Education

Georgia Law Blocks Autistic Student From Graduating

Georgia Law Blocks Autistic Student Sinclaire Coffer From Graduating

Image source: WAGA-TV

The family of a 17-year-old autistic high school student is outraged that a state law is barring him from graduating.

Sinclaire Coffer excels at English and history and dreams of one day becoming a film director. He struggles with math. That’s a problem, because Georgia requires all students to pass a math exam to earn their diploma. For Coffer, he just can’t.

“Once he starts it, and he learns it, he can do it. But when you walk away, he forgets the steps,” his mother, Linda Coffer, told WAGA-TV.

“We’ve gotten a private tutor,” she told WSB-TV. “He’s taken classes that are offered by the school in summer and throughout the school year.”

Coffer said he’s taken the math exam five times. He’s failed every try.

The family says school officials at North Springs Charter in Fulton County, Ga. are well aware of Coffer’s difficulties due to his diagnosis. The state allows students with disabilities to apply for a waiver to have Georgia’s education board vote on whether they can graduate without passing the test. On Thursday, the board voted to deny Coffer’s request — one week before the ceremony.

“I won’t be able to graduate. I can walk, but I can’t graduate,” Coffer said.

Linda Coffer said her son’s other successes should merit an exception.

“With the graduation rate so low, they want to hold back a student that is worthy of graduation, and it’s just not fair,” she said.

Ironically, the state seems to agree with her: The law has been changed, but won’t take effect until next year, WAGA reported.

A state board of education spokesman said federal law blocks him from discussing the specifics of Coffer’s case.

“I can’t give you a ‘why’ answer because, one, it’s protected by FERPA Law and two, the state board votes, and all 13 have individual opinions as to why they vote a certain way,” spokesman Matt Cardoza told WSB in an email, referring to the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act.

Cardoza said Coffer’s case is unfortunate, but not unique: He said the board denies most of the waiver requests it receives.

Coffer‘s sister Capri told WAGA she’s devastated for her brother.

“It hurts my heart because he is such a good person. And for him not to graduate and not be able to pursue his dreams, it’s really just an injustice,” she said.

Comments (122)

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  • chrishw
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:22am

    I have asperger’s, people think I’m smart but when it comes to math I really struggle starting with junior high math no matter how hard I try, even with tutors. I wouldn’t have graduated either if I had to pass the math test. The math that gets too hard for me is the kind of math I’ve never needed as an adult either.

    Report Post »  
    • Eleutheria
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:43am

      This is the problem with a one size fits all public education system.

      In my opinion, if one excels in most other academic fields of study, a substandard proficiency in mathematics ought not stand in the way of graduating.

      Report Post » Eleutheria  
    • jay1975
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 3:59pm

      My oldest son has Asperger’s as well and math is just killing him. Luckily, our state cannot fail him for it because it is directly related to his being ASD. Of course we didn’t find out about the law until after they held him back a year and moved him to three (soon four) different schools.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 5:38pm

      Then… what we need is… a CERTIFICATE of ATTENDANCE… equal to a Diploma… where regardless of IQ, Knowledge, or Ability… one can Equally pass through the Education System and be a Peer to all others?

      Or do we want… an Education System that promotes the Smart & Fully Functional to Leadership… as the Elite?

      Liberals on one side… Conservatives on the other side: Thinking is Hard!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • loriann12
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 6:51pm

      It sounds as if this guy also has Asperger’s. My son has Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified. This means a mild form of regular autism. He graduated when he was 19, with a special curriculum (from Texas). He tests about 3rd grade in reading, 2nd grade in math. But he can turn any electrical divice on and figure out how it works faster than me. He figured out how to get pay per view on our new system before we did. I don‘t understand why this young man’s Individualized Educational Plan doesn’t have realistic goals for math. That’s all my son had to do, meet his goals. Once he met a goal at 80% consistently, they raised it, so it’s not like they just lowered all his goals.

      Report Post »  
    • beekeeper
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 6:54am

      Giving the child a waiver for the same math requirement other HS graduates have to meet really doesn’t do him any favor – if he took his HS diploma and went to college he’d need to pass a math test to graduate college… Giving him the illusion of a diploma he didn’t earn does little more than give him something to frame, and set him up for another ‘wavier battle’ to graduate college.

