Dad: High School Valedictorian Denied Diploma for Saying ‘Hell’ During Grad Speech
- Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:30am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
At this point, it will be a cold day in “he**” before Kaitlin Nootbaar gets her high school diploma.
That’s because her dad, David, says the Prague (Okla.) High School grad — who was also the school’s valedictorian and a 4.0 student — is being denied her diploma because her graduation speech this spring included the word “hell” instead of “heck.”
“We went to the office and asked for the diploma and the principal said ‘Your diploma is right here but you’re not getting it. Close the door we have a problem,” David told KFOR-TV.
So what exactly happened a few months ago that has the school so upset? According to David, Kaitlin decided to channel a quote from the popular “Twilight” series:
When tasked with writing the graduation speech, her dad says she got her inspiration from the movie “Eclipse: The Twilight Saga.”
Nootbaar says, “Her quote was, when she first started school she wanted to be a nurse, then a veterinarian and now that she was getting closer to graduation people would ask her what do you want to do and she said ‘How the h*** do I know? I’ve changed my mind so many times.”
He says in the written script she gave to the school she said “heck,” but in the moment she said h*** instead.
Nootbaar says the audience laughed, she finished her speech to warm applause and didn’t know there was a problem.
David says the school is demanding Kaitlin write an apology letter. She’s refusing, saying she did nothing wrong.
Kaitlin is set to start college this fall on a full-ride scholarship — which her dad says makes the high school’s move all the more perplexing.
As for the school, it’s not talking to the press to explain its side of the story. “This matter is confidential and we can not publicly say anything about it,” Superintendent Dr. Rick Martin told KFOR.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 678 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 530 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 422 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 373 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 329 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 275 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 283 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 164 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 275 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (350)
AJAYW
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:08amThe Principal and Superintendent would have given her extra credit if she had said she was gay in her speech.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:12amIf she’d been black, she could have used the N word…..dial 1-800-n***** please.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:23amAnd she culd used the F word or S word with no consequence other than MAYBE a mild rebuke.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:24amMan can I relate to this girl..!
Report Post »What in the world did I do to get thrown to the back of the bus..
on this site..? ..I see language on here I never use..
poorrichard09
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:59amThe speech police strike again! They should sue the school over free speech. I’d bet if she had said allah or such everything would be OK.
Report Post »daxawyes
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:11amIt‘s really pretty childish on the principle’s part. If you think about it they become so engrossed in the lives of these kids and then try to take on a seemly adolescent parenting role based on control and ego. There just big kids themselves. What else can explain such silly behavior?
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:24amIt’s called the first amendment and her use of the word was not used as a true vulgarirty. Like in the phrase GO TO HE77. This principle needs to be fired asap for holding the diploma of not just any student BUT THE BEST OF THE BEST IN HIS SCHOOL FOR PRACTICING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
Report Post »LLPH1776WP1789
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:24amHahahhahahahha
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:49am“The Principal and Superintendent would have given her extra credit if she had said she was gay in her speech.”
Wow–you really missed the point here. This isn’t a matter of liberal political-correctness, this is the good ole’ Christian morality police at work. I can only imagine how much worse it would be if she said she was gay!
Report Post »rusooperman
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:09amThey will pass out CONDOMS in health class but this girl can’t cuss a little? WHAT THE HELL?!?!?
Report Post »rusooperman
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:15amhttp://www.prague.k12.ok.us/page/7871_2&personID=8392&
Title: Superintendent
Report Post »E-mail: rmartin@prague.k12.ok.us
Work Phone: 405-567-4455
triplejaymom
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:25amNot in Oklahoma! Remember, we are the state that proudly elected Sally Kern.
Report Post »OldGeek72
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:26amPubliusPencilman, The word ‘He–’ is all over the New Testament of the Bible as a physical location, so saying this was “good ole’ Christian morality police at work” is something I totally disagree with. We Christians are in a fight in the support of free speech, not against it.
