Education

‘You’re Not Special’: Wellesley High School Teacher Gives the Most Blunt Commencement Address Ever

For those of you who have long since gotten sick of the trend among education experts toward “self esteem” rather than actual learning, this story will be extremely cathartic.



Wellesley High School teacher David McCullough, Jr. (son of historian David McCullough) had apparently had enough of feeding blithering platitudes to his students and decided to tell the truth. The result sparked controversy among the parents, who didn’t like hearing their children accused of being cosseted and pampered little brats who believed they were special for no reason. But sometimes the truth hurts. Read the greatest hits below:

You are not special.  You are not exceptional.

Contrary to what your u9 soccer trophy suggests, your glowing seventh grade report card, despite every assurance of a certain corpulent purple dinosaur, that nice Mister Rogers and your batty Aunt Sylvia, no matter how often your maternal caped crusader has swooped in to save you… you’re nothing special.

Yes, you’ve been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble-wrapped.  Yes, capable adults with other things to do have held you, kissed you, fed you, wiped your mouth, wiped your bottom, trained you, taught you, tutored you, coached you, listened to you, counseled you, encouraged you, consoled you and encouraged you again.  You’ve been nudged, cajoled, wheedled and implored.  You’ve been feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie.  Yes, you have.  And, certainly, we’ve been to your games, your plays, your recitals, your science fairs.  Absolutely, smiles ignite when you walk into a room, and hundreds gasp with delight at your every tweet.  Why, maybe you’ve even had your picture in the Townsman!  [Editor's upgrade: Or The Swellesley Report!] And now you’ve conquered high school… and, indisputably, here we all have gathered for you, the pride and joy of this fine community, the first to emerge from that magnificent new building…

But do not get the idea you’re anything special.  Because you’re not.[...]

“But, Dave,” you cry, “Walt Whitman tells me I’m my own version of perfection!  Epictetus tells me I have the spark of Zeus!”  And I don’t disagree.  So that makes 6.8 billion examples of perfection, 6.8 billion sparks of Zeus.  You see, if everyone is special, then no one is.  If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless.  In our unspoken but not so subtle Darwinian competition with one another-which springs, I think, from our fear of our own insignificance, a subset of our dread of mortality – we have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement.  We have come to see them as the point – and we’re happy to compromise standards, or ignore reality, if we suspect that’s the quickest way, or only way, to have something to put on the mantelpiece, something to pose with, crow about, something with which to leverage ourselves into a better spot on the social totem pole.  No longer is it how you play the game, no longer is it even whether you win or lose, or learn or grow, or enjoy yourself doing it…  Now it’s “So what does this get me?”  As a consequence, we cheapen worthy endeavors, and building a Guatemalan medical clinic becomes more about the application to Bowdoin than the well-being of Guatemalans.  It’s an epidemic – and in its way, not even dear old Wellesley High is immune… one of the best of the 37,000 nationwide, Wellesley High School… where good is no longer good enough, where a B is the new C, and the midlevel curriculum is called Advanced College Placement.  And I hope you caught me when I said “one of the best.”  I said “one of the best” so we can feel better about ourselves, so we can bask in a little easy distinction, however vague and unverifiable, and count ourselves among the elite, whoever they might be, and enjoy a perceived leg up on the perceived competition.  But the phrase defies logic.  By definition there can be only one best.  You‘re it or you’re not.

You can read the full address here.

Carousel image courtesy Shutterstock.com


Comments (313)

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  • american_rose_126
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:25pm

    I love it!! I don’t think anything he said was cruel. It was all TRUE. Up to this point–these kids have for the most part–been handed everything they needed. Now–it is UP TO THEM to decide what they will do with the tools and instruction they’ve been given…now is when it is REALLY determined who is and is not exceptional–who will succeed or fail…to me–that speech would pump me up FAR more than to hear, yet again, how “you’re the brightest the world has ever known!” The speech this teacher gave was a TRUE challenge in my opinion!! Good for him!!

    Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:54pm

      Agreed. It is about time that somebody broke the news to these punks that that don’t deserve jack crap because they are breathing air. When you graduate high school, you ARE nothing. You have done nothing but take and destroy up until then. Now, it is time to make something of yourselves. Oh, but just watch how this guy will be skinned alive and he will, as they always do, APOLOGIZE.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:28pm

      There are Special & Exceptional people… and let’s call them the 1%!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • mharry860
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:07pm

      LUKERW, my oldest daughter once tried to tell me she was “Special”, I told her she was not, but my sister who has Downs was. It’s the last time she tried to pull that crap on me.

      Report Post » mharry860  
    • jzs
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:30pm

      Well, not having seen the speech it’s hard to comment. Maybe he should have said it’s a cold, hard world, and you have to prove you are special.

      But whatever. But on average the posts on this website certainly prove his point.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • bikerr
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:00pm

      @jzs—This was tailor made for you!(you are not special).dirt to dirt.

