View Full Version : H.S. Diploma denied!!
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:29 PM
Diploma denial angers GHS graduates
SOURCE (http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=6589086)
GALESBURG, Illinois - For Galesburg High School honor student Caisha Gayles, graduation is a triumph over obstacles. It represents completing accomplishments and reaching dreams.
"It was very important," she said. "I felt I worked hard all those years just for that moment."
But for Caisha and four other graduates, that dream became a nightmare.
"When I was walking across the stage, I had a big smile on my face," said Nadia Trent. "Then I heard the cheers and my smile just left. I already knew what was going to happen."
Galesburg High denied their diplomas after Sunday's ceremony. It's part of a get-tough policy to crack down on commencement disruptions.
"Everything was positive," said Tom Chiles, Galesburg High principal. "No obscenities, mostly cheering, but it was inappropriate for the type of behavior a commencement should have."
Students and parents knew the rules well in advance. They even signed a contract outlining graduation guidelines in order to participate. But these students feel unfairly punished for audience reactions.
"I told everybody," Gayles said. "But that doesn't mean they're going to listen. I'm a kid. They're grown people. I can't control them."
School administrators say they're torn up over the decision. But they are offering each student a chance to work a day of community service at the school in exchange for their diploma.
"It's a mystery to me why a family wouldn't want to support their child with honor, respect, dignity," said Dr. Gene Denisar, Galesburg superintendent.
That's not enough for these students. They're turning down the proposal to work off the punishment and are asking for an apology to go along with their diplomas.
"I don't feel that's right because we did not do anything wrong to get community service," said Amanda Kelley. "That's for people that actually did something wrong."
And the students blame racial discrimination for playing a role in the decision.
"It doesn't matter how hard you work," Gayles said. "You still get discriminated against."
"Everybody went in with their eyes wide open about what the expectations were," Dr. Denisar said. "It's certainly not a race issue with me."
But the nightmare continues for these young women. Graduation dreams that are turning to bitter disappointments.
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:32 PM
This aired on Fox News a few minutes ago. The family had signed a contract not to cheer. Haha. That's outrageous. The girl and her mother do not know who cheered. Anyway, that's rank. Things are gettin' really stupid....
Theresa
05-31-2007, 12:32 PM
b/c someone CHEERED for her accomplishment???
heaven forbid
QueenEsther
05-31-2007, 12:33 PM
That's ridiculous!! Let the people cheer and celebrate. It is a time of celebrating! Now days just getting a HS diploma seems to be a huge accomplishment with so many dropping out.
chaotic_resolve
05-31-2007, 12:34 PM
More politically correct junk . . .
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:34 PM
b/c someone CHEERED for her accomplishment???
heaven forbid
It was a policy that the school adopted as not to interrupt the commencement. Every family signed a contract not to cheer.
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:34 PM
That's ridiculous!! Let the people cheer and celebrate. It is a time of celebrating! Now days just getting a HS diploma seems to be a huge accomplishment with so many dropping out.
so true...
Pragmatist
05-31-2007, 12:35 PM
The graduate should only be held responsible for his/her own actions. And not allowing cheering is just dumb.
StillStanding
05-31-2007, 12:36 PM
b/c someone CHEERED for her accomplishment???
heaven forbid
Have them spend the night in jail, then give them their diplomas! :)
Seriously, it appears that this school has had major disruptions at graduation ceremonies in the past. If the school district holds strong, they won't have disruptions in the future!
Theresa
05-31-2007, 12:38 PM
Have them spend the night in jail, then give them their diplomas! :)
Seriously, it appears that this school has had major disruptions at graduation ceremonies in the past. If the school district holds strong, they won't have disruptions in the future!
then they should just mail their dipomas and not have a graduation at all
its supposed to be a celebration - anyone ever hear of moderation?
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:38 PM
...at least they didn't ask the families not to speak in tongues.
StillStanding
05-31-2007, 12:40 PM
...at least they didn't ask the families not to speak in tongues.
:lol
Praxeas
05-31-2007, 12:49 PM
Diploma denial angers GHS graduates
SOURCE (http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=6589086)
GALESBURG, Illinois - For Galesburg High School honor student Caisha Gayles, graduation is a triumph over obstacles. It represents completing accomplishments and reaching dreams.
"It was very important," she said. "I felt I worked hard all those years just for that moment."
But for Caisha and four other graduates, that dream became a nightmare.
"When I was walking across the stage, I had a big smile on my face," said Nadia Trent. "Then I heard the cheers and my smile just left. I already knew what was going to happen."
Galesburg High denied their diplomas after Sunday's ceremony. It's part of a get-tough policy to crack down on commencement disruptions.
"Everything was positive," said Tom Chiles, Galesburg High principal. "No obscenities, mostly cheering, but it was inappropriate for the type of behavior a commencement should have."