Report Post »I will agree that this school fool is acting like a self-rightest (sp!) hippo-crite. While I would like to never take that word out of context, using it as a verb and not a noun – I do! This basic line has been used all over TV, Radio, print and public speaking for generations. There needs to be a letter of apology from the school or a trip to court against the school. Clearly a First Adm. violation.
JRook
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:28amNice try but your talking Oklahoma here, so I think it is more of a conservative Christian response. But why not join the spin group here and present some more Truth with an Agenda.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:39amBull crap. They cannot deny you a diploma for that. Sue the crap out of them.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:41amPUBLIUSPENCILMAN . . . You have it right. It’s the good old Christian profanity police at work. Take a good look, America, because this is what’s coming if conservatives get power – probes and prohibitions and language police. Repression brings oppression. And if anybody’s repressed, it’s evangelical conservatives.
Report Post »IvanK
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:43amSo, you can talk positively about sodomy, Frottage, gay marriage, bare backing, ********, and so on… Meanwhile, the school administrators engage in BSDM, Homosexual intercourse, encourage gay relationships, and untold deviance. Teachers, male and female are having sex with students on a daily basis (just go to the UK’s Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html and you’ll see on a daily basis female teachers busted for engaging in sex with young male students). On Television you can bitch, *****, dick, a-hole, etc – you have AIDS infected puppets, children with two same sex parents, etc. *BUT* you can’t say HELL at a graduation speech. I believe that persons in power in school situations are simply drunk with power over children. This makes small minded and underachievers feel better about themselves.
Report Post »Welcome to the new PC world where wrong is right, up is down, and white is black.
What the HELL is this world coming to?
NOT A CRAZY
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:48amHell is a pretty tame word compared to what I hear kids in my town say. However, we don’t know everything about this story. The school may have laid out specific rules. All she has to do is apologize and she will get her diploma. I don’t have a problem with that.
Report Post »PASSIONFORCHRIST
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:51amThey can not hold her diploma from her it is ILLEGAL! Hope he sues them. If the college she is planning on going to doesn’t allow her in because of this, SHE WILL BE RICH!!!!!!!!!!!! Won’t have to go to any school!!!!!
Report Post »IvanK
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:52amAs everyone departed the graduation, the health teacher passes out condoms to the newly graduated and tells everyone to engage in celebratory “safe sex”. She reminds them on their way out that oral sex is not sex (Slick Willy’s legacy lives on). In parting words, she announces to the students not to say “hell” in the middle of intercourse. That would be completely unacceptable!
Report Post »midwesthippie
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:57am…what heck?…i hope this young lady grows up realizing that the public school system is run by idiots who couldn’t make her grades (4.0)…time to be a rebel…
Report Post »encinom
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:03amProperly the Principal and Superintendent are typical Christians upset over words. Christians are so easily offended.
Report Post »jfwootten
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:20amHere’s the idiots email address . . . rmartin@prague.k12.ok.us
Report Post »pdw
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:23amSounds like a case for the courts, I may be wrong but if she has earned her diploma how do they have the right to refuse?
Report Post »RANGER1965
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:27amWhat the “HELL” is their problem?
Sounds to me like this young woman is about to get a great start in life with her massive out-of-court settlement. And a few useless bureacrats are going to join the unemployment line.
All’s well that ends well.
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:33am►Cant say Hell.
►Can have a devil toddler as mascot.
http://www.prague.k12.ok.us/userFiles/90/banner_s9vbln.jpg
Dr. Rick Martin
Quote:”We are active in the Methodist Church and enjoy spending time with our children and grandchildren.”
http://www.prague.k12.ok.us/page/7871_2&personID=8392&
This is what happens when you give zealots authority…
Report Post »Please don’t confuse these fundamentalist with Fiscal Conservatives.
TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:43am@Encinom Whatchoo talking bout? I say hell on here when I want to make a point number one.