      The he should look for a commercial film school, learn a trade, and attempt to enter the movie business that way.

      Report Post » beekeeper  
  • ContinentalArmy
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:17am

    How is he autistic? Someone said that he has a weak area. So does everyone else. If he can excel at English and history, then he does not sound autistic. It sounds like he just cannot do math. He should not be allowed to graduate unless he can pass all tests. It’s not fair for the rest of the students who DO have to pass every class.

    Report Post »  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:29am

      Autism tends to be associated with a deficiency in the social skills. They have difficulty interacting with people. I’ve seen autistic kids who were absolutely BRILLIANT in one area, and unable to function in another.

      Report Post » Tigress1  
    • caitlin29
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:33am

      @ContinentalArmy
      I can see from your post that you don’t know anyone who is autistic. I do and what you said is false and hurtful.

      Report Post » caitlin29  
    • USAMama
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 12:05pm

      I have a 5 yr old nephew who is autistic and he plays very well with my children and is considerably bright. He may not be on level with many 5 yr olds in all areas but he is very intelligent. I have no problem with adjusting the requirements for someone who is handicapped. I don’t think they should give him a false grade, if he gets a poor grade let it stand so that future employers don‘t think he is good at something he’s not, but let him graduate. For him to have come this far and tried this hard DESPITE his handicap is something to be proud of. It’s not like giving a false pass to a kid who has the ability but puts forth no effort. In this case I believe it would be a “hand up” not a “hand out”.

      Report Post » USAMama  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 12:07pm

      The problem with the term “autism” is that it has become a catch-all diagnosis that is doled out by parents and primary care physicians to describe any number of concerns. The thing to remember with any mental health diagnosis is there are numerous criteria that must be satisfied along with the duration of the presenting problem(s) before a specific diagnosis can be applied.
      You see this scattershot, unprofessional approach with the ever-popular ADD and ADHD tags, the bipolar diagnosis, autism spectrum disorders and even the MR diagnosis. “I know something is preventing this child from functioning as hoped or expected. Well, let me just throw a label on him or her without any more formal testing or consultation.”
      I recently started serving a young man who had not less than 20 diagnoses he had collected over the course of his lifetime. Some of them were nothing more than pseudo diagnoses made up by physicians and facilities. What was shocking is that some of the mental health facilities and “professionals” involved should have seen this and asked, “WTF?” The pathetic moment was his mother insisting the fellow presented with a diagnosis of autism based on a report that was almost 20 years old. By administering a test designed to confirm or rule out autism, it was evident autism was not a presenting problem. That doesn’t mean the individual might not present with what would be considered autistic features.

      Report Post »  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 12:13pm

      Having stated all that, we are left to assume this young man has been addressed by professionals who know how to properly measure and diagnose developmental disorders. If so, this young man and his family should’ve expected some movement on the part of the school (and not at the last minute) to recognize his deficit(s). If the boy has exceptional language skills, who is to say he can’t be successful in life? The problem with public education is it takes a one size fits all approach. The problem with mental health is there are too many armchair experts.

      Report Post »  
    • ireland_3
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 1:12pm

      This is what makes everything so difficult! People who have no clue what Austism or Asbergers are , reply so quick to show thier ignorance! This poor child should have the right to graduate…his mom should homeschool him in math and graduate him from home.
      Asberger children are very poor in math…they have no social skills they are vulnerable to society because they trust everyone and get hurt or taken advantage of. These kids, have trouble crossing streets because of all the “busy ness and confusion” around them. My son is going to college, he can‘t take the bus on his own or cross the streets due to waiting an hour at a time because he can’t figure our when its safe. However, he is the best writer other that Sir Authur Conon Doyle I have ever read! There is so much more differences I could write but suffice to say at 19 and trouble crossing the street it really put a person at a disadvantage.
      Have empathy,stop being a no it all…..

      Report Post »  
    • ireland_3
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 1:25pm

      Seems someone is opeing their mouth and showing their ignorance again!

      Why is it that all of you people have to have opinions when you don’t have a clue as
      to what you speak?
      If they give that boy his test immediately after taking the math in school he will pass. they need
      to make an accomadation for him so he can be tested before he forgets or tested as he goes along.

