<p>Bullying and extortion? Don’t you think your penchant for the hyperbole might be reined in … a tad? You might want to check what those terms usually refer to, and I doubt it covers asking a letter of apology from a teenager! </p>
<p>As far as the animosity with the school, I’d think that talking to the press did accomplish just that. And, by the way, do you think that receiving emails from strangers made the principal smile! And, as far as future “relationships” with a high school, I am afraid that they pretty much center on dealing with the principal and HIS staff. </p>
<p>Xiggi, you do not know me. Using one comment as the basis for suggesting I have a penchant for anything is pretty presumptuous. </p>
<p>I am well aware of the definitions for the words I used. </p>
<p>The school had EVERY right to ask for, and maybe even expect, an apology. Read my previous posts. </p>
<p>The principal has no right to dole out an exceptionally severe punishment and hold her diploma hostage UNLESS she bends to his will. </p>
<p>The relationships she has with the high school have little to do with the principal. That’s the nature of the beast–management and staff are often NOT on the same page. </p>
<p>I’ve thought about this a lot (obviously). Can you imagine how much more effective the lesson here would have been if the student had received HER diploma with everyone else and THEN been called to the principal’s office for a sensitive heart to heart conversation about her decision? It’s the tying the misbehavior to possession of her diploma that is offensive.</p>
<p>To clarify: It’s NOT the “asking” for a letter of apology (a reasonable request no doubt), its the keeping the diploma (i.e.–the paycheck) until the principal’s demands are met, that smacks of “blackmail”.</p>
<p>Frankly, Xiggi, you’d be doing her a kindness: I truly doubt she’d be happy working for an organization that wants to control her every thought. The person who knows her story and likes that she showed a little backbone would be a much more compatible fit.</p>
<p>The CUNY system for one. Just got home after spending 5 hours at high school, certifying summer school transcripts,printing and sealing transcripts, because a group of students who went to summer school or did not pick up their diploma in June cannot register because CUNY would not take the signed, sealed transcript. They also required the physical diploma. Summer school ended last week. The principal’s secretary gave them signed sealed official transcripts, but the colleges still did not allow them to register and we do not return until September 4.</p>
<p>Good thing she’s going to college in Oklahoma. I would say then, that MOST colleges do not require copies of a diploma. ( I’ve never heard of this, either.)</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of them requiring actual Diplomas before from dozens of neighborhood friends, colleagues, and HS classmates who attended one of the CUNY Colleges. Would have posed a problem with some kids who ended up not getting their HS diploma/GED certificate on time for one reason or another. </p>
<p>If this is a recent development(less than 2 years), then this underscores the mounds of bureaucratic BS which drove many HS classmates to transfer out in droves back in the '90s.</p>
<p>No Love, it is not a recent event as some of the CUNYs have been asking for actual diploma for 6 years that I know about.</p>
<p>Actually, this is the roll over week, as summer school just ended last Wednesday, regents ended on Friday and grading was complete on Monday (which is why I went in today to make sure that class room grades and test scores were available). A lot of administrators are on vacation because the first day of school for administrators is on 8/27.</p>
<p>GEDs come directly from the state. The only way the school would know about a student getting a GED diploma is if the student came to the school with the GED in order to have is code 39 discharge (drop out code), changed to having received a GED. A copy of the GED is placed in the student’s permanent records in the event that someone ever contacts the school for the student’s transcript and proof of graduation.</p>
<p>Obvi student can only matriculate at one school. Student must present all required documentation for placement test/ orientation in order to be cleared for registration.</p>
<p>Thanks, sybbie. California cc’s admit anyone 18 years or older even if they’re not high school grads/ged recipients. I wonder if most cc’s in the US are more like CUNY or the CA system in this regard.</p>
<p>She’s not the first and she won’t be the last to flip the script at graduation. Rachel Maddow did it. Don’t know if any swear words were involved.</p>
<p>Just responded to an email from a college because student just graduated from summer school. I wrote a letter at the end of summer school with an official copy of his transcript explaining that he won’t have is diploma until next week (as they are locked in the vault at another school due to renovations). </p>
<p>The registrars office emailed me on my DOE email for written confirmation that I wrote the letter and signed the transcript. The school stated that the would not clear his registration until I responded to the e-mail.</p>
<p>I think she did indeed create a lot of animosity at her old school. We may differ as to whether we think it matters or not and whether we respect her stance or not, but I can pretty much guarantee that none of the higher-ups there are loving her right now. High schools are not known for encouraging individuality of thought or action, and generally detest kids with a backbone or independent streak–especially when those kids are flouting their authority. In our experience, high school teachers adore the quiet, sweet and slightly needy children–not the edgy, self-assured kind.</p>
<p>I’m not saying she needed to be who’s she’s not, but a mature person chooses her battles wisely and doesn’t antagonize authority needlessly. That h-word was not essential to the integrity of her speech and she could have compromised without losing anything dear to her soul. This is not a principaled stance for the sake of an important belief we’re talking about.</p>
<p>Uhm hell is not a cuss word. We see the word in the bible unlike the F word. Context might be important (go to hell) but “how the hell should we know?” is hardly offensive. Maybe my great grandmother might raise an eyebrow but that’s about it. </p>
<p>I seriously doubt the principal can hold a diploma (legally) over something so lame. Would be interested in any lawyer points of view.</p>
<p>Moreover, unless her high school’s culture is such that admins have unusual influence beyond year 1 of undergrad, this attitude is more likely to keep her in good stead with those from her high school who are far more likely to matter from a lifetime social/career networking standpoint…older alums and former classmates. </p>
<p>My rebellious attitude against some HS teachers/admins not only provided some wonderful memories, but surprisingly some great job leads from older alums who also had serious issues with them when they were HS students.</p>
<p>A student who publicly breaks a school rule, and then cheerfully serves the detention, pays the fine, or writes the apology note sounds like a joy to be around. A student who publicly breaks a school rule she had promised to follow, and then calls the news media instead of spending one minute writing an apology note sounds like a spoiled brat. Of course she wasn’t sorry, just as she probably also wasn’t thrilled with each and every graduation present she received, but writing a gracious thank-you note is still appropriate.</p>
<p>As far as whether she has “won” by making the administration look bad - we all have plenty of opportunities to make our families, neighbors, and colleagues look bad, and they have plenty of opportunities to make us look bad. Not much good ever comes of it.</p>
<p>Graduation was not about her school or her principal. It was about the graduates! The line she used was from “their culture” not the principal’s. It was NOT offensive. Maybe she “rebelled” because the rule was outdated. She probably would have happily written an apology if she wasn’t threatened with not getting her diploma. That is the point. She isn’t refusing writing the letter so much as she is standing up to a ridiculous punishment. That is why it made the news, because it is SO STUPID! The punishment needs to fit the crime.</p>