Report Post »Number two my God has a sense of humor or He wouldn’t have made man and number three seems to me you are easily offended by Christians but hey, what the hell, every dog has it’s day.
needawhitepresident
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:56amThat diploma is HERS, it has HER name on it and they have no right to do such a thing. Nothing like sheltering our children from the realities of life. What a bunch of fools those school officials are. Nothing but Nazis.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:01pmSchool Mascot is a devil with a pitchfork. Superintendent is a Methodist, a notoriously liberal denomination. I see this more about power & decorum than religion. You break their sense of decorum they will use their power.
It might be cheaper to get a private investigator than a lawyer. Follow the school board around.
http://www.prague.k12.ok.us/page/10904_2
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:22pmNo , this is trickle dumb down education in the works.
Report Post »The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:40pmWhere is the proof the school decided to do this because of Christian ideaolgy? I think the trolls here have far too much disdain for Christians to make rational judgments about them anymore.
But you already weren’t taking them seriously I hope.
Report Post »MAX0O1
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:41pmYOU ARE SO RIGHT. A ND DAM**T enough is enough!! Time for all us sane people to give
Report Post »a backlash to this crappy PC s**t. She and her family should sue these aholes for emotional distress.
OOPS I USED UNACCEPTABLE LANGUAGE. tough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bluebonnet
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 1:50pmThe Hell with this! Remember Hell is a place, not a naughty word. But, with today’s language being used they would have rather her say the “F” word like all the kids use liberally today?
What’s wrong with these Liberal idiots supposed to be teaching our children? I say where some little girl got in trouble by putting a picture of her brother in uniform on her book. Dear God, what’s happened to this Country? Take these stupid people first, Lord.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 2:40pmThe word “hell” has several connotations, and she used an inappropriate one for the occasion, but my guess is that the school’s overriding concern is that they are required by law to apply rules across-the-board, or else stand to be sued at some point in time on grounds of discrimination.
Personally, I find it disheartening that the class valedictorian didn’t take the time to be creative and enriching. Instead, she picked a lame quote that exemplifies the lack of ideals and direction of her generation. Even more pathetic is the fact that her teachers never taught her to adapt her speech to her audience and setting.
Hey, Dave, doesn’t it bother you that the author of the Twilight series says “the idea for [the novels] came to her in a dream? And that “the dream was about a human girl and a vampire who was in love with her but thirsted for her blood”? Are you even aware of how hell is messing with your daughter’s mind? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_%28series%29
She’s a kid and obviously meant no wrong, but she slipped and broke school rules. In such cases, an apology can go a long way.
Report Post »inblack
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 2:54pmI think she should write the apology letter.
1) It was outside the approved speech.
2) It is socially rude to use, admittedly mild, shock language.
3) An apology letter is a good lesson for her to learn.
4) It is a simple thing for her to do.
She seems like a smug girl with a smug dad.
Report Post »Legally the school may not have a leg to stand on, but she needs to learn respect.
IsThereADifference
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 3:20pmWANGO PUBLIUS
What’s the weather like out there on Pluto?
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 3:26pmIsn’t it ironic that the school mascot is the “Red Devils”, but it’s not allowed to say hell! Really since when is the word hell been condemned even by Christians?
Report Post »Bamba123
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 3:28pmAnd they wonder why the education system is so SCREWED up. The liberals probably sat in a room smoking a joint, “We gotta teach that damn kid a lesson.” Give her what she worked for, They are punishing her for working hard and making the slackers look bad. Good God fix our education system!!!
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 3:39pmHey WANGO! Your boyfriend ASSange called! He said that “he’s got a probe for ya”!
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 4:54pmPlease turn your brain on for just a few moments -
She submitted her speech for their review. Why do you think that is? Just “because”? Or do you think the school officials check the wording to ensure it’s not offensive to the local community?
I think there’s a lot of “bad” in public schools, but this isn’t it. She should suck it up and appologize. Just like she‘d have to if she were at a job and had told her boss she’d say X to a customer, and then chose to say Y.