      Not being able to concentrate enough to cross the street or living in exaserbated fears due to inability in understanding situations puts these guys at a disadvantage. My son is just like this boy and you are lucky if you can call him friend! I would not trade him for the world!

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 6:56pm

      When my autistic son (also Down Syndrome) entered the school system, they evaluated where he was and set slightly higher goals. Once he met a goal at 80% most of the time, they raised it. Sometimes we had IEP (Indivicualized Educational Plan) meetings twice a year, because he met goals and we needed to raise them. When he was in the 1st grade they said he’d never read. He graduated at 19 (a mix up transfering to Hawaii and they thought he was a grade lower) reading at a 3rd grade level.

      And “looks” don’t matter with autism. Not all autistic kids sit in a corner and rock, or talk like Rainman. There are criteria on a scale that the psychiatrist determines he meets. At first, my son met 6 out ot 9, but after being put on a gluten free diet, he only met 3 and they lowered it to PDD-NOS. Your stupidity is astounding. Knowledge is only a few mouse clicks away.

      Report Post »  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:52am

    I say, let him graduate! He excels in English. This must mean that he can read and write well. Gee, that is better than the majority of kids that graduate here in Memphis! (They can’t do math either!) Heck, the kids here can’t even SPEAK in an intelligible manner!

    This is simply a rigid bureaucracy without any common sense!

    Report Post » Tigress1  
  • chips1
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:38am

    I think this is a covert move to groom him for the Presidency. He has Obama beat on all counts. Obama was just a start from the basement. Everything else is a step up.

    Report Post »  
  • BrerRabbit
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:36am

    I can add but cannot read. Do I also get to graduate? Anymore a HS ed is meaningless.

    Report Post »  
  • bdandsl
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:30am

    My son had learning disabilities and tested poorly until we learned he could take tests orally and he aced them. And not just in school. The DMV also allowed him to take his written test orally.

    Report Post » bdandsl  
    • Bryan B
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:02am

      You see someone like this, and you are moved with compassion.

      The question is, by just giving him his High School Diploma, will it help him, or hurt him ?

      Report Post » Bryan B  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 2:10pm

      BRYAN B — It can only help him. Many commenting here seem to think he is lazy. From what we can judge by the article, this is not true at all. Tutors, special classes and summer school. The kid has tried his damnedest, despite his disability. That says a lot about him, his family and their character.

      He’s autistic. He may be high functioning, but even then such people still face challenges functioning in the adult world. Add to this not giving him diploma, he will be hobbled. He will have few options in life and he will end up on needing government assistance or worse.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • debkk9
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:17pm

      my grand daughter also was diagnosed with a learning disability and has great difficulty reading…if she has a question or problem to read and answer she never gets done because she can spend a hour trying to read it..but they let her test orally and she has no problem. We need to accommodate people who are smart in ways that are different than the rest of us. Plus no one is smart at everything…we all have some difficulty with something that someone else doesn’t, just sayin’. Since they are changing the law anyway…this young man should have the honor of graduating with his class.

      Report Post » debkk9  
    • loriann12
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 6:15am

      I was given a choice with my son that I could have him graduate his senior year (at 19) or hold him another year. But, he had to at least walk down the isle his senior year. If I had chosen to let him go another year, he would have walked the isle and received an empty deploma and then returned next year for his diploma, but not been able to walk down the isle to get it. He couldn’t understand that. And I thought another year would just be free babysitting. We’ve been working on life skills these past 3 years. He helps me at home with laundry, cooking, etc., with supervision. I thought it would be more of a punishment to send him back. He has asked me to home school him again because he feels like his brain is rotting (his words), so I‘ll get a big book of knowledge for 3rd graders and we’ll go through it.

      Report Post »  
  • nobull14
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:16am

    That’s the problem if he can not do the work he should not be able to graduate !!!!! its unfair for the other children who passed there studies . today I think the school system graduates the biggest bunch of potatoes heads from high school and collage in our united states history !!!!

    Report Post »  
    • REALLYSERIOUSLY
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:31am

      Wow, sorry I was referring to your inability to pass basic English. So many errors in this I could not help but laugh.

      Report Post » REALLYSERIOUSLY  
    • HeardInAmerica
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:02am

      NoBull14, I have to ask this question… did you graduate?