Students and parents knew the rules well in advance. They even signed a contract outlining graduation guidelines in order to participate. But these students feel unfairly punished for audience reactions.
"I told everybody," Gayles said. "But that doesn't mean they're going to listen. I'm a kid. They're grown people. I can't control them."
School administrators say they're torn up over the decision. But they are offering each student a chance to work a day of community service at the school in exchange for their diploma.
"It's a mystery to me why a family wouldn't want to support their child with honor, respect, dignity," said Dr. Gene Denisar, Galesburg superintendent.
That's not enough for these students. They're turning down the proposal to work off the punishment and are asking for an apology to go along with their diplomas.
"I don't feel that's right because we did not do anything wrong to get community service," said Amanda Kelley. "That's for people that actually did something wrong."
And the students blame racial discrimination for playing a role in the decision.
"It doesn't matter how hard you work," Gayles said. "You still get discriminated against."
"Everybody went in with their eyes wide open about what the expectations were," Dr. Denisar said. "It's certainly not a race issue with me."
But the nightmare continues for these young women. Graduation dreams that are turning to bitter disappointments.
That is just plain ASININE.
chaotic_resolve
05-31-2007, 12:50 PM
I'm not a lawyer, but I bet there will be a lawsuit filed soon. And I imagine the School District will be on the loosing side, since there's a thing as freedom of speech and expression . . .
Stupid school administrators.
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:50 PM
That is just plain ASININE.
Community service or the students comment??
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:50 PM
I'm not a lawyer, but I bet there will be a lawsuit filed soon. And I imagine the School District will be on the loosing side, since there's a thing as freedom of speech and expression . . .
Stupid school administrators.
They signed a contract. Showed it on FNC.
chaotic_resolve
05-31-2007, 12:54 PM
They signed a contract. Showed it on FNC.
Doesn't matter - I still think a lawyer would be able to find loopholes.
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:56 PM
Doesn't matter - I still think a lawyer would be able to find loopholes.
Got to love the elasticity of the law.
chaotic_resolve
05-31-2007, 12:58 PM
Got to love the elasticity of the law.
True, but is the contract ~legally~ binding? Is it even legal?! I don't see how it's legal if it: 1) bans a constitutional right of free speech and expression; and 2) attempts to restrict graduates from obtaining their rightful diplomas.
berkeley
05-31-2007, 12:59 PM
True, but is the contract ~legally~ binding? Is it even legal?! I don't see how it's legal if it: 1) bans a constitutional right of free speech and expression; and 2) attempts to restrict graduates from obtaining their rightful diplomas.
You don't have many rights on school grounds.
chaotic_resolve
05-31-2007, 01:03 PM
You don't have many rights on school grounds.
You always have constitutional rights . . . regardless of school grounds. If they're denied, there are plenty of lawyers and organizations like the ACLU and others that would take the case to court and win.
berkeley
05-31-2007, 01:06 PM
You always have constitutional rights . . . regardless of school grounds. If they're denied, there are plenty of lawyers and organizations like the ACLU and others that would take the case to court and win.
You didn't go to lawschool, why???
Praxeas
05-31-2007, 01:16 PM
Community service or the students comment??
community service. They did their time...so to speak. Give them their diplomas if they earned it
chaotic_resolve
05-31-2007, 01:17 PM
You didn't go to lawschool, why???
HA! Not smart enough! :lol
berkeley
05-31-2007, 01:55 PM
community service. They did their time...so to speak. Give them their diplomas if they earned it
Right. The girl and her mother had no idea who cheered for the girl. Maybe someone that didn't like her???
berkeley
05-31-2007, 01:56 PM
HA! Not smart enough! :lol
You don't have to be smart to be a barrister!!
rgcraig
05-31-2007, 02:00 PM
Saw the story on Fox at lunch.
I understand what they are doing, but I'm with the girls - they don't have control over the crowd.
Someone that doesn't like you could cheer just to keep you from getting your diploma. I think the punishment is going to the wrong people. If they are that serious about it, then have people in the crowd watching for the ones that make the noise and make them do community service - not the graduate!
Just dumb.
WordPreacher
05-31-2007, 02:30 PM
True, but is the contract ~legally~ binding? Is it even legal?! I don't see how it's legal if it: 1) bans a constitutional right of free speech and expression; and 2) attempts to restrict graduates from obtaining their rightful diplomas.
I say that it is completely illegal and that the students would win. You cannot control what a crowd will do, so the signing of the contract is dumb dumb dumb dumb.
rgcraig
05-31-2007, 02:38 PM
I say that it is completely illegal and that the students would win. You cannot control what a crowd will do, so the signing of the contract is dumb dumb dumb dumb.
IF the contract stipulates that "they" as the graduate don't make any noise, then that's fine, but to "control the audience" - - no way......they can't be responsible for a crowd.
vBulletin® v3.8.5, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.