Blowing Your Mother a Kiss at Graduation is a Big No No at Bonny Eagle High School
Senior Denied Diploma Over 'Blowing Kiss' to Mom
On such an occasian, the students were understandably excited. The same report on Yahoo Buzz that suggest the students were noisy also states that students were so hyped up that a large inflatable duck was bounced around.
What's a party without an inflatable duck right?
The key word here understandably. In a society where too many students fall through the cracks, a graduating senior is full of promise and they should be proud of their achievements. Some students are just happy enough being through with high school so they can start the first day of the rest of their lives.
Therefore, when Justin Denney's name was called, and he bowed and then blew a kiss to his mother, this should have been considered quite normal. Apparently the School Administrator at Bonnie Eagle High School didn't appreciate share the same sentiment and sent Justin back to his seat- without his diploma.
Personally I find excessive displays of affection and overly slapstick gestures rather uncouth but this didn't seem to be the case at all here, and even if it was, having a moment like that taken from you, a moment senior Justin Denney won't get back, is appalling.
Mary Denney, Justin's mother is outraged, telling Fox news that " There was no misbehavior. Showboating is not misbehavior," and, 'a bow, a kiss to your mom is not misbehavior."
According to Mary, her son Justin was told by the District superintendant, Suzanne Lukas, that 'There's no fooling around up here,'' Justin, shocked, simply stared as he didn't feel he had been fooling around. His confusion prompted Lukas to say 'Why do you feel you deserve your diploma?' His reply, according to his mother was 'Because I worked hard and I earned it,' to which Lukas responded 'No, go take your seat,'"
For a school that states it's mission as " To inspire excellence, responsibility, high academic achievement and a
joy of learning for all students and staff in a safe and supportive environment" - I think we can safely say that this action was overly harsh. Students need discipline, but to serve such a harsh punishment for such a simple, at worst mischievious act would cause confusion in regards standards as opposed to creating strength in upholding them.
From the reaction on the world wide web, Justin's mom is not the only person outraged. Netizens and bloggers are just as shocked as they are horrified.
School administrators however, are standing by the actions, claiming that they are only enforcing rules that students have agreed to. Following Friday's incident, school superintendent, Suzanne Lukas defended the action saying that if " A student doesn't adhere to the expectations, then the consequences are clearly spelled out." According to Lukas this isn't the first time such inappropriate behavior has disrupted a graduation ceremony. Apparently four years ago Bonny Eagle High School "Had some issues with silly string and Beach Balls."
According to Kevin Joyce, Cumberland County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chief, that day was also affected by Beach Ball horror. Some students began tossing beach balls before the ceremony. When two balls had been confiscated, another two balls managed to make through the crowd. One student was taken away from his classmates and made to sit with School staff while another student was escorted by a police officer behind the stage and ordered to leave the Civics center (graduation venue). .
Some suggest Lukas was merely venting after being unable to control the students. Eventhough Justin didn't touch any of the Beach Balls while he was seated or on his way up on stage, his lack of formality in the face of rowdy students is suggested to be what caused such a harsh reaction.
Irregardless, the damage has been done and Justin's graduation ceremony is over. It is a once in a life time moment that will still likely be a day to remember - but for all the wrong reasons.
Lukas has not said if following this incident, the school will also issue a ban on inflatables. From what's happened so far, one can only guess that both Ducks and Beach Balls are faced with the possibility of ceremony exile.
Clearly, rambunctious behavior of any kind will not be tolerated, at least not at Bonny Eagle High School.
http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92681?fp=1
http://www.sodahead.com/blog/94117/a-very-costly-kiss-senior-denied-diploma/
http://www.mutantweb.com/wtf/a-kiss-denied-diploma.html
http://www.sad6.k12.me.us/behs/Index
Published by Ella Pendragon
-
Spirited and High Needs Children
With careful disciplining the high needs child can be taught correct behaviour without damage to his or her vibrant personality.
- Top High Chairs for Under $100 The top three high chairs under $100 are the Kolcraft Recline 'n Dine Deluxe, the Graco Harmony high chair, and the Fisher Price Healthy Care high chair.
-
Dealing with High Altitude on Your Vacation
An exercise physiologist and ski instructor who lives at high altitude talks about how to deal with those breathless days (and nights) during your skiing vacation.
- Presbycusis; An Examination of High Frequency Hearing Loss & Impact on Society With presbycusis impacting individuals as young as the mid 20's, high frequency hearing loss may become a disorder of epidemic proportions.
-
The Sniff Kiss: Love in a Breath
In Thailand, people do not kiss on the mouth in public. Instead, they sniff kiss. The act of literally sniffing the skin of the beloved.