      I ask this due to the fact that your ability to communicate using written language is most certainly sub-par as far as spelling and incorrect words (its vs. it’s; can not vs. cannot; there vs. their; potatoes vs potato; collage vs. college) as well as capitalization (its vs It’s; today vs. Today; and united states vs. United States). Also, your poor choice of sentence structure causes me some amount of consternation. Example: Why use the following ‘sentence’ “today I think the school system graduates the biggest bunch of potatoes heads from high school and collage in our united states history !!!!” instead of, “I believe our school system currently allows the graduation of the biggest bunch of potato heads (from high school and college) in the history of the United States!!!”?

      Quite frankly, my 12-year old writes better than you. So, in my personal estimation, if you received a high school diploma I believe it would only be fair to those you rail against (those who cannot do the work) for you to return your diploma until you’ve learned the basics of English composition.

      Then again, if you were making the statement ‘tongue-in-cheek,’ kudos!

      Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:06am

      Not sure if serious or trolling…

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • Bryan B
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 11:40am

      Why is it when people write something on here that others don’t like, they attack them personaly ?

      And it’s almost always their spelling.

      Do you feel more superior, when you point out their spelling mistakes ?

      Report Post » Bryan B  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 12:21pm

      HeardInAmerica
      Who gives a **** what you think or your 12 yeare old does- you have to be a liberal – you and yours is always better – FO

      Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 1:17pm

      BRYAN B — you are right, personal attacks are a problem here. Too often people resort to ad hominems instead of cogent arguments; this says more about their own intelligence than it does the person they are attacking.

      However, NOBULL left himself open to such an attack and in this case, criticizing his spelling is valid, as he is criticizing the education of others.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • HeardInAmerica
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 1:20pm

      @AJAYW: You stated: Who gives a **** what you think or your 12 yeare old does- you have to be a liberal – you and yours is always better – FO

      Actually AJayW, I‘m probably one of the most conservative people you’d ever meet. You‘ll note that in my rebuttal to the NoBull’s post I didn’t employ foul language (or asterisks/initials to imply the same).

      @Bryan B: I agree with Bruce P.’s comment: “NOBULL left himself open to such an attack and in this case, criticizing his spelling is valid, as he is criticizing the education of others.”

      By the way, just so you’ll know, my son has Asperger’s (a form of Autism) and my spouse and I would never think of allowing him to graduate without mastering the skills (educationally or morally) we know he needs to excel in this world. We‘ve chosen to homeschool our son because we’re able to better address his needs (socialization, specific educational goals, etc.). As such our son, who is only 2/3rds his chronological age emotionally, studies Russian, is taking two sciences, excels in English composition and mathematics and has been accepted into a Seniors Journalism class in September.

      I would argue that the majority of those who consider themselves liberal do NOT consider homeschooling a viable alternative. As conservatives who don’t want our children indoctrinated with liberal thoughts, it’s great for us. BTW, we also homeschool our daughter (8 years old) who is doing 6th grade math and studies 2 foreign language

      Report Post »  
  • FN-FEDUP
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:13am

    Happy Moms Day

    Report Post » FN-FEDUP  
  • Naram-Sin
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:09am

    Sounds like Georgia is holding back a student they haven’t given up on yet. If he can‘t pass the test he shouldn’t graduate. Hold him back a year and try again. You don‘t do him any favors by pretending he qualifies when he doesn’t. We complain when schools pass kids when they shouldn’t, but then turn around and make exuses when they don’t. Life isn’t fair the way it hands out talents to people, some things are easier for some people than others. And this young man may have more difficulties than most, but that doesn’t mean they should pass him. Graduating because your a good reason is a bad idea.

    Notice that there was no mention of him being held back before. Good for Georgia. Hold him back and concentrate on math. Help him to succeed for real. Give up on him latter.

    Report Post »  
    • thekuligs
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 4:26pm

      I agree. It sounds an awful lot like the, “Lets give everyone a trophy,” mentality. If he can’t pass, he can’t pass. Bending the rules, and giving him a piece of paper devalues a highschool diploma for everyone else. I feel bad for the kid, I do, but making an exception for him isn’t going to help him in life.