Report Post »Gremlin1974
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 5:42pmThe diploma is really just decorative, she should have the collage request her transcript, if they deny that then sue to crap out of them.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:31pmAlways amusing to see leftists mount their collective high horses on the issue of free speech. That’s as cute as people assuming so-called conservative politicians are big defenders of the Second Amendment (I refer you to the idiot Peter King). Sure they are….
Report Post »Per review of this article, there is absolutely no indication this move by the school was motivated by any religion (Newsflash: There’s more than one at play here in the U.S. Check into it!). Further, there is no haunting refrain of “Church & state! Church & state!” That tends to happen when religion dares rear its head on a public school campus. So far, no one involved has asserted this is a seperation of church & state concern. And I’m sure some folks will be VERY interested to determine whether that is the case.
Yes, there are conservative busybodies who wanna control what we see, read or hear. Funny how the right isn’t as politically or criminally adept at this game.
PMRC: The point at which I realized elements of the left want to legally limit my choices.
The video game industry: Favorite soft target of leftist politicians who assert they’re saving the children by censoring content. A mass murdering freak was a gamer? Yep, all gamers are mass murdering freaks.
‘Swatting’: If you can‘t shut ’em up, maybe you can get the state to kill ‘em. Ah, those silly leftist bloggers.
My U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller making it no secret he wants Internet control.
Hate speech…
ConservativeSinceBirth
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:01pmShe should write a written apology:
Dear Superintendent Dr. Rick Martin,
I’m sorry that you were offended. I stand by what I said as it’s not a curse word in the context it was used. I learned that in English Class.
Maybe Superintendents needs to be required to have continued education in order to keep up with how the language is evolving.
Sincerly,
Valedictorian Kaitlin Nootbaar
Report Post »4.0 GPA Class of 2012
inblack
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:01pmShe should write an apology:
Dear Superintendent Dr. Rick Martin,
I’m sorry that I was offensive and used a public school graduation to try to act cool. I was crude and juvenile and as an 18 year old student I should have known better. I also apologize for purposely going off the submitted and approved speech, this betrayed the trust you put in me.
My father did not want me to write this, he thinks I have the right to be offensive and disobedient, but I have realized that in many ways my father has failed to grow up and is setting a horrible example.
Finally, thank you for standing your ground and setting a good example for me and the other students.
Sincerely,
Report Post »Kaitlin Nootbaar
kryptonite
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:40pm@CONSERVATIVESINCEBIRTH
… it’s not a curse word in the context it was used. I learned that in English Class.
——–
You did? From your liberal teacher who doesn’t believe in hell? It figures. In said context “hell” is a swearword — albeit a very mild one, given the increasingly secular value we assign to swearwords.
Swearwords have great emphatic value, more so than their euphemisms (”heck,” in this case), which is one of the reasons why people use them. However, in FORMAL settings a swearword’s offensive/taboo connotation becomes more pronounced than its culturally-assigned or intended emphatic value. Your English teacher didn’t teach you this because a) liberals are inherently dishonest, and b) liberals descended from apes.
=> “Maybe Superintendents needs to be required to have continued education in order to keep up with how the language is evolving.”
That won’t be necessary. I’ll sum it up in two sentences: If Obama/Biden win, dropping the F-bomb in a formal setting will be no effin deal. By contrast, “God bless America” will become obsolete. That’s how language will evolve. I’m a seer, aren’t I?
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 12:02amOh heLl no!
Report Post »KURT1010
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:45amFree Speech ?
Report Post »Miss Impala
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:59amLMAO.. I lived in Prague guys… none of you are correct… no condoms, a few gays, a few blacks, about half red necks and half Indians…. but what many Oklahoma rural schools are big on are consequences for inappropriate behavoir. If you can’t say hell at work, why would you think you could say it at high school? But I think the Principle blew it out of proportion unless of course, she was warned ahead of time. Then she got what deserved.
