an option.

Public schools censor...period! It is all bogus. But it is what it is.

Private schools censor as well, BTW. This isn't a public/private school issue.

 

[cardaway]

Let me know if this student said that the audience should believe in the same thing she did. If that is the case, I agree that she should not have been allowed to continue.

A few people including myself have already covered the fact that we have not seen or heard what she was going to say.

So how about it, should the audience be able to boo the person off the stage if they don't like what she is saying?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Private schools censor as well, BTW. This isn't a public/private school issue.

I'm sure if it was a Christian school she would not have been censored for mentioning God and Jesus and their positive influence on her life.

I could be wrong--but that is the only reason I brought up that her parents could have sent her to private school.

Obviously they would have pretty much no speeches thanking Satan.