      Report Post » thekuligs  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:24am

      I live in Atlanta and this all over the local news. I feel bad for the kid, but passing a test to graduate isn’t too much to ask. The local news is treating the school system like heartless racists. If you’re going to hand out diplomas to everyone who wants one, why even bother with school…just issue diplomas.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • macruadhi
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 10:50am

      How many years are you willing to hold this kid back? It’s been stated that he is unable to retain the knowledge. Either pass him or not, it makes no difference to me, but it‘s not like he’s too lazy to learn the material, HE IS UNABLE to learn the material.

      Report Post »  
  • FN-FEDUP
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:06am

    Call the REV. AL then move to Sanford FL. you will be valedictorian by the time there done wif you done there

    Report Post » FN-FEDUP  
  • MBA
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:04am

    As sad as this is, educational standards in this country are so low at this point to diminish them even more is unthinkable. If this young man wants to graduate, get a tutor and study until he can pass the exam.

    Report Post »  
  • 9111315
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:58am

    Life is now a participation trophy.

    Report Post »  
  • Qoheleth
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:50am

    I’m of really mixed minds about this. On the one hand, this is the law and a high-school degree aught to mean something about the competence of the student in the required fields. On the other hand, in spite of the fact that I have a graduate degree in Math and Statistics, I completely understand that not all people are wired to be able to do that. Is it really necessary for a student to be able to do more than balance a check-book and figure change as long as he/she is able to operate at a hiring level in other skills. Back on the first hand, autism manifests itself in a lot of different ways, but it strikes me that they may have missed some ways to help him to function in math at a high-school level. My daughter, also on the spectrum, had analogous difficulty with writing. We’ve discovered a number of ways to help her complete those tasks. I understand completely the frustration of the parents, but I still not sure giving up and taking a pass is the only solution. Back on the second hand (sort of), what this child needs is a track he can follow that maximizes what he can do with the abilities he has. So many hiring agents don’t even consider candidates without a high-school (and sometimes college) diploma. I’m not sure, in the current system, whether he could find work that would take advantage of his English and History capabilities without at least some form of GED. As a conservative, I’d hate to see him relegated to “public assistance.”

    Report Post » Qoheleth  
  • Annie Fields
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:50am

    We have the MCAS here in MA with same requirements, but my autistic 13 year old is able to take a “modified” math portion. She takes the regular English, but the state allows children with disabilities to test, but in a way they “understand” – It’s still rigorous, and has very strict rules, but I don‘t understand why GA can’t do same….

    Report Post » Annie Fields  
  • techguyjames
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:41am

    DO NOT LET HIM GRADUATE. Okay, he is autistic. So what. The parents of autistic children, and the children themselves, get a lot of help. Even with all of this help, if he still cannot pass math, then he does not deserve the diploma. If his mother was soooo concerned with him passing math, then she should have made sure that the school provided him a tutor and/or some other extra help for him. Being she did not care then, then I do not care if he gets a diploma or not. End of discussion.

    Report Post » techguyjames  
    • Mannax
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:54am

      Obviously you are a troll and did not read the article. So for your reading enjoyment, here is a quote from the article.

      “We’ve gotten a private tutor,” she told WSB-TV. “He’s taken classes that are offered by the school in summer and throughout the school year.”

      I would dare say that this autistic student is probably better at English and comprehension than you are.

      And at least he is trying to graduate when so many just give up and decide to go join the thug life or the live on the taxpayer’s dime.

      Report Post »  
    • Watchingtheweasels
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:02am

      http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2007/11/14/crusades_versus_caution_part_ii

      For some time, I’ve suspected that there are underlying motives behind the expansion of this diagnosis (to almost 1 out of every 100 children today). I’m beginning to think that this is a diagnosis of convenience. The requirement to get a high school diploma in Georgia is to pass a math test. If you can’t, you don’t graduate. If mom doesn’t like this, perhaps she should move to a touchy-feely blue state where you get can get a meaningless diploma if you have a heartbeat.

      Report Post »  
    • 208hendrix2020
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:05am

      NO NOT END OF DISCUSSION… since when is it you do it all the way or none? It’s people like you that cause the problems in the disabled world. HE CANNOT DO MATH so because he cant pass one simple test he doesnt have the right to go out and find a degree that he can earn without math? Comments like this are what is wrong with the world today, and no one even cares about compassion anymore, cause well he cant do it so screw him… LOVE YOUR attitude towards this.