I know when I graduated from my HS, the top of 12 whole students, they read my speech and had to approve it. We were also told that if any one of us tossed our graduation cap up into the air, our diploma would be withheld. Same went for any outrageous behaviour on our Senior trip after graduation to Branson, MO. Yeehaw. Rolls eyes… lol
But as I got older, I realized that their intent was to set up a set of rules and we as teenagers were to try and butt up against them. That is the nature of a teenager, to rebel, and it is the parents and school systems to get us to understand that for action there is a consequence.
Hell they didn’t even allow us to wear shorts to school until after I graduated, nor were we allowed to have a prom.. http://articles.latimes.com/2000/apr/08/news/mn-17412 LOL.. our junior class was the one that put the dance on in 1990 at the hotel because of the ban.
And while Prague was much bigger than us, they were not much different than us.
Report Post »ron2win
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 10:38amIts the lying lybrils way . They tell and expect you to do exactly what they want you to do.When you step out of line you have unsurped their power of control ,there fore you will suffer the hades from hell.They are holding the only thing they have to control her.These people have so much compassion for inmates ,crimminals ,murders and law breakers but have none for any one who disagrees with them.The lying lybril left can surmount any screw up that any of their kind can make,but any one on the right has to be sacrificed immediately with out recourse .This is truly the epitome of hate from the left !
Report Post »Yeah_Buddy
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 11:02amWtf?
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 11:09amMiss Impala
Posted
I lived in Prague guys… none of you are correct… no condoms, a few gays, a few blacks, about half red necks and half Indians….
So if any one of us go to Prague, OK, we’re not gonna be able to find a condom? I‘m reminded of Jerry’s fascination with no rental property being available in Tuscany. No condoms? At all?
Report Post »Seem like an odd detail to throw in… & one which is questionable, but I have no way of proving you incorrect. NONE?!? This is one of the wackiest intros I’ve ever read on this forum. It made me smile.
And then we’ve got the morality police on here saying this kid should prostrate herself & give the requisite “Mea culpa!” Fine. Let’s compromise, shall we? I mean, that’s what adults do, correct?
I believe a verbal apology could be rendered to whomever she initially presented her speech. Short and sweet: I apologize for not sticking to the agreed upon text (she allegedly made an agreement… that should mean something). A formal, written apology? Respectfully, this is the point at which authoritarian thugs need to get bent. This is THE outstanding graduating senior. Gee, would the powers that be accept 100 lines of “I will not say ‘H-E-double hockey sticks’ in public” on a chalkboard? No, authoritarian goons want a tactile reminder of their petty victory.
Really, who appears most childish at this point? Hold your ground, kid. Don’t fold & give ‘em a note to gloat over.
Know your place, yes?
BeeDee
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 10:29pmSince hell is a christian concept, she was mixing church and state. OH NO! We can’t have that. Of course, maybe they thought that young hears would be offended, but they don’t have to ride the school bus, where worse is said every day. Mountain out of a mole hill.
Report Post »AllLost
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:07amAh good ol’ American free speech…I mean it is not like she said Muhammad was a pedophile or something.
Report Post »DrunkGOP_Hack
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:48amChuck Norris got in a fight with Mohamad round house kicked him so hard that Mohamad became a Christian.
Report Post »oldguy77
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:51amHave they changed it yet or can you still refer to The United ***** college fund?
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:18am@ Drunk Gop Hack
I LOL’d so hard. You do know that will get you a Fatwa from the ‘religion of peace’, right?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:53amSomeone get this to her dad .. HELL is a Place .. and not the one you are thinking of .. she can say she was referring to …. HELL MICHIGAN!
http://gotohellmi.com/
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 2:29pmA DEGREE is based upon COURSES & GRADES. Sue the IDIOTS!
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 6:58pm@CATB…………or Hell, Hell the gang’s all here. Or is it Heil, Heil the gang’s all here. Hell is a special place God has prepared for most of the World, as only a handful will make to the promised land. Jehovah Witness’ think only 144,000 will make it in those days.