- School Review of Halsey Junior High School
- Maximizing Player Development Opportunities for the Elite High School Athlete
- A Parent's Perspective on Holy Cross High School, Delran, NJ
- High Gloss Wood Finishes : How to Care for and Maintain the Finish on Your Piano
- High-Definition Technology: More Than Just Entertainment
- Kids Chewing Mothballs to Get High
- Creating a High-Performance Culture
|
|
10 Comments
Post a CommentThis blows my mind so hard, I'm almost choking on the fury & disbelief! I have to assume he actually received his diploma later, in the mail perhaps? It seems it would be totally illegal to deprive a kid who'd earned the credits & passed the tests to graduate. But the crazy lady who stopped the ceremony to bounce the student was far, far more disruptive & disrespectful than any kid is by blowing a kiss ... to his MOM, no less!!! She apparently was on the verge of a breakdown or something, & this innocuous display of excitement must've gotten on her last nerve. The kid should be glad I'M not his mom... I'd probably humiliate him by charging onstage to challenge her! Well, I'd FEEL like it. More likely I'd save it to confront her later & then head for my attorney's right after the aborted ceremony. All in all, I truly hope young Justin has a good sense of humor & balance in his life. It sure got tested that night! Thanks for providing this story, Drea.
Let the kid be a kid! I can tell he's very proud of his accomplishments and should be! Why knock him down at the very end?? Susan Lukas is throwing her authority way to far, she is just way to uptight. Come on...a bow & a kiss...a beach ball...was anyone offended??? OMG be real!!!
I think Susan Lukas loves to be on TV! She probably will take this to the fullest just to gain attention. One question I would like to ask, does Susan Lukas have something against this kid?
This is so ridiculous! GIVE THE KID HIS DIPLOMA
I agree with the comments, Susan Lukas did infact rob a person of what should have been the one of the most special moments of his life. I'm not placing Justin Denner in this category however for some students, high school is the highest level of acamedic achievement many will reach. The ceremony is a celebration. Expect over excited teenagers. Some people should not be in the education system. Period. A teacher or figure of authority can make a break a child. Mold or melt potential. I was put off math at the age of tenfai because my teacher was awful. While I mostly failed math through school- because i was told i was terrible at it - I've just ( 17 years later ) learned that apparently I'm some sort of math genius. I just couldn't provide the standardized 'workings' that the teacher demanded because i solved problems using diagrams instead. Teachers have more of an effect on children of today than most realize. In saying that, I think the ones who aren't meant to teach - shouldn't
and the ones who actually DO care, actually DO make a difference. Those educators should be supported, appreciated and respected. If the future belongs to the youth of today then really educators are mentors of those who hold tomorrow in their hands. Both Tomorrow's citizens and it's leaders. In my opinion, educators are largely under-recognized.
ADDITIONAL :
AMONG FAR TOO MANY INJUSTICES THIS TIME THEY WERE CAUGHT RED HANDED WITH ADULTS WITNESSING IT THEY CAN'T HIDE FROM THIS. I HOPE THIS CREATES SUCH AN OUTCRY THAT ALL EDUCATOR'S ( I USE THAT TERM LOOSELY) ARE SCRUTINIZED AND FINALLY SOMETHING IS DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IF NOT WE ONLY HAVE OURSELVES TO BLAME.
I AM NOT SURPRISED. THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN MAINE WORK VERY HARD AT ROBBING OUR KIDS OF THEIR YOUTH BY THERE UPTIGHT RIGID WAY OF TEACHING .IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM WHY IS NO ONE CONDUCTING A STUDY OF HOW MANY VERY GOOD KIDS HAVE TURNED TO DEPRESSION , SELF LOATHING AND LOW SELF ESTEEM THAT IS IN MY OPINION IS A DIRECT EFFECTIVE OF INEFFECTIVE , TEACHERS OVER EXAGARATING THIS SIMLPIEST ACT AND EXPECTING ALL TO ADHERE TO THEIR MILITANT STYLE OF TEACHING. I DO NOT ACCEPT THAT THEY NEED TO ACT THIS WAY TO MAKE KIDS RESPECT AUTHORITY. A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED IS THIS IF THIS DISPLAY OF SUPERIORITY CAN HAPPEN WITH AN AUDIENCE OF ADULTS WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO OUR CHILDREN WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING!!! LET'S LOOK AT THE DROP OUT RATE AS WELL, WHAT IS HAPPENING ? ARE THEY GETTING THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ( YES) BUT THE KIDS ARE THE ONE THAT ARE BEING DAMAGED BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS THEIR CHILD TO BE SINGLED OUT SO THEY GET AWAY WITH ABUSING OUR KIDS ...THIS IS ONE INCIDENT
How dare this woman ruin a graduation like this? I hope she has children and grandchildren and each one has a graduation or wedding or special occasion ruined by someone like her. What a loser she is. Someone please fire her.
I feel that the school should not impose these types of restrictions on their students. After all it was a benign gesture and not offensive to anyone. I agree"If the Superintendent and Principal cannot tolerate the kids at their own graduation, they're really in the wrong profession."
you might as well Quit Now but give the kid his diploma on live tv and apologise to the world
If the Superintendent and Principal cannot tolerate the kids at their own graduation, they're really in the wrong profession. Time for them to look for a different line of work, not involving children........