      Report Post »  
    • Reason365
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:00pm

      @jzs
      You have over exposed yourself as the worst kind of troll. You said not having heard the speech, you should not comment, yet you make comments anyway at the people on this sight. Over exposure has hurt any credibility you thought thou may have earned. Just as the self esteem crowd has taught children, you assume yours through the thought that you have made others feel bad, all the while exposing yourself as a pathetic fraud. I think from now on everyone will see JZS and skip over the post. I know I will

      Report Post »  
    • PaxInVeritate
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 5:08am

      From the secular stand point, yes indeed, there are only a few (past, present and future) who truly can be called special and to which “greatness” can be acclaimed. Not everyone can be a “Buckaroo Banzai” in life. Its just not possible. But in noway should this diminish the importance of everyones value to God. (I’m with you PATTY HENRY) Every person, even the most grievous sinner, is God’s child and is desired by Him to be with Him for all eternity. As long as each person strives to excel in their endeavors, no matter how mundane, then sanctity can be theirs.
      Hello JZS

      Report Post » PaxInVeritate  
    • old white guy
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 6:02am

      when we graduated high school we were actually prepared to go on to higher education or into a trade. i am not sure that many of todays kids are prepared for much. colleges have to do remedial reading and math and universities offer courses in bogus studies that prepare kids for nothing. dave is right.

      Report Post »  
    • Glynrd Skynrd
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:23am

      “A Boy Named Sue” comes to mind… sounds like this fellow heard the dad on “The Incredibles” diatribe, well said.

      Report Post » Glynrd Skynrd  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:33am

      Welcome to the real world where mommy and daddy can’t fix your boo-boo!

      Report Post » historyguy48  
    • Choctaw25
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:35am

      Yes Patty Henry, all children are special in God’s eyes, BUT God does not live in the REAL WORLD.
      He was pushed out, or sued to be removed from all public places by the leftist liberal touchy feely crowd, starting in the 60′s. That’s the very crowd I suspect you belong too, or favor very heavily, based on your post remarks.
      As a former business owner (now retired) I found that only 1 out of possibly every 40 high school grads that made application, really understood what it meant to be out in the REAL WORLD looking for a job.

      “The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of uninformed and misinformed uneducated fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”

      Report Post » Choctaw25  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:39am

      JZS,
      Don‘t listen to them I’ve read some of your post and you are “special” …….Even more “special” than mharry’s sister.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:42am

      From the headline, i didn‘t think I’d like the speach, but after reading the whole thing, I agree. It’s sort of like how the Cub Scouts have changed. Everyone gets a trophy of some sort in the Pinewood Derby, even if it’s most creative. I don’t think that sets anyone up for reality. You don’t even get a trophy in real life when you do the right thing, with the best of intentions and for all the right reasons. You often get ignored when you do right. It’s like they always told me about Spiritual Gifts. Maybe yours is cleaning up. NO ONE notices the staff who are in the background cleaning the church but if they quit, you could bet they’d be noticed.

      Report Post »  
    • Dom321
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:59am

      When I see a post from JZS, it’s like hearing my dog fart. I ignore it….

      Report Post »  
    • kadster01
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:36am

      Oh my God! Pure poetry. I love kids, and believe they are the future and all that BS, but the era of entitlement-minded spoiled brats who’ve never contributed anything, petulant little punks who take, take, take, and never give, needs to come to and end and soon!

      Report Post »  
    • Nasado
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:40am

      @PATTY HENRY
      You absolutly correct that spiritually everyone is special. But we live in a secular world. You are correct that everyone has a role to play in Gods plan. But it is up to us to discover that role and then live up to it. I am not sure if he said this later in the speech or not but we all have the potential to become great, special. The question is what we will do, and if we choose to achieve that greatness. Most people do not. I know I have not so far in my life. It is the actions we choose to take that determins if we are special in this world we live in, not the fact that we are a child of God. Being a child of God cannot change or affect this world in the least bit if that is all we are.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:06am

      Reason365 says, “You have over exposed yourself as the worst kind of troll.”

      Reason, if by “troll” you mean somebody who disagree agrees with you, then I’m the best kind of troll not the worst. Listen to Patty Henry on this one and call her a troll why don’t you?

      Report Post » jzs  
    • damnedifwedont
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:37am

      Agreed. If everybody wins and no one ever loses,where is the opportunity for emotional growth and character building? Why even make an effort to acheive or shine or endure?

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:20am

      Reading the entire speech, I feel The Blaze cut it off before the teacher’s point. After pointing out that the kids are not special, he says that they don’t need to be bound by what other people think or expect them to do: they should get out and explore, find what they love, and do it. It might not be special or unique, but it makes them happy and that’s the important part:

      “I urge you to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance. Don’t bother with work you don’t believe in any more than you would a spouse you’re not crazy about, lest you too find yourself on the wrong side of a Baltimore Orioles comparison. Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction. Be worthy of your advantages. And read… read all the time… read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life. Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it. Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might.”

      “…carpe the heck out of the diem”

      Absolutely agree. I recommend reading the entire thing, otherwise he’ll just sound like a jerk instead of the motivational speaker he actually is.

      Report Post »  
    • RR1
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:24am

      This Teacher definitely told the students the way it is. It is good every once and a while to get a wake up call.
      Time are tough, and people/students have to realize that. Just means understand the times

      http://www.dailyjobcuts.com

      Report Post »  
    • AnAppealToGod
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:25am

      I am bothered by this but not by what others might be bothered by. I‘m bothered that the blaze didn’t offer a little bit more of a wider lens as to what he was saying. Where is the full context, or at least a hint to full context?

