So I just read this article on yahoo about this kid who blew a kiss to his family while he was on stage receiving his diploma. Apparently the school didn't think that was "appropriate" and denied him his diploma. I don't think this was very fair and they seriously over reacted. It wasn't like he was doing something lewd or disgusting.

I don't know maybe that's just me. I feel bad for that entire family for the way they've been treated. After all that hard work that kid has done he does this one thing and gets denied? I think it's bogus. What do you think? Do you think the school was fair in their punishment? Or do you think they should give the boy his diploma?

Here's the link to the article if you want to read it. It's not very long.

Click (:

It's probably how sexuality is expressed in media. It feels awkward for a lot of us to hug our friends, or kiss 'em on the cheeks, but that's how they greet each other in some countries.

But the American media makes every hug, kiss, and basically any other sign of affection, like holding hands, sexual.

So, why does the media do it? Sex sells; they get to make money, at the literal expense of others.

Oh wow. I can understand beach balls and silly string not being allowed at graduation ceremonies, but not a kiss that was blown to one's own family. I think the administration was way out of line on this one, and that a public apology should be given to the family.

By the way, a, "hell no" option should be on the poll.

I think it's a bit like that time the private school expelled a student for going to his girlfriend's prom, because apparently, they watched too much movies and thought that everyone who goes to prom drinks and has sex.

Totally not true. Just like how not every kiss is inappropriate.

The hell? In Spain, people, even men, kiss both cheeks to salute each other. Totally non-sexual. Totally cultural. And this is a kiss to your mother, for my ass existence! Could they be more intolerable towards family affection!?

Again, it's probably the cultural differences due to the way the media in America is some big, money-making industry which is invincible to all but the most obscene of material due to the First Amendment.

Sure, freedom of speech is good, but not when you use it to make everything from handshakes to licking lollipops sexual and sell it everywhere and make people paranoid about gestures.

But what can you do? Censor the media? -_-" That'd just be...wrong, wouldn't it? Now, if those companies that make everything seem sexual only thought like people and not a bunch of gits hoarding money...

Was the punishment right? No. That was a gross overreaction.

Was the school within its rights? Unfortunately, yes.

A school has the right to dictate how it's students will act while on school campus and while at all school sanctioned functions, (I.E. Graduations). They have the right to set rules and administer punishment.

However if it can be proven that this particular infraction was not covered when the school laid down the rules for the graduation the parents can sue to have the decision overturned and for emotional damage, embarrassment, possibly libel, exposure damage (a private citizen has the right to stay privet) as well as whatever damage this dose to the students after high school plans including his college plans.

That was ridiculously I see nothing wrong with him blowing a kiss to his family..I think they majorly over reacted and shouldn't have been ANY form of punishment, in my opinion..

I agree with Xandria; I mean, schools might not be fair, but if the rule's there, it has the right to be enforced. Depends how it's enforced, too, though.

Never thought about the rules against it; thought there were none, since none were provided (clever media). But the graveness of the punishment is a bit overboard, to the point of "cruel and unusual", I'd say. All that, for a simple kiss? Maybe the rule said kids can't kiss or hug. Detention, sure. But preventing someone from graduating?

Unless the specific punishment was written in the rule. Which is so outrageous I seriously doubt it has.

All that work, all towards that one point. I wonder if the kid new before hand that he was not aloud to do such a gesture? And if he was not informed and he did it, if that makes it okay for them to punish a student?

...now, maybe this is me just not understanding the culture I've grown up in. I really never have understood how or why the U.S. manages to make any form of physical affection into something sexual.

Maybe this is just me as a person who will kiss friends on the lips just as a sign of trust if they're comfortable with it. As a person who has always been comfortable with such things...

But what that school did is absolutely fucking ridiculous. Honestly I think the family should go after the school for cruel and unusual punishment - especially if the kid didn't know it was against the rules in the first place, which I would assume to be the case.

I will never understand how a school could deem that inappropriate enough to deny that kid his diploma. It's sickening. It's not like he started dry-humping a classmate on stage. Blowing a kiss to your family isn't some horrible, disruptive, offensive act - hell, in my opinion, the school administrator was being more disruptive. >_<;

Just goes to show there really is no justice in the school system.

Oh, wow.
That is totally bogus, and I second the Hell No option.

Unfortunately, as mentioned, the school was in it's rights if somewhere that's a rule.
However, that is total bogus.

I might understand if her like, flipped someone off or exposed himself, but a kiss to his MOM?

God, i want to punch whoever decided to get rid of his diploma in the face.
Over and over again.
I'd definately hate it after all the work to get the diploma.

A blown kiss? Not even a real kiss, but a blown one that wasn't to anyone who it would be sexual (like a girlfriend). Wow... that's just blown way out of proportion, the family should take some sort of action. Did he at least get his diploma later?

My two year old blows kisses. I'd smack anyone who has lewd thoughts about that.

The BEACH BALLS might have been misbehavior, but the kiss was not. It's pretty clear from the article that the superintendent was just fed up with all the ruckus and decided to single him out and punish him.

That's completely ridiculous. Does that mean he isn't being allowed to graduate at all, or just not being given the paper diploma? Either way, it's stupid. I'd like to know what these "agreed upon rules," or whatever they called them, were.

That is a serious overreaction! Everything is getting just too politically correct. I agree with you on the conduct. A blowing of a kiss isn't lewd or inappropriate. If you have to give a punishment because it isn't proper form in a graduation, then make the kid do an activity during the summer. Don't take his diploma. That is just wrong.

Interesting case... I just can't understand why a kiss should be so... eeeeviiiilll...... The school board was probably scared of catching the cooties or something.... You know how it spreads... One kid blows a kiss to another (same or opposite sex) than... suddenly... without knowing you have a epidemic on your hands... The cooties epidemic...

Wow.....just.....wow.
I can't even believe that, that just sickens me.
It's the same with hand-holding or hugging as well.
The only reason I don't like it is because I don't like to be touched, but that's just me.
*Sigh*
Sometimes, I hate America.

Oh, and yes, I think that punishment was way over the line. He shouldn't have even RECEIVED a punishment.

It's blown way out of proportion. My guess is the principal has something against him, probably for him being right about something where the principal was wrong.

He used this as his opportunity to cause the student grief. I think someone needs fired.

What.

He was just blowing a kiss, right? I mean, it's not like he cheated on all his exams or blew up the science lab or something like that. There shouldn't be reason for that. Sure, you're supposed to act formal, and with decorum while getting your diploma, but I think this is silly.

Originally Posted by ll SMILE ll

So I just read this article on yahoo about this kid who blew a kiss to his family while he was on stage receiving his diploma. Apparently the school didn't think that was "appropriate" and denied him his diploma. I don't think this was very fair and they seriously over reacted. It wasn't like he was doing something lewd or disgusting.

I don't know maybe that's just me. I feel bad for that entire family for the way they've been treated. After all that hard work that kid has done he does this one thing and gets denied? I think it's bogus. What do you think? Do you think the school was fair in their punishment? Or do you think they should give the boy his diploma?

Here's the link to the article if you want to read it. It's not very long.

Click (:

I think that is complete and utter BS. That is not very nice, but I bet you $100, if it had been a girl that had done it, they ALL would have turned the other cheek.
Either way, I think that is very mean and stupid to waste time making a big deal out of something like that.
I hope that school gets sued and looses big time. It would serve them right for the injustice they have done to that poor kid and his whole family.
Probably scared all the other graduates crapless too.

was it fair? H*** no.

all he did was blow a kiss to his family, really, why is that bad? i think the school should be fined for not giving him his diploma for that.