Lessons Learned at Graduation

It's predictable this time of year that there is going to be at least one news story about a student that is banned from graduation because of a violation of school policy.  It becomes a news event because Johnny or Jeannie's parents decide to sue the district in order to have the ruling reverse.  Typically, the student in question is a "good kid" who has no history as a recalcitrant. 

This year, the student's name is Lauren Green.  She is a senior at McKinney High School.   Lauren is an honor student (4.0 GPA) who has already earned 30 hours of college credit.  She has never been a discipline problem, according to her mom.  Lauren seems to have made only one mistake in her school experience.  She got aboard a party bus bound for the prom with eleven other students. When the students staggered off the bus at their destination, they were busted.  According to school official, all of them admitted consuming alcohol and some them even listed the other student who were on board and also drinking.  School policy banned them from the prom and also required thirty days attending an alternative school.  Students who are enrolled in an alternative program are not allowed to participate in school activities.  No walking across the stage on graduation night.  Her diploma is in the mail. Mom's response: Sue the school district.  Last Friday the judge appointed to hear the case through it out.  He noted that the court had no authority to over-rule a school district policy.  Chalk one up for the system.  It probably says something for "sweet Lauren" that she wasn't even in the courtroom.   It was just mom and her little sister, who appeared to be there for moral support.  We can only assume Lauren was where she belonged, in school. 

It is  a parental instinct to come to our children's defense is we feel they have been treated unfairly.  I have felt my share of parental wrath.  There are a couple of words of wisdom that apply here.  They come not only from my experience as an educator, but as a parent.  No teen or young adult is perfect.  They will from time-to-time make poor decisions.  Secondly, sometimes when poor decisions are made there are consequences.  While I understood the source of  parental anger, I was always offended when parents accused me of not treating their precious child fairly, or worse yet wanted to eliminate the consequences. 

By the way, the same two principles apply to adults: We all make mistake and sometimes those mistakes come with consequences.  In this case the consequence is a mom with egg on her face.