      Isn’t that what the blaze is always trying to strive for? Full context? I see it as a fail. Mytheos, you are not special.

      Report Post » AnAppealToGod  
    • SocialistSlayer
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:38am

      About time someone spoke the truth!

      Report Post » SocialistSlayer  
    • Wildape
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:53am

      Obama and these students are going through the same thing: A cold shower of reality and a future of unemployment.

      Report Post »  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:55am

      In the future, I would prefer BLAZE stating: PARTIAL speech by XYZ, See full speech blah blah blah so that I’d know when I read it that I had not read all of it. He was saying “Live in the Moment; Never stop learning/reading(which is learning) and then he ended it with: You are not Special Because everyone is. That is true. If we can see others and hope they see us as Products of GOD, here for a reason, think how much better we’d be…which further convinces me that Obama is the product of Satan…I can’t see him as the product of GOD.. (well, at least I can’t see the split brain puppetmasters pulling his strings: Michelle, Valarie and George).. I would like to say that I do like this man’s address with the exception of his leaving out GOD. Take what he said about always keep learning, understanding you have to give your best, live in the moment, you don‘t always ’win’..etc. and then PREFACE it with: GOD must come first and all the rest after GOD in order to achieve the purpose we were created for. PS for some of you: GOD is not what He used to be to me: The absentee Father in the clouds that I’d remember on Sundays and if something happened during the week. Now GOD is the start of the day, the best thing I can do for my kids/grandkids/world/business/friends/life is simply PRAY. Prayer is no longer an after thought, it is the initial thought. Try it, if you don’t. You will be amazed!

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • PaxInVeritate
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:10pm

      LOCKED… That does add a different color to the canvas.

      Off topic, but want JZS to read this if he didn’t go back to a post he challenge me in.
      JZS… Yes, I’ve had 4 years of philosophy, in chronological order from Thales of Miletus to Martin Heidegger. I haven’t cracked my tomb of notes in 10 years, so I’m a bit rusty (don’t use it lose it axiom). I’m Thomistic in my philosophy. To boil it down, which is always a disservice, my disagreement with Descartes is not restricted to “Cogito, ergo sum”, but also his obsession with certitude of the knowable. Through that obsession, he brought about subjective truth/reality (through deconstruction of what is knowable to the mind and is culminated in the Hegelian philosophical tract), which wormed it’s way into modern/current societal thought. His philosophy is antagonistic towards to objective truth/reality, where the subjective is the only certain knowable truth and objective truth is inconsequential. In other words, under his philosophy, we become our own god in what we hold to be true/real. Thus your statement, “… the answer is that nothing would happen. Nobody lives there. There is no life on Venus.” and my response to your assertion. Reality is not reliant on observation. It exists on it’s own with or without us. Solar and geological occurrences happen on Venus without needing life to observe it.
      Excuse me, forgot to include “… nor recognition by the mind“ to ”Reality is not reliant on observation.”

      Report Post » PaxInVeritate  
    • kvan
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 1:12pm

      Love it! Love it! Love it! Love it!

      Sometimes Truth hurts but it’s always necessary!

      Report Post »  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 1:54pm

      @PATTY HENRY

      I agree 100%

      This man is in charge of children, it is his job to encourage and support them.

      I don’t think every kid should get a trophy, but this is too far on the other end of the spectrum.

      To raise happy, healthy children with a strong sense of self worth is difficult, yet it does not require a specialist. It only requires loving parents and mentors who lead by example.

      This man is a disgrace to his profession.

      Go Red Raiders!!

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • johnsnare
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 2:26pm

      This is one brilliant teacher. We could use a few more. You are only special, when you achieve something truly worthwhile. High school graduation is no huge feat. Hell, I graduated from high school in 1957. Am I special.? Did I invent something that would help mankind? No. I did, however, enjoy a rewarding career in the Insurance industry, and was able to make a contribution to the protection of peoples lives, and property. I am content with that success. Good article, and well written.

      Report Post »  
    • Amren
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:36pm

      @ Patty Henry,
      You’re right. In God’s eyes, we are all special.
      But, that was not what he was talking about. You did read the article and transcript, right?
      And, anti-nurturing? Come on, Patty! Was my Mom “anti-nurturing” when I fell out of the tree and she told me that I should have been more careful? I would rather be told that the world is a cold, hard place than be told how awesome I am because I took out the trash.
      I am a teacher and I tell my students the TRUTH. Nobody is going to give you a $70K/year job right out of high school. Your boss doesn’t care about your self-esteem, just your performance, and there’s ALWAYS somebody BETTER than you out there waiting to take your job.
      Grow up Patty. You come across as someone old enough to know the truth without getting your knickers in a twist.

      Report Post » Amren  
    • Thatsenough
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:52pm

      Sadly enough, inflated self esteem is substituted for a healthy self knowledge of one’s strengths and weaknesses. This was about eighteen years too late for most of the students and they probably got insulted. I know that everybody hates the Jesuits but they hate them because they used to be such superb educators. I never appreciated twelve years of Catholic education the way I do now. And it saddens me that for the most part, it’s no longer available, except to the super rich. And they don’t even want it.

      Report Post »  
    • Alessandre
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:01pm

      @Nasado: you probably will never know if you have achieved greatness or lived an extraordinary life – at least not this side of heaven. C.S. Lewis reminds us that it is not our place to judge ourselves. just live the life God has given you with your entire being & then when you face Him & hear, “Well done,” then you will know what you have achieved. God bless.

