Defying Social Convention
Etiquette is going to be sorely abused.
The Senior Year of the average high school student is saturated with "plans for graduation", including - but not limited to - ordering announcements, being sized for cap & gown, the taking of special portraits, and purchasing unnecessary little trinkets and baubles that are soon forgotten once you have the diploma in hand. I look back at some of the shit I bought and wonder why on earth my daddy let me get them. Did I really need a 20-page blank booklet for autographs and unrelated nonsense at the price of $12.95+tax? That "School Crest" (emblem) pendant($24.95+tax)? A memory book that I never completely filled out? ...aaaand so on...
So it goes to follow that The Boy got the special senior portraits, the special embossed announcements, the cap & gown, the graduation photo package, and plans were made for far-away family to attend (grandparents from VA, and my brother and SIL from OKC). I requested off for a week. It was magical.
Imagine my panties being in a twist when the principal calls to tell me that my pride and joy isn't allowed to walk.
The Boy managed a 63 in a core course (failing is 64 and below). Rather than being HUMANE and SYMPATHETIC, they just put their collective foot down and said "No". Phone calls were made, begging was vigorous, tears were shed. "It's district policy," I was told. Repeatedly. Mind you, this is THE ONLY district in this whole greater-regional area that has this stupid policy. No concessions would be made.
Don't get me wrong. I do understand their point; if you don't have the credits, you didn't earn your diploma; you don't graduate=you don't walk. I get it. I also know about 7 other families who's children made them proud in this very manner, yet were still allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony. It's a given that he has to make up the course in summer school, and then he will get his diploma. I tire of being told this little nugget of news. I know how it works.
I wanted to see my only child walk across the stage and be handed a rolled-up piece of blank parchment.
He participated in the first two rehearsals, before the final grades were submitted. He was even allowed to show up for cap & gown pictures (individual and group). The class gets to keep the garb. His name was in the newspaper with all the others. For all intensive purposes, he graduated. But he wasn't allowed the ceremony. Rather, WE weren't allowed to enjoy it.
As an aside, I will note that a total of nine (9) students were denied the privilege of walking. Out of a class of 40-some students. Four were for grades, three were for showing up stoned on the last day of school, and two were for the most heinous infraction of all: disobeying the rules set forth for rehearsals. Oh yes. We were sent a terse little referendum warning that missing a practice was not allowed, being late for practice was not allowed (but slightly more forgivable than skipping), and god forbid you wore the wrong outfit to dress rehearsal - that was the icing on the cake. Boys are to wear DARK PANTS with DARK SHOES and DARK SOCKS, and a WHITE COLLARED SHIRT with a DARK TIE. Yeah. I'm not sure who peed in who's cornflakes, but two poor kids (and two very pissed-off parents) bit the big one here. Not sure if it was missing a rehearsal or dressing wrong, but lawsuits were threatened and the principal with the little dick was unfazed. The superintendent, of course, stood right behind him. (bending him over I'm sure)... Every goddamn year there seems to be some riot or scandal over their "rules" and their refusal to bend them just a teensy bit. It is ridiculous. You have to remember this is a small community. Depending on who you know and what you do to elevate your status means you might get a break once in a while.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, making excuses for my darling child.
Summer school for him will consist of one (1) online course that runs three weeks from mid-June to early July. That's it, and he's done. He will have his diploma.
Then, I'm sending the announcements with the senior pictures, and the graduation pics (when delivered). I don't care.
I spent a boatload of money on them, and as far as I'm concerned, he graduated. Sure, most of our close family and friends know the cold hard truth, but I will not be embarrassed by it. I don't care if they send him money or not. If they do, it will be held from him until summer school is done and the transcript is complete. But he's still my baby, and he made it through (mostly).
Is that terribly wrong?
The Senior Year of the average high school student is saturated with "plans for graduation", including - but not limited to - ordering announcements, being sized for cap & gown, the taking of special portraits, and purchasing unnecessary little trinkets and baubles that are soon forgotten once you have the diploma in hand. I look back at some of the shit I bought and wonder why on earth my daddy let me get them. Did I really need a 20-page blank booklet for autographs and unrelated nonsense at the price of $12.95+tax? That "School Crest" (emblem) pendant($24.95+tax)? A memory book that I never completely filled out? ...aaaand so on...
