Wednesday, June 17, 2009
??!! This Is Where I Got My Edumacation
Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 1:24 PM
According to Yahoo, a senior at Bonny Eagle High School in Maine (where I went to school) was denied his diploma during the graduation ceremony because he did something scandalous:
When called, one student walked on stage to receive his diploma and blew a kiss to his family. The school administrator, clearly not the sentimental sort, sent the student back to his seat ... sans diploma.
Thanks to Slog Tippers Alyson and fellow BEHS alumni Rich, who points out that this bold stance against deviant air-kissing comes from a high school that had to build a child-care center (which we all called "The Baby Barn") because so many students were getting pregnant.
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3
Deering (in Portland) was really heavy handed about that stuff too when I graduated. Must be something about Maine high schools.
5
The list of things you can-and-can't-do in Maine is really starting to blow my mind. I'm glad they have marriage equality there now, but still no beer on Sundays? Now this?
I'm assuming he's not actually being denied his diploma, but was just denied that little part of the ceremony. Diplomas usually arrive by mail weeks later.
I'm assuming he's not actually being denied his diploma, but was just denied that little part of the ceremony. Diplomas usually arrive by mail weeks later.
6
I never understood the seriousness with which high school administrators treated the graduation ceremony, as if it were the most important, solemn event you will ever experience. My high school principal was livid whenever anyone's family would cheer or whistle when their name was announced. My family was too WASP-y to ever do such a thing, but who the hell cares if some people are more enthusiastic?
I mean, I can see not wanting the kids to do cartwheels across the stage or something, but, blowing a kiss? I would add to @1, never underestimate the self-importance of high-school administrators, particularly in a small town.
BTW, Paul, my family is from Cornish (well, really Parsonsfield), not too far from Bonny Eagle.
I mean, I can see not wanting the kids to do cartwheels across the stage or something, but, blowing a kiss? I would add to @1, never underestimate the self-importance of high-school administrators, particularly in a small town.
BTW, Paul, my family is from Cornish (well, really Parsonsfield), not too far from Bonny Eagle.
9
I'd like to add, I graduated public school in Washington, and it was really contest of "who can quietly make the biggest scene", administrators weren't happy about it, but no one really cared.
There was graduates in bear-shaped slippers that roared with each step, there was condoms being bounced around like beach balls (lubricated, unfortunately), and at least a half-dozen sloppy cartwheels. Blowing your family a kiss would've been considered tame, had it been noticed, which is wouldn't have been.
I don't get these schools that treat the ceremony like the Mass. Let the kids blow off some steam.
There was graduates in bear-shaped slippers that roared with each step, there was condoms being bounced around like beach balls (lubricated, unfortunately), and at least a half-dozen sloppy cartwheels. Blowing your family a kiss would've been considered tame, had it been noticed, which is wouldn't have been.
I don't get these schools that treat the ceremony like the Mass. Let the kids blow off some steam.
10
@5 - Hey, but at least in Maine, you can buy beer in the supermarkets. And there's some real quality local breweries :P
13
Huh. They REALLY wouldn't have liked what I did when I graduated, then. I had a halter top and hot pants (that phrase right there dates me) on under my gown, and I unzipped it when I walked down the ramp. A friend took a photograph of it, which I treasure. Ah, the late '70s - a far-less-regimented era in many ways.
14
boy, my mamma would have backed this guy down in five minutes
what a foolish thing to do, blowing a kis, MUCH needed in today's world
what a foolish thing to do, blowing a kis, MUCH needed in today's world
15
I went to Nokomis in Newport ME and administrators were similar. We also had a day care for the young 'uns that offered classes in child care. Also a class for seniors called Senior Survival. In the first half of this class you learned how to sew buttons, look for bargains at the grocery store and bake a cake from scratch, the second half of the semester was a mock wedding with real printed invitations, reception planning, menus, gown and ring shopping, cake design, flower arranging, etc ,etc ,etc. Basically it was Bridezilla boot camp. The happy couple were chosen by drawing straws. Guess who was the bride? The lucky groom was Kevin, the gayest boy in class. We had to kiss and he had to remove my garter. He turned about 65 shades of purple. That was back in 1988 and he's probably still traumatized.
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