      Report Post »  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:04pm

      That was an outstanding analysis and speech.

      Report Post » dmerwin  
    • Alessandre
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:06pm

      the Blaze did indicate that the full text could be found @ the link they provided & they did so using the standard format. at that link, not only is the full text provided but a video of the entire speech w/ audience response.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:37pm

      PaxInVeritate, I appreciate an intelligent post and I take back my remark, which as I recall, was that you were no “metaphysician.” Sorry about that. I believe what you’ve written and concede that you are more educated on the subject than me. And I think I understood your post, or mostly, although I admit I don’t know what the “Hegelian philosophical tract” is. Sorry, but I don’t.

      But I think you missed the point of my post, which was mostly a joke, as you probably know. My post was a silly reason to launch into a global warming comparison of Venus and Earth, for fun and for thought of anyone willing to understand the comparison.

      The question was what would happen to Venus if the solar disturbance of a sunspot sent a burst of ionized particles toward Venus (which happens all the time). When people talk about the same thing happening to Earth, they’re talking about things that humans see or experience: the Aurora Borialis or a disruption of GPS signals or others electronic devices. Nobody cares about whether an ice particle is melted in the upper atmosphere. The usage normally is, what effect does is have on people.

      In any case, you’re philisophical point seems to be that reality exists outside human perception or the perception of any thinking being. I agree.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • jzs
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:04pm

      Dang, I don‘t normally run into a second post but it’s a fascinating subject to me!

      I said, “you’re philosophical point seems to be that reality exists outside human perception or the perception of any thinking being. I agree.” But not totally.

      PAX, you’d get an argument on your point that reality exists and is real outside observation (or whatever the current philosophical terms are) from quantum physicists. Surely you’ve heard of the “double slit experiment”? I’ll provide a link, but if you haven’t heard of that you can Google it.

      Basically particles (such as photons or electrons) are sent, one at a time, through two slits in an otherwise impervious surface. Even though they are sent one at a time, they behave as waves, sometimes – the same particle! – canceling itself out or reinforcing itself. But when you set up a detection device, to determine which slit the particle goes through, the particles then behave as particles, rather than waves, and don’t cancel each other out or reinforce each other. The observation, by humans, changes reality.

      http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/02/980227055013.htm

      When ionized particles from the sun strike Venus is there an effect? Sure, that’s my belief. Maybe they have an Aurora Borialis kind of effect, maybe some particles in Venus’ atmosphere are ioinized, but not much else. But really, who cares? Does it happen? Yes. Who cares? Nobody.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • vieteravet
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:37pm

      Yeah, a teacher who gets it! They did a graet job, they graduated, but so did millions of other kids. Get to the next level and do your best, to be the best. That’s how it works.

      Report Post »  
    • Uranium Wedge
      Posted on June 9, 2012 at 1:09am

      Well, my mom says I’m cool.

      Report Post » Uranium Wedge  
    • TSUNAMI-22
      Posted on June 9, 2012 at 2:02pm

      @ jzs

      Well, not having seen the speech it’s hard to comment. Maybe he should have said it’s a cold, hard world, and you have to prove you are special.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      In a nutshell he said life isn’t fair, and they were “unique” – just like everybody else.

      Report Post »  
    • do_it_all_again
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:43am

      and now, JZS and over half the students there, are just bawling their eyes out crying
      “but why!? but why!?”
      get a grip, and get a life!

      Report Post »  
    • crashaxe
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 11:59am

      I couldn’t have said it better, I totally agree.

      Report Post » crashaxe  
  • salvawhoray
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:25pm

    http://www2.bayou957.com/listen/latest

    Give “Walton And Johnson” a try to get your news and humor.

    salvawhoray  
    • Your Name Here
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:11am

      I used to live in MS and heard them every morning.
      That is a very funny show.
      I used to listen to Lex & Terry but I got sick of their childish antics and toilet humor.
      Of course the libturds (lib tur ds in case the censor gets the previous.) wouldn’t like W&J because they are more conservative than liberal.
      http://www.waltonandjohnson.com/

      Report Post » Your Name Here  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:23pm

    Hey, Glenn, if you want to start a WE THE PEOPLE school system, I think this guys is on the short list for faculty.

    Congratulations, Mr. McCullough!

    Report Post »  
    • orkydorky
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:53pm

      Thank God someone has the guts to tell it like it is!!!!!!

      Report Post » orkydorky  
  • Cdegiusti
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:23pm

    Love this guy. Wish we had more like him

    Report Post » Cdegiusti  
  • Skee
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:11pm

    Absolutely brilliant.
    Hopefully every kid went home and destroyed their participation tropheys.

