Student denied Diploma because he blew kiss and took bow

[TechBoyJK]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526642,00.html

A Maine high school senior was denied his diploma at graduation after he took a bow when his name was called, pointed to friends and blew a kiss to his family.

Justin Denney was graduating from Bonny Eagle High School June 12 and had gotten up on stage to receive his diploma when he gestured to his friends and relatives.

School Superintendent Suzanne Lukas abruptly told Denney to return to his seat, according to WMTW TV in Maine. He didn't get his diploma.

His mother, Mary Denney, is livid. Her son told her that the superintendent warned, "There's no fooling around up here."

"He just kind of looked at her because he wasn't fooling around. He didn't consider that fooling around or misbehaving in any sense of the word," Mary Denney told WMTW.

Lukas reportedly asked the soon-to-be graduate why he thought he deserved a diploma.

"He goes, 'Because I worked hard and I earned it,' and she goes, 'No, go take your seat,'" his mother told the station.

Other students also walked away empty-handed because of various disruptions during the ceremony. Some started playing with beach balls and others were separated from their friends, according to WMTW.

Mary Denney doesn't believe her son violated any code of conduct.

"There was no misbehavior. Showboating is not misbehavior," she told the station. "A bow, a kiss to your mom is not misbehavior."

The angry mother said she wants Lukas to apologize to her son and present him with his diploma while he is in his cap and gown.

WOW, I was a great student in HS and never got in trouble. I wore shorts at graduation when I wasnt supposed to, and all I got was a bad look. We hooted, hollered, and had fun at graduation. Nobody cared. It was a celebration.

 

[OhSnap688]

Oh wow that is absolutely ridiculous. I remember at my graduation they told everyone to hold their applause until everyone got their diplomas. But that's about it. They didn't threaten or deny anyone their diploma.

 

[waggy]

yeah its bullshit. he blew a kiss tohis mother. big fucking deal.

 

[darkxshade]

It was probably because he wouldn't sleep with the superintendent

 

[jlee]

Graduation isn't even mandatory, is it? HowTF can they withhold a diploma for behavior at non-mandatory function?

 

[OhSnap688]

Originally posted by: Benthic
Administrators these days seem to be so full of themselves. If any principal had done that back in my high school days they'd have had their yards TP'd and trenched for the whole summer.

That is so true, I went to a Catholic school and the administrators were very full of themselves. Power hungry whores we used to call them.

 

[Genx87]

Asshole of the week award goes to!

 

[CptCrunch]

When I graduated high school everyone in the class shook hands with the principal with a penny/nickel/whatever in our hands. He must of had a few bucks at the end of it.

And then we TP'd and silly stringed the entire godamn place. It was great.

However, I'd have to disagree with the mother, showboating IS misbehavior

 

[Linflas]

So we now know this school system has money to waste on legal fees. Hopefully the voters will keep that in mind the next time the subject of taxes and money for the school system comes up.

 

[her209]

Someone should post video of said incident so we can judge for ourselves.

EDIT: Never mind, video is in the link to the WMTW TV link.

 

[Queasy]

Strangely, this seems appropriate to the story...

 

[nakedfrog]

Someone needs to get laid.

 

[alkemyst]

Graduation is a group function, not about some twit trying to show boat. Dude got his first lesson in knowing his audience.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: JLee
Graduation isn't even mandatory, is it? HowTF can they withhold a diploma for behavior at non-mandatory function?

Depends on school. Some have strict exceptions to this though...

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Someone needs to get laid.

You available? :heart:

 

[OhSnap688]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Strangely, this seems appropriate to the story...

Hahaha Definitely have to agree that seems appropriate

 

[mugs]

So they were warned, he called their bluff, and it wasn't a bluff. Maybe it was a little embarrassing for him, but he still gets his diploma after graduation, right?

I felt bad for the administrators at my brother's college graduation - and for the students who actually felt like they had accomplished something in their 4 years of college. It's sad that people who think they are adults can't be mature for even 2 hours.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: mugs
So they were warned, he called their bluff, and it wasn't a bluff. Maybe it was a little embarrassing for him, but he still gets his diploma after graduation, right?

I felt bad for the administrators at my brother's college graduation - and for the students who actually felt like they had accomplished something in their 4 years of college. It's sad that people who think they are adults can't be mature for even 2 hours.

Yea, I don't think he was trying to "call her bluff". I think he naturally reacted to graduating by doing something blowing his mom a kiss "thanks for the support mom.. MUAH!" and taking a bow for finishing. I think that issue was taken with this is absurd.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Someone needs to get laid.

You available? :heart:

Sorry, I'm booked solid.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Someone needs to get laid.

You available? :heart:

Sorry, I'm booked solid.

Navy's still out at sea though...

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: mugs
So they were warned, he called their bluff, and it wasn't a bluff. Maybe it was a little embarrassing for him, but he still gets his diploma after graduation, right?

I felt bad for the administrators at my brother's college graduation - and for the students who actually felt like they had accomplished something in their 4 years of college. It's sad that people who think they are adults can't be mature for even 2 hours.

while i agree. This is minor compared to what some do. hell i waved to family when i got mine. most kids did. i don't see blowing a kiss as much worse.

sure the bow is al ittle worse but this is not major.

And yes he still gets his diploma. While i think the school over reacted the mother is milking this for everything she can and maybe even trying to threaten a lawsuit (didnt see it in the article but wouldnt suprise me)

 

[spidey07]

What's much more likely is graduation ceremonies have been getting more unruly and the superintendent was just trying to say "we're not going to have this anymore". Seriously, tossing around beach balls? It's not a concert, it's a ceremony. So by being really harsh and saying no more showboating, etc and following through on it next year it won't be so bad and people will behave.

 

[MikeyLSU]

it depends, if they told all the kids the rules ahead of time and he still decided to break them, he is an idiot and deserved it.

I went to a catholic school and we were told we can't do anything on stage to draw extra attention to ourselves. And it was fine. Nobody ever did not receive a diploma in the 4 years I was there.

Follow the rules and you will be fine.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: spidey07
What's much more likely is graduation ceremonies have been getting more unruly and the superintendent was just trying to say "we're not going to have this anymore". Seriously, tossing around beach balls? It's not a concert, it's a ceremony. So by being really harsh and saying no more showboating, etc and following through on it next year it won't be so bad and people will behave.

Weren't you a rowdy kid? Don't you remember what it was like?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: spidey07
What's much more likely is graduation ceremonies have been getting more unruly and the superintendent was just trying to say "we're not going to have this anymore". Seriously, tossing around beach balls? It's not a concert, it's a ceremony. So by being really harsh and saying no more showboating, etc and following through on it next year it won't be so bad and people will behave.

Weren't you a rowdy kid? Don't you remember what it was like?

Of course. But not at graduation. We were warned time and time again that we'd be kicked out and no diploma if we did ANTHING on stage other than receive diploma and shake hands.