The Watercooler : Is it wrong for principal to humiliate 8th grade student who isn't graduating?

Is it wrong for principal to humiliate 8th grade student who isn't graduating?

Please note that the student is NOT a troublemaker, but instead is a very well-mannered young man, more-so than the "A" students who mouth off. He simply has a learning disability. But despite all that, the teacher basically put him on her sh*t list, thus the following which occurred much prior to graduation:

* About one week into the school year, he left black scuff marks on the classroom floor. Rather than contact the custodian, she told the student to clean it himself. Therefore, he was on his knees like Cinderella, when all he was doing was WALKING, not intentionally vandalizing school property. When he relayed to his mother that the shoes are defective and that she needs to buy him another pair, she was upset… NOT because of having to spend more money, but because the principal made him clean the floor.

* The day after an after-school study review session for a final exam, the principal yelled at him in front of the students, "How dare you!!" just because he left school yesterday afternoon at dismissal time, instead of staying for the review session like he was supposed to. Obviously, he got his signals crossed, but she reacted as if he kicked her dog.

* At the school science fair, the principal (judge) said to him in front of the other parents/judges observing the students' inventions, "Your mom helped you with this, right?" Basically, she assumed that a "straight F" student like himself couldn't be that innovative, and therefore undermined his intelligence.

To make matters much worse, at graduation rehearsal [of 11 students], she made him sit by himself in the third church pew. Therefore, he was the last student to obtain his "pretend" diploma, even though his surname is not alphabetically last. Was she wrong to treat him this way?

Re: Is it wrong for principal to humiliate 8th grade student who isn't graduatin

Headteacher sounds like a psycho tbh

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Re: Is it wrong for principal to humiliate 8th grade student who isn't graduatin

Same thing happened to the principal. Although, I'm not sure whether or not it had to do with how she treated the students, assuming the student I described was not the only one she tormented. From what I heard, it's a long story and very complimented as to what got her fired.

The irony is that four years later, the student's entire 12th grade class was allowed to be in the graduation whether or not they really graduated, as well as sit alphabetically at graduation rehearsal. The only difference was that when the non-graduates walk on stage and receive the padded folder with the school's name imprinted, there will be no diploma underneath the protective plastic inside. They have to go to summer school and then pick up the diploma there. So basically, they get to undeservingly showboat while the majority of the audience is none the wiser that he/she has not graduated. I'm surprised, considering our feelings mean nothing the older we get, i.e. kids at talent shows don't get booed, while the adults at those talent shows have to take the heat. Therefore, I commend that principal for being concerned about an adult's (18 years old) dignity, while the principal of a junior high school would embarrass a 14-year-old. Not that I condone a principal practically announcing that a high school senior is not graduating, but it should be the other way around.

True story: one of the seniors who wasn't graduating, actually saluted the audience after receiving his "diploma." He was in summer school every year, so I guess he didn't give a crap, and therefore was just happy to proudly pose as something he isn't. Had that been me, I'd just be upset about the fact that I have to come back for two more months in the humid weather. Being allowed at graduation wouldn't make me feel any better, because I wouldn't want to look back at my graduation knowing that it wasn't for real. Instead, I want fond memories of how free I felt after throwing my cap in the air.

On a side note, that school received a lot of criticism due to the fact it's a parochial school – the principal endorsing dishonesty (students pretending to graduate), which is perceived as a violation of Christian ethics. Personally, I don't see the big deal. Thoughts/comments?

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Re: Is it wrong for principal to humiliate 8th grade student who isn't graduatin

Exactly. Not only do they deserve to keep their dignity, but also to have their final milestone of childhood, even if they were back in school two weeks later. At least give them the satisfaction of walking down the aisle in their caps & gowns. What's interesting is that eight years later when I went to that school's graduation (due to my former classmate who invited me because her neighbor was graduating from the same school), the principal told the graduating class [within about 5-10 minutes after the ceremony started] to walk over to their parents in the audience and give them a hug, as their way of thanking them for getting the graduates to where they are today. Therefore, I assumed that they discontinued the "non-graduates" policy. I mean, hugging your parents when you didn't really graduate? Awkward.

Re: Is it wrong for principal to humiliate 8th grade student who isn't graduatin

He just needs to find one of those horny middle aged female teachers.

Cheerio.
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