    Report Post » Skee  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:39am

      If This school has NOT done the same thing as all others have, up to his speach, The speach will NOT do-it! …coddel..coddel..woossie..woossie..porbaby..porbaby..trophy..trophy…and now your speach?? In 1992, BillClinton’s-adm added several “points” to the SAT’s(lookitup) to bring a [D] up to a [C]. A young-gradeschool-grad(with all‘A’s) said(on the RushLimbaughProgram) she failled the highschool-entrance-exam…and she had to take Reading/Math/Science-Toutoring to take-again and pass the exam. She was outraged, because she had [ALL A's!]. So your “B’s” are other’s “A’s”?? The [Progeessive-P.C.-crowd-agenda] cheepened the whole country’s-SAT-scores…so you have to “over-extend“ to get back where we should be as a ”C”=average??(new-A=C average/old).
      When I went through gradeschool…spelling was not [spell-check]…math was NOT use-a-calculator…and hiatory was NOT remem-a-date!! OUR music-titles were Not “****-U!“ and ”(something)-B***H” !! Our Music had more than “one-note-blah–blah”(rapp) with 2-3chords and every -other word “F–U“ or ”Kill-da-cops/pigs”.

      Report Post »  
    • Redwood Elf
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:45am

      Hey, there may be some hope for educators after all. Make this guy the head of the NEA for 5 years so he can whip the education system into shape, then disband the thing.

      Report Post » Redwood Elf  
  • Patience
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:10pm

    I applaud this speech. I wonder if the graduates “got it.”

    Report Post »  
    • dwilco77
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:52am

      My guess is, someone will get a Lawyer, and sue him for hurting their little feelings.

      Report Post »  
    • sixpacktr
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:27pm

      No way did most of these grads get it. And to me, it isn’t the kids fault. From the time they were born mommy and daddy did everything for them, telling them they were special, that they could do no wrong, that their every wish was their command. George Carlin had a great insight about some parents, many that have raised this generation: he talked about how little Johnny or Suzie needed to be on the soccer team and the baseball team and take ballet and piano and take extra school and do everything all the time instead of just letting the kid be a kid and have them stare out the window from time to time and just let their imagination go wild. And the result? Kids that are, for the most part, disrespectful of others, particularly those older than them; kids that can’t do anything on their own because it has always been handed to them; kids that feel that they are entitled to mom and dad’s lifestyle as soon as they get out of high school without any sacrifice.

      Without responsible parents, it is darn near impossible to have responsible students. I would wager this was the first time most of these kids had heard anything like this, and all it did was hurt their little feelings (and their parents as well)…

      Report Post »  
  • Warpath18
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:09pm

    Let’s not be so quick to throw stone in glass houses.

    I’m sure, Mr. McCullough is at least in the baby boom generation, if not older. As a member of the first generation to collectively do worse than my parents, I generally think the generations ahead of mine, including the baby boomers, were some of the most entitled people on Earth. Cry a little, receive Medicare Part D. Pillage the planet of natural resources, driving up the cost of duarbale goods. They competed with no one but themselves for jobs, while they created this progressive education system that left many children unprepared for the real world. Now, we import professionals for good paying jobs. Decent jobs leave the countyr for lower overhead. Taxes through the roof! All to make sure we take care of the older generations, which apparently couldn’t take care of themselves in the best of scenarios.

    My point is this. You think these kids are spoiled. I say you are spoiled, and you left nothing for the generations after you, and demand they pay your way. Talk about true hypocrisy.

    Report Post »  
    • antiencenom
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:24pm

      I agree 100 %,
      But it is still good he said al of this.
      Most people are only out for themselves.

      Report Post » antiencenom  
    • NOTYERHUCKLEBERRY
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:31pm

      Hey dude, some of us ‘Boomers’ realized some time ago what’s wrong and trying to fix it. I will say that I was snookered into believing the crap.
      It is going to take, not only my generation, but yours and those who follow to put this country back on course.
      We could use the help.

      Report Post »  
    • inblack
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:48pm

      @WARPATH18

      Amen. And it is NOT just the baby boomers.

      The “greatest” generation has spent the last 30+ years retired. They voted in Welfare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and then they retired at 60 and took all the benefits they could gather. They voted for congresses and presidents that bankrupt the country to give them viagra, hip replacements, rehab and name brand drugs. They borrowed against their grandchildren with the AARP cheer leading and lobbying, so capable healthy adults could play golf, drink booze and live on retirement resorts for year after year producing NOTHING. They are the real bandits and no generation will ever suck the country as dry as the WWII generation.

      The “not-so-great” generation of the WWII era rode the entitlement wave to the beach.

      Unfortunately the baby boomers are trying to retire now. Their savings are ravaged by the $200+ Trillion in obligations, a crippled economy, waning stock market and QE.

      Of course the baby boomers are to blame too, for not balancing the budget and for letting congress lie and borrow. And they refuse to raise the retirement age, though most of them will live past 90. Many of them will have to un-retire when the economy crashes for good.

      The post baby boomers are the fools. We will have our retirement stolen by the BBs. We will raise our children in the torment of a broken economy. And we will have to explain to our children how grandma and grandpa f’d them over.

      Report Post »  
    • Proudboomer
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:10pm

      You obviously have no idea what you are talking about!! I am one of the babyboomer generation, born in 1946, I, like millions of other babyboomers, worked for over 50 years, during that time I put myself thru college (no grants or student loans) while working full time & raising a family. My husband & I paid for every cent of their upbringing. I packed their lunches & cooked the other two meals. There were no free school meals & very little welfare benefits back then.

      We paid Social Security taxes & Medicare taxes all those years. I & millions of others like me did what we were told we had to do,. We would have been much better off had we been able to invest that money as we saw fit. That money we paid in was meant to supplement OUR retirement, not be stolen to support the entitlement class of the last couple of decades. Had they left OUR money alone & allowed the interest to accrue, there would be NO problem.

