It seems, however, that the Bonny Eagle High School administration was determined to keep tight control over their graduating seniors until the last possible second, even if it meant squeezing every drop of fun out of their commencement ceremony, and denying diplomas to anyone who dared to test just how far they would take their final power struggle.
Frightened by beach balls and silly string from four years prior, Bonny Eagle High School students AND parents were forced to sign an agreement stating that they agreed not to engage in any kind of "disruptive" behavior. So, when Justin Denney bowed and blew a kiss to his mother, he was accused of "showboating" and sent back to his seat without his diploma by superintendent, Suzanne Lukas.
Lukas has refused to comment except to say that all students signed the agreement and knew what was expected of them at the ceremony. Another student was removed from the ceremony when an inflatable rubber duck was thrown around the sitting students. The audience booed.
Justin's mother is furious with the school and has done tv and press interviews around the country, demanding not only for an apology from superintendent Lukas, but for her to deliver Justin's diploma to him while he's wearing his cap and gown.
The internet has blow up with blogs and searches about this incident. An article here: http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92681/a-very-costly-kiss-senior-denied-diploma on yahoo buzz provides links to even more articles.
This is a terrible way for school administrators to show their authority. Graduation is supposed to be fun. Beach balls and silly string are harmless. As a kid, I never understood why people told me "congratulations" just for graduating from high school, but now that I'm older, and after having worked with kids, especially troubled kids, I know that there are many kids who really struggle and work hard to make it to graduation day. They deserve to be able to celebrate and have fun, as long as their safe. There's nothing dangerous or harmful about an inflatable duck. There's certainly nothing wrong with blowing a kiss to your mother or taking what might have been a very well deserved bow.
I don't know Justin's personal circumstances. I do know, however, that his mother stated that his sick grandparents were there just to see him graduate. This may have been all they and all he wanted. This superindendent had no right to deny him his moment of glory. All my little sister ever wanted was for our father to see her graduate. Our dad died a week before she started her senior year of high school. Graduation day was a sad day for her, but she went, thinking about our dad.
This woman stole something from these students that they can never get back. This was all over her need to continue to exert control over people who were no longer going to be under her control. This was over a bow, a blown kiss, and a rubber duck. Get a real problem.