However, I do remember as a young child we could never say heck, hell, or darn (certainly never damn.) I laugh at this stupidity when the TV & movies are laden with horrid, sickening, uncouth language for our children to learn from and emulate. The “F”ing word is the most insulting to all of us.
And yes, there is a certain decorum to adhere to in her situation, but lighten up, It could have been worse. I find myself saying things I shouldn’t out of wanting to put an extra emphasis on it.
Give the Girl her DAMN diploma and to Hell with the stupidity you jerks are showing. Lighten up!
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:31pm“…..only a handful will make to the promised land. Jehovah Witness’ think only 144,000 will make it in those days.”
Amusing that they think this, but it’s better to let Jehovah make his own decisions on such weighty matters. If true, they give themselves too much credit. I wouldn’t be second-guessing God.
Report Post »TIME_THE_AVENGER
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:05am“This matter is confidential and we’re not allowed to say anything about it”.
Liars and bums. She should have paid Bob Beckel to give her speech, eh? Or maybe a 2LiveCrew group grope.(I would’ve liked a red-eyed Christopher Lee to bare his fangs and hiss instead.)
Report Post »who_is_john_galt_in_RI
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:05amlet’s see; four yrs of getting straight A’s, one second of saying “hell”, results in no high school diploma, hmmm sounds like the 1% just got screwed. welcome to the new america folks.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
i know that it says “congress”, but schools are an extension of gov’t, sounds like a civil rights case to me.
Report Post »Pilgrimsarbour
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 2:21pmYou can bet that principal never in his life had an ef fing 4.0. Who the 43ll does he think he is?
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:01amWhat the Hell, “hell” instead of “heck.” Heck is collegial for Hell!
So, why do the school system idiots invite trouble for themselves? Time to Move On!
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 4:21pmYeah, whether the school board is Protestant, athiest or Rotarian, she’s still going to get into college with that full ride scholarship with, or without, the diploma. It won’t matter. As to the school administration, …..well, they’re morons. They know they can’t win, and will hand her the unnecessary diploma after a bit of time to save face. It will never go to trial, and I doubt she’ll write an apology. I certainly wouldn’t.
For some kids, high school years were the best period of their lives. On the other hand, I took off from my high school so quick, I didn’t even leave a contrail. For some folks, high school just slows you down. No doubt that’s the case with this young lady as well.
Report Post »ZAP
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:58amschool superintendent RICK MARTIN IS FAT AS HELL
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:10pmYou can tell him HERE ….
rmartin@prague.k12.ok.us
Send him an email .. I just did .. .telling him she EARNED that diploma and it is hers .. not his!
Report Post »Pilgrimsarbour
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 3:27pmRight, CATB. Another bleep – hole that thinks people didn’t build their own stuff.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:57amIs the word “Illegal” yet?? Then they don’t have a leg to stand on… Time to lawyer up.
Report Post »GaltLine
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:57amTime to take some school administrators to the woodshed. Kids should be able to solve their little problems on the playground and the adults should start acting their age.
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:56amIt’s just a piece of paper. Look at how far our president has gone without a diploma.
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:29amThat’s rich and funny as you know what. What the heck. I am a Christian and have used the word hell a lot. Some folks are just petty. Wonder if the principal got a full scholarship. There are a lot of language issues right here on the Blaze but hell ain’t one of them. Some people are also just nasty. Bet she gets her diploma.
Report Post »Inlandmar2
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:56amI guess the principal has never been to church or Sunday school. Seems I heard the “hell” a few times while attending. How do you spell the principals middle name? M-O-R-O-N
Report Post »PATRIOTMAMA
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:55amI’m usually all for freedom of speech in our schools. Far too often the schools now are stifeling our kids free thinking ability. HOWEVER, (and it’s a big one in this case) she submitted a speech to the school that wasn’t what she said on graduation day. She does need to sweat this one out a little but I doubt very seriously that NONE of the teachers or faculty at that school have NEVER slipped and in the end she needs to get her diploma but rules are rules and she said one thing and did another and I think she should apologize for at least deceiving them by submitting a draft that didn’t include what she was truly going to say. Consequences in the real world are serious for this kind of thing and this may be her last chance to learn that before she gets her self fired in the real world or worse.
