Denied his diploma...for blowing his mother a KISS? What do you think?
By Phyrre
@phyrre (2317)
United States
June 17, 2009 9:16am CST
In case you haven't heard the story, Justin Denney, a graduating senior, was denied his diploma after he entered the stage when his name was called, bowed, and blew a kiss to his family. The superintendent of the school deemed this as misbehaving and promptly had him return to his seat without receiving his diploma. You can check out this site for the full story:
http://www.newsnet5.com/education/19766393/detail.html
I think this is completely foolish. Who wouldn't want to acknowledge their family when graduating? Heck, I stuck my tongue out at mine during my graduation! I think blowing a kiss is a heck of a lot better than that. xD But it's certainly no grounds to deny them from graduating. What are schools coming to these days?
And this certainly is by no means the only case for diplomas being denied over silly things.
What do you think of this? Is the school right to be able to deny this student a diploma just because he blew his family a kiss?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
17 Jun 09
what kind of shiitty reason is that for a school to deny the student his or her diploma... i think the superintendent is full of bs in his or her life, this is really getting into me, i am very upset... why would people having problems in their personal lives would bring it to where they are working, surely the superintendent has one. blowing a kiss a misbehavior now? that's a total BS.
1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I agree, it is indeed a pretty crappy reason for denying someone their diploma, especially if they've earned it. It's not like he pulled some big stunt or anything, so I think they should cut the kid some slack.
The dialogue between the superintendent and the boy, too, that is reported in that article really bothers me. Such rudeness.
@MisterPlus (1915)
• Philippines
17 Jun 09
I couldn't believe this. How come it is a misbehavior? Who would not acknowledge a mom's presence in a graduation and blowing a kiss for your mom is not right? Who taught that superintendent that blowing a kiss for your mom is a big offense to your dignity? Where was he born and who were his teachers? What does he want to teach to the world? " You shouldn't blow a kiss to your mom and be proud to say thank for being with you all through out your long hard work of school?" I hate those kind of people in the academy. They are misbehaving.
1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I agree. I can understand that they got mad at some kids for having beach balls there. Personally, I think having them escorted out by cops was a bit overreacting and everything, but they DID sign a code of conduct, so I can understand that. But blowing a kiss and taking a bow? I don't understand how that could warrant someone not receiving their diploma? And then what does that teach this kid? That all the work he put into high school doesn't matter and it can be taken away at any minute. Then what are kids going to start aiming for if they can put 12 years into school and then NOT graduate for something this silly anyway?
@savetheunlikely9 (390)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I think his superintendent sounds like she has some serious issues, for sure. Really, I don't get how that's misbehavior, at all. I wonder what was in the code of conduct. I don't think the school should get that right. Once the media gets involved in this story, the school will feel the pressure, fold, and give the kid his diploma.
1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Yeah, I've been wondering what was in the code of conduct, too, but I haven't found anything yet online that says it. The mother concedes that there WAS a code of conduct, but she says that neither bowing nor blowing a kiss could have been mistaken as a breech of anything that was in the code of conduct.