      You begrudge us what little Social Security and Medicare benefits we receive, but we HAVE to pay a monthly premium for that Medicare, on top of what we paid in all those years We HAVE to pay for a supplemental insurance as well,. If we want RX coverage we HAVE to pay for that, The same with dental, vision & hearing. It is NOT given to us FREE like it is for the entitlement class of today.

      Don‘t you dare blame US for today’s lazy “progressive” generation. We are the last generation to actually pull our own weight

      Report Post »  
    • inblack
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:43pm

      @PROUDBOOMER

      You may be the exception of your generation, but don’t give us this “we paid our way” crap.

      The country moved from a free market to the welfare state we have today under your watch. You knew Social Security was insolvent – given that your generation was the boom, but did not create a replacement generation capable of supporting you.

      We have been talking inverted pyramid for 30 years now and you expect to get “yours” as you steal it from your grandchildren.

      You are responsible for the state we are in – you voted to hand out the benefits, you joined the AARP, you coddled the poor and now you will live a very hard retirement where your benefits are stripped from you.

      You cannot sit around and watch while the country becomes insolvent and pass 100s of trillions of debt to your grandchildren.

      It’s time to pay the piper.

      Report Post »  
    • selloursouls
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:59pm

      @Proudboomer, You’re kidding right? You have had the last 50 years to change the system to where you took responsibility for your own retirement and get the government out of it. Instead, you believed the government would give you something without ever changing it. I have no sympathy for you. You watched it happen and instead of creating the Tea Party then you waited until the system had been strip-mined. All I hear is that my generation is the entitlement generation, yet who raised my generation those that were happy to believe they could pay the government 100 bucks a month and get 1000 a month when they retire. You cry about the system being pillaged, but what did you all do when it first started happening, I will tell you. You elected the same people over and over.

      Fine my generation is the entitlement generation and yours is the one that created it. You paid into the system, good for you, now you can join the other large number of people who would be the target audience for Barnum. Yep, you paid into it and are only getting a pittance back well I am paying into it and won’t get anything. I don’t expect it, but because the system will never be touched because of the voting force of seniors I do expect for the US to collapse but at least you are getting what you deserve.

      Report Post » selloursouls  
    • mamawalker
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:00pm

      @inblack “You knew Social Security was insolvent – given that your generation was the boom, but did not create a replacement generation capable of supporting you.”
      All I can say is this is an incredible statement…is that what you really think?

      Report Post »  
    • LastManOut
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:23pm

      Yep. We baby-boomers ARE to blame for coddling our kids and not defending our liberty from the socialistic bleeding-hearts. We had it good. Black and white TV with no remote control. Very few electrically operated entertainment or games, heck, we made many of our own toys and were forced to use our imaginations. In school we could not use a calculator for our algebra, geometry and calculus classes. We learned how to do the math in our heads (and even make change without a computer). It certainly is all our fault for making it too easy for you young snot-noses.

      Report Post »  
    • wisehiney
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:47pm

      I always strongly supported and voted for Jesse Helms. We tried.

      Report Post »  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:53pm

      I’m a BB, but I do know that FDR started the SS entitlement against the advisement of his own Ways and Means committee chairman, who warned him that it would never work, because giving people money for doing nothing is always a bad idea. But remember, at the time people had a life expectancy of around 60 yrs. The Great Depression had decimated families’ finances and people were scared. FDR preyed on their fears. I don’t feel angry at the people who voted for FDR at the time. I do have issues with all of the citizens of this country who have fired their state politicians since then, for warning them that SS would not last. People have turned a blind eye because they say “damit, we paid into the system so we deserve it”. SS was always a ponzi scheme. A way to buy votes. Since it was known way back in the days that FDR first proposed it, that it would not work. I’m surprised it has lasted this long.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • jetmech807
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:27pm

      @Lastmanout
      You forgot the part where you had to walk to school in sub zero tempatures, in the driving snow, uphill, both ways…………
      I’m 41, been to war, worked since I was around 14, so if you want to bad mouth me and my generation there is a certain part of my annatomy you can feel free to kiss.

      Report Post »  
    • punyhuman
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:14am

      I can’t believe all the finger pointing going on here. It’s your fault. No, it’s your fault. Don’t you realize that no one here has the money? Look where it is, don’t be so naive. The gov’ts print money that no one on this website will ever see, and all you can do is point the finger at each other and say it’s your fault? The banksters gave all the money to each other, to the chinese, to large corporations, to the govt’s. It’s your money, but you won’t ever see it. It isn’t your fault, and you over there, it isn’t your fault either. The worst is yet to come, so get ready for it.

