# Valedictorian gives a hell of a speech **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049 "2012-08-20T13:10:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/1 "2012-08-20T13:10:42Z")
[She said a bad word…and now they won’t give her the diploma.](http://kfor.com/2012/08/18/46913/) Her school is insisting on an apology before giving it to her. Even if is legal, I think they went way overboard. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/2 "2012-08-20T13:14:29Z")
“Kaitlin Nootbaar”? Talk about a last name you’d rather not bear. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/3 "2012-08-20T13:15:39Z")
Yes, the school has gone ridiculously overboard. I have long found it disgusting the way certain adults in society (in this case, the school authorities) think you can control the thoughts and speech of what is presumably an 18 year old, that is _adult_ individual. The word “hell” used in this context is relatively innocuous and is appropriate to convey an emotional meaning to her language. Said on prime time TV this wouldn’t even warrant a blink. It’s the _school_ that should write the apology, not the valedictorian. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/4 "2012-08-20T13:17:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [She said a bad word…and now they won’t give her the diploma.](http://kfor.com/2012/08/18/46913/) Her school is insisting on an apology before giving it to her. > Even if is legal, I think they went way overboard. What say you? Way overboard… she should still apologize though ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/5 "2012-08-20T13:22:26Z")
But… but… Kaitlin Nootbaar from Prague is _the girl next door!_ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/6 "2012-08-20T13:22:47Z")
This would be a great case for the ACLU to step in and make the school sorry they ever said a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/7 "2012-08-20T13:53:19Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > Way overboard… she should still apologize though For what? ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/8 "2012-08-20T13:54:06Z")
First life lesson for the real world. If you want to tweak the noses of those in positions of authority expect repercussions. That being said, it was a pretty minor offense. But I am guessing it was an offense of some rule or direction. So some sort of acknowledgement of wrong doing on her part isn’t out of the question. A simple “Sorry 'bout that.” should suffice. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/9 "2012-08-20T13:56:31Z")
Do they even have the right to withhold her diploma? ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/10 "2012-08-20T14:00:10Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > First life lesson for the real world. If you want to tweak the noses of those in positions of authority expect repercussions. > > That being said, it was a pretty minor offense. But I am guessing it was an offense of some rule or direction. So **some sort of acknowledgement of wrong doing on her part isn’t out of the question.** A simple “Sorry 'bout that.” should suffice. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/11 "2012-08-20T14:26:55Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > First life lesson for the real world. If you want to tweak the noses of those in positions of authority expect repercussions. > > That being said, it was a pretty minor offense. But I am guessing it was an offense of some rule or direction. So some sort of acknowledgement of wrong doing on her part isn’t out of the question. A simple “Sorry 'bout that.” should suffice. What the hell is wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/12 "2012-08-20T14:27:10Z")
Oh, hell no. No apology. Sue their pants off. I very much doubt the school can hold her diploma or transcripts, especially when faced with a legal challenge. There are hundreds of lawyers who would take her case pro bono. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/13 "2012-08-20T14:29:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do they even have the right to withhold her diploma? It’s literally just the piece of paper. She still has her degree with honors and will be attending college soon. It may legally be school property until they hand it over. All the school admins are doing is making themselves look like clowns. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/14 "2012-08-20T14:32:40Z")
I can’t believe the linked news article actually writes H\*\*\* instead of Hell. What the heckfire is wrong with these people? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/15 "2012-08-20T14:32:46Z")
Meant to add: if it was me, I would laugh at them and tell them to keep their lame ass diploma. I found my High School diploma in a file folder a couple of years ago and threw it in the garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/16 "2012-08-20T14:39:42Z")
I don’t care if she said “Jesus can suck my cock,” they can’t withhold her diploma. Stupid power play by petty bureaucrats. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/17 "2012-08-20T14:44:13Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Yes, the school has gone ridiculously overboard. I have long found it disgusting the way certain adults in society (in this case, the school authorities) think you can control the thoughts and speech of what is presumably an 18 year old, that is _adult_ individual. Yeah, it’s a bit mystifying. I know I gut cut a lot of slack, being who I was in school. It sounds like this girl wasn’t, though. That’s probably just a function of how that school and school system work, though. OTOH, I grew up in a rural, economically under-performing area of the South, and any student who participated in extracurriculars, got really good grades, achieved honors in school that made the school look good (National Merit Scholar, All-state Band, etc.), and generally cared about school was given a lot of latitude, relatively. IOW, my school couldn’t afford to be picky. If you looked like a potential success, and generally cared/tried, they’d fall all over themselves trying to meet you halfway, relatively. There were exceptions, particularly with the disciplinarians (our vice principals), but generally they were reasonable. I get the feeling that some school districts can afford to tell high achievers to fuck off. Mine could not. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/18 "2012-08-20T14:44:49Z")
She should apologize for referencing a _Twilight_ book in the speech. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/19 "2012-08-20T15:23:52Z")
Wait, “hell” is still considered a swear word in some parts of the US? The fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049/20 "2012-08-20T15:31:38Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > She should apologize for referencing a _Twilight_ book in the speech. Ha! I was thinking the same thing. My next thought: “Hell” is a “naughty word” these days? Really? :rolleyes: I’ve worked in places (professional white collar offices, albeit creative services) where “damn” and sometimes even “fuck” were common parts of the office vernacular. “Hell” doesn’t even ping the radar. Not in the real world, anyway. As long as they’re not withholding her transcripts I doubt it matters. There’s only one instance in my life where I needed my _college_ diploma, and even that had me raising an eyebrow. I was lucky I’d shoved it in a closet rather than pitching it or losing it in a move. I’ve never needed my HS diploma for anything. (And any job application asking for the name of my HS similarly gets a raised eyebrow… I have a college degree, you can assume I graduated HS, and after so many years of work experience, is it really even relevant anymore?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valedictorian-gives-a-hell-of-a-speech/632049.md?page=2)