      Report Post »  
    • SageInWaiting
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:11am

      The article clearly states:

      “We’ve gotten a private tutor,” she told WSB-TV. “He’s taken classes that are offered by the school in summer and throughout the school year.”

      Coffer said he’s taken the math exam five times. He’s failed every try.

      Each person’s brain is wired differently. Einstein failed in school and had problems remembering how to find his way home, yet came up with his theories of Relativity. (I was required to take “Atomic and Nuclear Physics” in college – that’s some really spooky math!) It’s EASY to pop off at the mouth – I’ve done it on occasion, too…. Unfortunately, it can REALLY make you look like a HORSE’S @SS.

      Report Post » SageInWaiting  
    • sta
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:11am

      Maybe you missed this
      “Coffer said he’s taken the math exam five times. He’s failed every try.”
      He failed.
      That means that every other kid (like me) who worked her butt off to get a D in Algebra, fails but this kid because of his diagnosis gets a PASS?!?
      For real?
      No wonder High School Diplomas are worthless and you have to have an Associates Degree to get a job. AND this kid is going to get that diploma because of the fuss being made, then we are going to pay for his college classes.
      Question, is he on SSI?

      Report Post »  
    • RightPolitically
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:25am

      Your hatred and ignorance are showing!

      Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:35am

      Obviously, you have not read the article. The school did give him a totor, and he did the extra work to get toutored…but his dislexia erases part of his knowledge in a few days. By the time he took the next test, his knowlege was gone as if it never existed,in that one small slice/area.
      I had an older friend, who when he was about 6yrs-old, went with his parents to look at a newer-house. On the way, he needed to use the washroom. It was very icey+ snowey, so they stopped at gasstation, he (icey-shoes) slipped under the toilet, banged his head(huge lump), got-up and fini-business,and went on with his parents. A few weeks later he could not remeber where he was and what he had been dooing. The huge bump has gon down-some, but they took him to the doctor, anyway..Doc said serious conncussion caused “new-memories” lost…this until the day he died, some 40-yrs-later from a stroke. The strange thing was, he had exelent-memories of very-old things, but he would “just walk off” leaving the lawnmower running and the lawn 2/3-done. He could do many things, but when tey were longer than about 20min, his “temporary-memory“ would just ”deleate”. I could be talking with him about the latest news, and within 1/2-hr he would “repeat” things like a stuck phono-reccord. to end the conversation all to be done was say: “see-ya later” he’d smile and say:”by!”.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:47am

      TECHGUYJAMES:
      Could you take this bag of Skittles and take a hike?

      Report Post »  
    • JediKnight
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 12:24pm

      I agree. It sucks, but rules are rules. Don’t let him graduate. If you bend the rules for one person, you’ll end up bending them for more later on. You‘ll set a precedent and it’ll be hard to keep it from spreading. Isn‘t that what we’re all always complaining about anyway? The precedent‘s that have been set in the past that shouldn’t have been done?

      That doesn‘t mean he can’t move on without the diploma. How many high school drop outs have gone on to successful careers? A lot. He has a plan. Let him be labeled a “drop out”. If he wants to become a film director, go get an internship at a studio. Start making movies on the side. It‘ll be a long hard slog because he’s going to have to work harder than everyone else, but there’s nothing stopping him except this piece of paper. When you go for that internship, tell them why you don’t have a diploma. If you can think and do the work, they’ll probably have no problem bringing you on.

      He shouldn’t let this get in his way. Plenty of people with real plans drop out of high school. The problem is that a lot more that don’t have a plan drop out as well. Those are the ones that end up working the counter at McDonalds their whole life. Somehow, I don‘t think that’s going to happen to him.

      Finally, I wonder if the Georgia GED has the same test. If not, go get a GED instead.

      Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:30am

    HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY to all of you Blaze Moms………

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:22am

    Maybe the young man can go ahead and walk with his class but get his GED………but if anyone should get a waiver it sounds like it should be someone like him.

    On the other hand, remember the woman in Arizona that was barred from running for city council because she could not communicate in English? She was GRADUATE of Kofa High School in Yuma and she COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH well enough to be on a city council in America.