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:01amDid she really deceive them or was it a slip of the tongue? I could see myself making the same mistake because in adult company I usually say “hell” instead of “heck” myself. I could see her being nervous over her speech and slipping into her usual vernacular rather than using the “approved” words. Perhaps the school should invest in a teleprompter so all speeches can be gives with Obama-like perfection.
Report Post »RandomMan
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:08amShe changed Heck to Hell yea she should burn for that. Get a life. She had already earned her top spot now the school is just playing politics.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:13amWhat if she had said “large” instead of “big” in the speech? The two words mean the same thing.
Report Post »Trenaway
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:30amUmmmm…she DID NOT change her speech. Just because you change ONE word in a speech is not changing your speech! The meaning of the phrase was just the same!!!!
Report Post »Rodeoamy
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:10amI agree with you, Patriotmama. Our kids should be held accountable – she submitted her speech that used an “acceptable” word and replaced it with one the school finds unacceptable. “Heck” and “hell” aren’t interchangeable – in polite society, anyway.
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:57am@ PatriotMama You are usually for freedom of speech but not always? Is that it? She gave a speech to her graduating class and not at grade school. How many seniors do you suppose never heard the word? And lots worse? Yes, rules are rules but sometimes those rules can be just plain stupid. And depriving their top student of her diploma is more stupid. Winding up as a story on the Blaze is really really really stupid. Bet she gets her diploma.
Report Post »Rodeoamy
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 1:04pmGranny, are you saying that we should feel justified in ignoring the rules which we find “stupid”?
Report Post »Bookster
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:55amSo let me get this straight, the school will hand out condoms like candy to the students, will take them to get an abortion without letting the parents know, let the kids use the ‘F-word’ for every other word during class but when the student uses the word “hell” in a graduation speech they get their panties in a bunch? Maybe it bothers them because it reminds them where these administrators are destined to spend eternity because of their accommodating immoral behavior with condoms and being accomplices to infanticide when they take the pregnant child to murder the baby. The truth hurts. To the student, don’t worry about it. Nobody will ever want to see your diploma. Heck, I don’t even know where mine is! Here is a bit of info for you, nobody will ever ask to see your college diploma either, you know, that piece of paper that is going to put you $100,000 in debt before you even start your life.
Liberalism is a mental disorder. Progressives are a virus.
Report Post »ReallyBigPaul
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:55amSue the school district for infringing on your first amendment right of free speech. Also sue the school principal for over stepping his bounds. This should give you a nice nest egg for your future.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:03amSince there won’t be a job waiting her, that could be helpful.
Report Post »beggindog
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:49amComedian Sean Morey (SFW) http://youtu.be/4xulhNTE8j4
Report Post »momrules
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:48amWhat the hell is wrong with people? It would be a cold day in hell before she should have to apologize for saying hell. The principal is doing a hell of a job being dumb. Give them hell Dad and take them all the way to court if need be.
Hell! What a messed up world we live in. I woke up in a hell of a bad mood today I guess but this story just irritated the hell out of me.
Report Post »Bluefish49
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:54amIts wrong for her to say “hell” in her speech, but perfectly alright to be made to read books with the “F” word in it…I.E.-Catcher and the Rye.
Report Post »OutOnTheTiles
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:48amI’m honestly surprised that the public schools care anymore about language since they allow just about everything else to go on.
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:48amSo she has worked for 12 years (and worked hard apparently) and said one word that someone deemed “offensive” and they are holding her diploma hostage? I smell a law suit.
Just give her the diploma. It is not going to hurt the school at all. Actually witholding it causes more harm than good. And it isn’t going to change a thing.