So it goes to follow that The Boy got the special senior portraits, the special embossed announcements, the cap & gown, the graduation photo package, and plans were made for far-away family to attend (grandparents from VA, and my brother and SIL from OKC). I requested off for a week. It was magical.
Imagine my panties being in a twist when the principal calls to tell me that my pride and joy isn't allowed to walk.
The Boy managed a 63 in a core course (failing is 64 and below). Rather than being HUMANE and SYMPATHETIC, they just put their collective foot down and said "No". Phone calls were made, begging was vigorous, tears were shed. "It's district policy," I was told. Repeatedly. Mind you, this is THE ONLY district in this whole greater-regional area that has this stupid policy. No concessions would be made.
Don't get me wrong. I do understand their point; if you don't have the credits, you didn't earn your diploma; you don't graduate=you don't walk. I get it. I also know about 7 other families who's children made them proud in this very manner, yet were still allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony. It's a given that he has to make up the course in summer school, and then he will get his diploma. I tire of being told this little nugget of news. I know how it works.
I wanted to see my only child walk across the stage and be handed a rolled-up piece of blank parchment.
He participated in the first two rehearsals, before the final grades were submitted. He was even allowed to show up for cap & gown pictures (individual and group). The class gets to keep the garb. His name was in the newspaper with all the others. For all intensive purposes, he graduated. But he wasn't allowed the ceremony. Rather, WE weren't allowed to enjoy it.
As an aside, I will note that a total of nine (9) students were denied the privilege of walking. Out of a class of 40-some students. Four were for grades, three were for showing up stoned on the last day of school, and two were for the most heinous infraction of all: disobeying the rules set forth for rehearsals. Oh yes. We were sent a terse little referendum warning that missing a practice was not allowed, being late for practice was not allowed (but slightly more forgivable than skipping), and god forbid you wore the wrong outfit to dress rehearsal - that was the icing on the cake. Boys are to wear DARK PANTS with DARK SHOES and DARK SOCKS, and a WHITE COLLARED SHIRT with a DARK TIE. Yeah. I'm not sure who peed in who's cornflakes, but two poor kids (and two very pissed-off parents) bit the big one here. Not sure if it was missing a rehearsal or dressing wrong, but lawsuits were threatened and the principal with the little dick was unfazed. The superintendent, of course, stood right behind him. (bending him over I'm sure)... Every goddamn year there seems to be some riot or scandal over their "rules" and their refusal to bend them just a teensy bit. It is ridiculous. You have to remember this is a small community. Depending on who you know and what you do to elevate your status means you might get a break once in a while.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, making excuses for my darling child.
Summer school for him will consist of one (1) online course that runs three weeks from mid-June to early July. That's it, and he's done. He will have his diploma.
Then, I'm sending the announcements with the senior pictures, and the graduation pics (when delivered). I don't care.
I spent a boatload of money on them, and as far as I'm concerned, he graduated. Sure, most of our close family and friends know the cold hard truth, but I will not be embarrassed by it. I don't care if they send him money or not. If they do, it will be held from him until summer school is done and the transcript is complete. But he's still my baby, and he made it through (mostly).
Is that terribly wrong?
posted by Julie at 2:01 PM
4 Comments:
how is that wrong? when he graduates, you'll be proud of him, and so will his extended family. it sucks, but who gives a flying fuck about convention? he's your son. do what you think is right.
SO anyway, small penised administrators pretty much say it all. All that power and all over one stinking point. You *should* be proud. That boy has been through a lot in his young life that could have thrown him into the abyss. But he only just missed and it won't be hard to fix. He deserves a fucking medal, never mind a rolled up piece of paper. Congratulations on a job well done J! And well done to you Julie for getting him through.
You have an amazingly wonderful, caring, responsible kid there...what's not to be proud of?
The principal is a dick for not letting him walk...
but at least he will get his diplma. I went to school with a few kids who went to rehearsal and everything and couldn't walk, but then refused to go to summer school, only hurting themsleves.
Congrats to J regardless of when he gets that diploma, he made it!
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