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:17am

    This story is outrageous and highly unusual,they‘re denying him his as our progressive friends would say a ’right’ to a diploma? He has the correct skin color so it should be an automatic diploma,it works in hiring and promotions all the the time,clearly a federal investigation is warranted here.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:33am

      If someone is dumb enough to give hin the diploma he did not earn he will probably be a welfare recipient for the rest of his life…The color of his skin is irrelevent.

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:51am

      The color of his skin is irrelevant,that’s right it should be but the unconstitutional policy of affirmative action would disagree with you.like I said it‘s unusual they didn’t let him graduate solely based on the color of his skin because it happens all over this country.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:17am

    Life ain’t always fair…. but you make the best of what you are given.

    I know a family who had a son who was diagnosed with a new-fangled term called a “math disability” but no other diagnosed disabilities such as Autism or anything else. He flunked out in his final year just like this child after being given all the help available and had to suck it up.

    He went to a local college which tested him and actually gave him a “math disability waiver” (from what I understand) and completed and recieved a college degree some years later and somewhere during his first year also got a GED.

    There is more than one way to skin a cat I guess…

    Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • Rob
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:13am

    DON’T LET HIM GRADUATE! You liberals want to make affirmitive action exceptions for EVERYONE! You probably want to give him MY money to help him pay his loans off too…

    A diploma used to mean something back in the day… since the ‘50’s it means you might have got it to make other people “feel good”. You liberals make me sick.

    Report Post »  
  • Taquoshi
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:09am

    Welcome to the world of standardize testing and zero tolerance.

    There are ways around this. Check home schooling laws or correspondence high school courses. He may be able to pass a GED test.

    Our son, who is bright, blew the local college placement exam in math simply because it had been 3 years since he had taken algebra. Once he got back in class, the teachers were wondering why he was there.

    May Sinclaire have great success in his future!

    Report Post » Taquoshi  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:02am

    With obama saying that in his last two years of high school he did very little maybe he got a waiver, one never knows

    Report Post »  
  • Blazebanned
    Posted on May 13, 2012 at 8:59am

    For those of you who no doubt will say “let him graduate”,that is the same as giving everyone partisipation trophys.For this kid to keep trying til he passes the exam,will do nothing but make him try harder once he enters society,but go ahead,“give” him his diploma,and you will find him on the streets with his hand out, wanting more……

    Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:11am

      You’re talking about a school system that REQUIRED that he attend this school where he could not possibly graduate. Yeah, that makes sense in this day and age of feely good machination doesn’t it. There was a point and time when he could have been diverted to a makes sense vocational technical schooling that would have made more sense. But NO!

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:17am

      Yep…I agree. The participation trophy is total BS. If this kid grows up someday and says to himself, “I am going to pass this test”, then he will have earned a great prize instead of having something given to him he did not earn.

      But he will probably be on welfare and suck off our tax dollars like a good little Obamabot…Hope not, but the odds are he has been told he will always be a failure and cannot make it without Government.

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 12:34pm

      Here’s the problem in assuming this child or his family is attempting to “beat the system.” With the alleged autism diagnosis, the family already has the “golden ticket” for an SSDI check. From what this story insinuates, the boy wants to progress out of school, not get his gub’ment check. Should there be some consideration of his abilities (i.e., strengths and weaknesses)? According to many who want to write him off, no. What you have to understand is the school may be attempting to keep this child in school for no other reason than he will allow the school system to pull down more money for another four to five years. There is no indication the boy is in the special education program, but that could be a motivating factor.
      I don’t want the kid to be given a token diploma. I also don‘t want the school to skate on this matter if they could’ve and should‘ve prepared to address this young man’s deficits… long before his graduation. And a tutor apparently was not enough to cut the mustard.

      Report Post »  
    • Bwbarrnone
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 3:10pm

      If there is a will there is a way! Your statement proves we DO NOT believe in the American Dream and the that the only way we can succeed is by having a piece of paper that says someone made it through a Government system and passed. Yippie!!! That paper has done nothing for me and I am alive and well today. I knew what I wanted and went out and got it.

      Me, I would tell him to keep moving on and knock down doors. I know to many individuals that have made it in their life that did not have a diploma and still made it.

      It’s all about the individual and what motivates them.

      Report Post » Bwbarrnone  
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