Report Post »Angel_light
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:46amReally? I don’t think “hell” is as bad as other curse words. there is a town in Michigan called Hell. look it up. it’s a real place. of course I wouldn’t want kids to start saying it but really? you’re going to refuse to give her her diploma just for that? to me it sounds like too much
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:24amShe just shoulda made a poster with 7734 on it, then turn it upside down. Works every time.
Report Post »Angel_light
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:36amJACKTHETOAD- it sure does. ha ha
Report Post »oldguy77
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:47amHell Mich.sounds pretty bad but how would you like to live in Intercourse Pa.?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:44amOops! Mistake, young lady. Be gracious and admit it, learn from it and go on with your life. Being humbled is a good thing. Arrogance is a non-starter.
Report Post »mixplix
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:50amI got a failing mark that prevented me from graduation because I lost a pencil and was not allowed to barrow one. I had to make it up in a summer school session but that failure messed up my records big time.
Report Post »Cavallo
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:01amYes, bow before the State. You should conform to what the State says you can say and what the State says you cannot say. If you do not allow them to force you to say something you do not believe then they will harm your scholastic records and attempt to prevent your admission to an institution of higher learning. This is less about a common word as it is about the power of the State employees. This may be the most important lessen she has learned in her academic career so far. The pettiness of fragile egoed bureaucrats and the unbalanced power they wield over citizens.
Report Post »dannyo
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:28amyou tell her grandmama, tell her despite all the good she has done, which is enormous for that young girl, that the H E double hockey sticks word will negate all that..right on granny, now put your teeth in and eat your bran flakes and wait for slick willy to speak at the dnc!!!
Report Post »dannyo
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:43amstand your ground caitlin, we have atheist students who have successfully gotten God out of the classroom, gays who got fisting into the classroom, mexicans who got the american flag out of the classroom, reproductive righters who got rubbers into the hands of any student who needs one, etc etc etc..NOW its time to put HELL in the graduation speeches, as in GO TO HELL YOU PROGRESSIVES!!!!
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:43amQuite frankly I think the school administrators can go straight to hell. Its a commonly used term , offensive to some, but at graduation age there aren’t many who can claim virgin ears. Lighten up and give her her diploma.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:43amGive them HELL, Kaitlin!!! If it were some Affirmative Action student dropping the “F” bomb, they would have thought it was wonderful.
Report Post »bharris0
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:41amSounds like the principle needs to receive some quality time behind the woodshed with her dad and perhaps a 2×4.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:38amSo here we go again with PC across the board.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:48amWhere have we come in free speach that the student has to submit his/her speach for approval? I thought it was going to be in the context of a place, but oh well.
Report Post »pdw
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:27amThe sanction of grad speeches has been around for over 58 years I know because my friend was not allowed to give his talk with 2 jokes I remember all that time and had no unacceptable words used.
Report Post »PubliusPencilman
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 1:02pmSnowleopard,
You are so quick to voice your knee-jerk nonsense that you didn’t actually pay attention to the article. This isn’t a PC issue, it’s an issue with the Christian morality police. It wouldn’t even make sense to say this is a PC issue, particularly since she could have said “heck” instead.
It just makes you look silly when you pretend that Christians never censor anything.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 7:34amMove on she doesnt need it no one will ever ask for it.
Report Post »Sloburn
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:02amWell maybe. I know when my Dad was getting his degree the registrar reviewed his records and noticed that he had never graduated from high school (in those days if you took a test and passed it you could even teach).
So the president of the university got on the case and they gave him some high school credit for military service and he passed the high school equalivancy exam and in that way he graduated from High School, received his BS and a Masters degree all in the same year.
All of this is to say she may be impacted by this in the future.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:30amShe can pull out news clipping as proof.
Report Post »Tirabi
Posted on August 21, 2012 at 11:46amThat is definitely not true. She could be kicked out of college and lose her scholarship over a technicality. Sure, the piece of paper is useless, but if they won’t send on her transcript to the U, she’s screwed.
Report Post »