…really? Again, it seems a minor penalty for a minor offence. The student has to choose between forgoing getting a symbolic but worthless piece of paper to hang up on her wall or she has to spend ten minutes whipping up a BS apology letter.
It’s worth mentioning that it was in a direct quote: I’d have been more offended if she’s mangled (as much as you can mangle Twilight) to make it more innocuous. So it’s not just a weak profanity, it’s a weak profanity she quoting from a book that is almost certainly in her own school’s library and considered generally acceptable for tweens to read.
I was valedictorian, never used any swear words in my speech, and I never got my diploma. Never cared one iota either. Neither should she.
I have no idea where my high school diploma is. If she’s going to university, that diploma will trump it a thousand times over.
It’s possible that she did, but wasn’t able or willing to take advantage of them for some reasons. I was valedictorian of my (very small) graduating class, and I had offers from quite a few major schools, but even with those offers, I would have had to go into crushing levels of debt to get my degree at one of them. The state university made a much better offer–starting with an automatic tuition waiver–and was in an area with a much lower cost of living. Between that and working multiple jobs most of the time, I was able to graduate debt-free. I was willing to make that trade.
In her situation, I would not apologize. I don’t know that I would bring suit, either, mostly because I don’t believe it would have been necessary. I had other ways to get what I wanted.
Yeah, same here. In addition, (or in agreement, I guess) - it could have been a social thing than a money thing - some people just don’t want to go far away to school, or be the only person they know there.
It’s a wonder they allow the Bible in that church. Do they have any idea how many times the word ‘hell’ appears in the Bible? :rolleyes:
(I’m sure they’d say, “that’s different,” without being able to offer a coherent explanation of how. Usually what happens at that point in these conversations is a recitation of the commandment about not taking the Lord’s name in vain. When you say, “I didn’t realize God’s name was ‘hell,’” they fall back on some verse in one of Paul’s letters about keeping one’s speech gracious, but by that point things are getting pretty vague.)
It’s a tangled web we weave. 
A school threatening to withold your diploma is only second to “It’ll go on your permanent record!” in terms of ridiculousness.
I couldn’t tell you where my high school diploma was right now if my life depended on it.
I say let the dipshit school win this one. She’s shamed it quite effectively, no matter what they end up doing.
Oh, no. If there’s any justice (which there isn’t), her lawsuit will bankrupt the school district, the town, the county and the whole fuckin’ state, so people will have to move out and live somewhere civilized. Texas, maybe. 
I wouldn’t. It’s a high school diploma - it’s neither proof of graduation nor the record of her academic performance. The alleged “offense” doesn’t merit an apology, and the principal no longer has any power over her. It’s as good an opportunity as any to make it clear to TPTB that most grown-ups don’t really measure themselves by how well they did in high school.
I had to scan my high school diploma for a job I was applying for one time. Didn’t know why they didn’t just do a background check :dubious:. Must have not had the money or ability to do one I guess.
Her transcript information has already been released, right? I don’t see what the big deal is – she doesn’t owe them an apology, and the school can keep the little piece of paper. I haven’t seen my high school diploma since the week after I graduated.
I quoted Richard Brautigan in my valedictorian speech. I had also memorized the entire speech in advance – the copy of the speech I turned in lacked the quote, since the principal thought it was too controversial. (“If you get hung up on everybody else’s hang-ups, then the whole world’s going to be nothing more than one huge gallows.” The principal wanted it removed because he thought it was about capital punishment.)
Does anyone know if the school actually has her marked down as having “graduated”? Is it just a piece of paper they are withholding from her?
A link to the Superintendent’s email in that story.
I sent him the following email:
Well that’s entertaining. You had a couple of typos in there, though, which doesn’t help your case.
I just can’t even believe someone from here actually emailed him. I suspect, though, that a lot of people from across the country did.
I am so hoping it comes back corrected and with a grade. 
Judging by his actions, I doubt there is much of a chance for that. Don’t forget, those that can do, those that can’t teach, and those that can’t teach administer.
Few bureaucrats have the guts.
But yes, it would be funny, if it was done well.
We had a similar incident when I was going to high school. I was orchestra class and the music/drama department was performing the musical, New York, New York (I think it was, but memory is faulty). Anway, the graphic arts teacher printed out promotional/remembrance shirts with the play’s motto/slogan: “It’s oen hell of a town.” Well it was suppose to be “It’s one heck of town.”:). Well, the music teacher threw a hissy fit over the use of the word “hell.” She thought it was inapporiate and wanted the graphic arts teacher to reprint the shirts. I am not sure if he did or not (I don’t think he did). She also used the “someone please think of the children” in that she didn’t want her two daughters to wear or when see them.
Also, she had a fit over dialogue in the play, South Pacific. In the play, Americans sailors and soliders use the word, “Jap”, to refer to the Japanese. The music teacher was Japanese herself. She started throwing a fit and again used her daughters as a excuse to get it changed (claims she didn’t want them to hear the term). I can understand her feelings on the issue, but Americans did this during this time. Anyway, I pointed this out in the class and one of the upperclassmen (non-Japanese) thought I was a horrible person.