      Report Post »  
    • LT-prep
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:25am

      Wow, talk about an untimely redirect… you want to complain about the Baby-boomer generation suffering from normalcy bias? We’ve all got that to contend with. Unless you’ve got 3 years of food stocked up in the pantry in your fully off-grid house, 50-100k rounds of ammunition, and are actively farming, beekeeping, etc, well then you are suffering your own normalcy bias. It’s easy to find fault with others, and very difficult to rectify the faults in your own life, so how about toning down the rhetoric a bit?
      We’re all a bit disappointed in the generations since WWII for letting the progressives get their way without much of a fight, but to assail them for their good and patient nature is to deny those things in yourself. That way leads only down.
      I am a 44 year old dad, veteran, and professional, a so-called 1%’er. And until 5 years ago was a total “ostritch” – now, I have done some of the hard things – moved my family out of New England to a safer place, bought a property in the rural southeast, stocked up on the essentials, and am trying to do things “right” in case things go wrong.
      We Moved 600 miles from our families, gave up the comfort and convenience of suburban living, gave up well-paying jobs, and many other things – each was an uphill battle, and we are still far from “all set”. Of all these things, the hardest was overcoming normalcy bias, and then helping my wife to get past hers, too. My advice is “judge not, lest ye be judged”. Just

      Report Post »  
    • CATPBJ
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 1:46am

      @WARPATH18 – Get a freakin grip on reality! You are one angry SOB.

      “As a member of the first generation to collectively do worse than my parents, I generally think the generations ahead of mine, including the baby boomers, were some of the most entitled people on Earth.”

      If you and yours do collectively worse then your parents, don’t blame your parents, blame yourselves. And finally, take that pacifier out of your mouth and do something constructive! What a spoiled child you are. Someone needs their blanky and a time out.

      Report Post » CATPBJ  
    • FlowerBell
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 5:20am

      And the next generation will say the exact same thing about you! What were all the baby boomers supposed to do, sit quietly in a dark room until YOU came along? Are you sacrificing YOUR life for people you don‘t know that haven’t been born yet? We all live the times we were born in and it’s rarely ever easy for anyone. Grow up and stop blaming and whining. Take what you’ve got, improve on it as much as you can and make the best of things. If you don’t you only have YOURSELF to blame.
      Crybaby.

      Report Post » FlowerBell  
    • PaxInVeritate
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 5:47am

      LT-PREP… Well stated. All our fretting over worldly machinations and finger pointing is much ado about nothing. Just remember that even if you’re doing your best, yet still not fully prepared, trust in and rely upon the Lord for He will understand and show His Mercy. Remember the loaves and fishes? He can and will still provide if you stay in His presence.
            “O My God, My loving Father, I accept with love and gratitude Your Divine Seal of Protection.
            Your Divinity encompasses my body and soul for eternity; I bow in humble thanksgiving and offer You my deep love and loyalty to You my Beloved Father.
            I beg You to protect me and my loved ones with this special Seal; and I pledge my life to Your service forever and ever.
      I love You Dear Father.
      I console You in these times Dear Father.
            I offer You the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, in atonement for the sins of the world and for the salvation of all Your children. Amen.”

      “It’s a wonderful time we live in.” for He approaches.

      Report Post » PaxInVeritate  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:13am

      @Warpath18 and in black
      How freaking dare you.You are two spoiled rotten punks with the brain cells of a retarded amoeba.Too bad your parents didn’t believe in discipline at all.Get a damn grip.The government did back then what it does now morons.IT LIES.IT HIDES IT MANIPULATES.How the hell do you think most of the crap-legislation went through?Are you truly brain dead enough to think those who fought for your freedom wanted the welfare state and ponzi schemes?The push to do away with or at least have an alternate to ss was itself crushed by cry babys and no good pieces of filth.It was known as civil service.This was a voluntary retirement plan paid for with aftertax dollars out of the workers pocket.It was always solvent.Rather than look to that as a model of how things should run , instead worthless creatins who were jealous of prosperity[including those on ss jealous because they recieved so much less than civil service.The fact it came out of the own own workers pocket in the first place never entered their brain dead world] decided to tear it down.Oh and one other thing.The workers who had this, still had to pay into ss even though they wouldn’t ever see a dime of it themselves.How does this take away from you and subsequent generations?It took from them.

      Report Post »  
    • inblack
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:02am

      @OBJECTIVETRUTH

      Your handle is a joke if you are denying that WE THE PEOPLE are the ones responsible.

      The finger pointing is to wake people up. YES, the WWII generation failed us. They have had it good. If they fought for freedom then it‘s a damn shame they couldn’t stop the US from being ruined.

      I dare point this out because it is the truth. Every generation since FDR has failed this country and excuses are not going to fix it. I point this out because it makes me sick to hear people talking about paying theirs and getting theirs. I don’t care what you paid it is OBVIOUSLY not enough.

      @MAMAWALKER
      It is the simple truth. Social Security is a pyramid scheme and a declining population means it won’t work.

      Don’t like it? Want to have fewer kids? Then you should have changed SS.
      Basic facts: Ration of payers to recipients: 1950 16:1, 2010 2.9:1

      Grow up and start getting serious about fixing this mess FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN rather than just plotting your own personal survival path.

