Thread: What In Hades Is Wrong With Oklahoman Principals???

Kaitlin Nootbaar, Oklahoma High School Valedictorian, Denied Diploma For Using 'Hell' In Speech

How the hell should I know?

I've wondered about this whole "Hell" thing in the US for a long time. I suppose different cultures (and sub-cultures) view various words in different ways and with different levels of puritanism. In the end a word is just a group of letters with a reasonably arbitrary definition attached to them.

Of course, one has to draw the line somewhere and various societal norms come into play in this respect. "Hell" is perfectly acceptable in most of Australia for instance, and in terms of vicious intent is certainly (IMO) not the foremost in the list of a distasteful vocabulary.

Then there is the view, to which I subscribe I might add, that if you have to resort to swearing to get your point across you perhaps need to work on your vocabulary somewhat more diligently. On the other hand, one must be realistic about these things and acknowledge that young people, with their seemingly insatiable need for external validation from their peers, will often resort to swearing in some kind of low-brow attempt to appear "cool".

So to summarize, I have a little sympathy for this student, but I also think she should have, as the valedictorian of her school, displayed a little more foresight and self control. I am not as familiar with the idea as people in the US, but it is my impression that the honour of the valedictory speech is bestowed upon the most perspicacious and perhaps even the most sagacious (if such a term can be applied to someone of high school age) of the graduating cohort.

Perhaps the school is simply embarrassed that it's brightest student has the vocabulary of a wharfy. I do admit that their reaction and chosen consequence is rather extreme and most likely unsustainable. I do, however, understand their desire to maintain a standard, however ridiculous and puritanical it may be in most people's eyes.

James.

Hell I was in the running for valedictorian at one time. I am pretty sure my high school would have been fine with that phrase. I know that they wouldn't have liked my speech though. Let's just say I was inspired by Braveheart. Funny how highschool is hell but college is so much more bearable.

It is almost as if a form of Christian Sharia Law exists in at least some peoples minds. Shakes head walks away.

Bob

I would have been valedictorian if the other 597 kids in my graduating class did not show up. I can't even spell "Hell." Typical horseshit if you ask me.

BobH is right actually, I just can't walk away.

Originally Posted by maddafinga

BobH is right actually, I just can't walk away.

If you are serious I truly feel for you. I hate religious extremists of any religious stripe.

Bob

Well you know I went right to the horses mouth and asked my friend Mr L.

He says it's because those folks have so much fear for him. I said, why should they have so much fear after all they be the righteous folks. He said "are you kidding they be the ones who stray in secret". "They be a fear of me for good reason".

Hmmm.

Two things:

1) This is one of the most ridiculous things I have read for a long time. To even consider withholding *anyone's* diploma in this way was a petty, small-minded, and ultimately vindictive response to a verbal slip that involved a teenager replacing one commonly used word with another commonly used word that has a slightly more edgy connotation. The administration of that school should be ashamed of itself.

2) Best speech given to a body of students EVER, given by one of my heroes:

It is BobH. Rampant here and controls everything. Just the other day I saw a bumper sticker that said "happiness = America under God's law"

Cangooner, have you heard her in Hadestown? She's great!