      Report Post »  
    • phantomjet
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 4:07pm

      You and InBlack are the real problems. Pointing fingers at anyone other than yourselves. I am older than the boomers. I put myself through the university, I fought in Vietnam, I have two great kids and grand kids. I have started 6 high tech companies. You are what you have accomplished and nothing more. And “we voted in Social Security and Welfare” shows just how stupid you really are InBlack. The entitlement programs were shoved down our throat, just like ObamaCare. We were forced to pay into the “system”, something many of us would have gladly given up to be the bosses of our own destinies. My own investments are better than anything I will ever get out of SS but will I give it up? Hell no, they forced me to pay into it all these years (I’m still Paying) so now I will take my payback out of the Ponzi scheme I have always known it to be (as are union pensions). Nothing in life is free. Our government has let the “free” stuff destroy this great country. Get off your a** and bust your butt working for the next 30 to 40 years and never trust the government. Plan for the future and stick to it and don’t plan on any entitlements, they have to go if the USA is to survive. Just stop whining and start planning for a self supporting future, it is the only chance you will have to survive comfortably. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably be even more aggressive than I was the first time around and I am an in-your-face type A personality.

      Report Post »  
    • vanman4446
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 5:26pm

      Wake up JERK and smell the roses. The only thing we are guilty of is electing the bunch of crooks that are in Congress,They are the ones that looted the country and put us in the position we are in. I paid my way for fifty five years. so you could have the things that you think you are entitled to. You sound like you are one of the “ENTITLED” little twerps that are protesting everything you don’t like and blaming the old folks for it SCREW YOU.

      Report Post »  
    • Alessandre
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:11pm

      he looks about 40 to me, that’s post-boomer.

      Report Post »  
    • inblack
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:45pm

      @PHANTOMJET/VANMAN4446

      You sound like spoiled brats. It’s not my fault, it’s congress. Blah blah blah.

      What happened to a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

      YOU are Americans, this is YOUR country and you whine about how you did your part.

      Well you played your position while the team went down the tubes so now what are you going to do about it? All I hear is excuses and blaming the young. The young that WE brought and and WE left with a socialist country and WE left with $200 trillion in debt and obligations.

      If your best excuse for ruining the country is that you voted Republican, you have a lot to answer for.

      Report Post »  
  • chips1
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:05pm

    This was a government school, so actually, some of them are special. The cost of court appointed attorney, court costs, appeals,and building more jails to hold them, means taxes are going up.

    Report Post »  
  • klevalt
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:03pm

    He is likely one who doesn‘t want to be a part of the teacher’s union but doesn’t have a choice! God bless him!

    Report Post » klevalt  
  • ronbo51
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:02pm

    While you’re at it, how about a little blunt talk to the adults too.

    Report Post »  
  • nighttrainno9
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:57pm

    The man gave it to them straight, what breath of fresh air.
    The last two generations out of high school are so dumbed
    down and pampered, most will never be able to take of themselves,
    and of course thats just what the progressives want.

    Report Post »  
  • DeathRattle
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:43pm

    Oh thank God for a little clarity. Just when I thought the light was about to go out on common sense.

    Report Post » DeathRattle  
    • Lesterp
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:54pm

      Yes, that teacher really does deserve a trophy! I am applauding!

      Report Post » Lesterp  
  • Kinnison
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:43pm

    It sounds a lot like Neil Boortz’s commencement speech to Texas A&M graduates this year. I’m a retired AP U.S. History teacher. It sounds quite a bit like parts of mine to the high school graduating class of ‘06.

    Report Post »  
  • Patriot Z
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:42pm

    Wow, Well said! and truthful. Now if these ‘snowflakes’ can stop holding their parents hand crying about the mean man, tand use his sage advice, they might have a chance!

    Report Post » Patriot Z  
  • JohnDoeSr
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:41pm

    Does he still have a job?

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:39pm

    Wow! Truth and honesty about todays kids and todays America. He’ll be fired soon, good luck finding that new job Mr. McCullough.

    Report Post »  
  • oldduffer
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:39pm

    Now that is a candidate for head of Education Dept. if Obama had any brains.

    Report Post »  
    • blackyb
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:30pm

      Forget Obama and brains. He is not nasty enough or vile enough or socialist enough for Obama to pick. This guy is special himself.

      Report Post » blackyb  
  • toomuchgovt
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:38pm

    Well Said. About time.

    Report Post » toomuchgovt  
  • KeithOlberdink
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:36pm

    We need more teachers like this. Bravo!

    Report Post » KeithOlberdink  
  • Teabunny
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:34pm

    unrelated…this is probably thee most blatent anticapitalist, NBPP propagated photo I have ever seen!
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=225377490914810&set=p.225377490914810&type=1&theater

    Tell me, what stereotypes do you see in play here? tell me, whom do you see as the victor? tell me, what do you think MEEchelle would think? Tell me, what the panthers said about “Uncle toms”? then look again!

    Report Post » Teabunny  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:33pm

    This says it all.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo-wkv8gW6k

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:32pm

    Finally some common sense and it’s refreshing to see, PC be damned.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • bigdaddyt46
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 6:21am

      i read the full speach, and this had me LOL:

      Left to men, weddings would be, after limits-testing procrastination, spontaneous, almost inadvertent… during halftime… on the way to the refrigerator.

      Report Post » bigdaddyt46  
  • IrritableGimp
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:30pm

    Kudo’s Mr. McCullough for standing up and giving one of the best commencement speeches that I’ve ever read….only regret is that I wish I were there to have heard it

    Report Post »  
    • Richalu
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:42pm

      This should be repeated at 37,000 high schools nationwide.

      Report Post » Richalu  
  • manandwolf
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:26pm

    Amen

    Report Post » manandwolf  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:26pm

    He’s right.

    Report Post » MrButcher  
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