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Posted on 06/04/2013 11:44:25 AM PDT by rickmichaels
An Alabama teenager was denied her high school diploma and fined $1,000 for wearing a feather on her graduation cap to celebrate her Native American heritage.
Escambia Academy High School in Atmore, Ala., makes its students and staff sign a pre-graduation contract agreeing not to wear "extraneous items during graduation exercises unless approved by the administration."
Chelsey Ramer, 17, tried in vain to get approval to attach an eagle's feather to her graduation cap as a symbol of her Native culture.
"They told me that if I wore it that they would pull me off the field," Ramer, a member of the Poarch Creek Band, told NBC affiliate Local 15.
But Ramer wore it anyway and refused to sign the dress-code contract.
The school wouldn't give Ramer her diploma. She now has to fork over $1,000 to get it.
The teen, however, regrets nothing.
"It was worth it. It means a lot to me," Ramer said.
There was no assertion in the article as to appreciation of awesomeness.
People will differ as to whether pride has been earned, but only by self is it felt.
I often wish you were subtle.
I think it was for the protection of our national bird. People were killing eagles for their feathers. That is all I can remember about the conversation because it was a number of years ago.
Oh my gosh, that reminds me of a joke.
She didn't, but the parents did. Remember, this is a private school. Since my son is in a private school, I know the process quite well. Every year during registration, the parents sign a contract, which includes abiding by the rules and the terms of the school handbook. And yes, it is enforceable.
>> “I think it was for the protection of our national bird. People were killing eagles for their feathers.” <<
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Seriously?
Eagles soar 2500 feet above the earth, and they lose feathers frequently. There has never been a need to kill an eagle to garner a feather.
That line sounds kike a cousin to global warming.
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A reasonable penalty is not letting her participate in the ceremony. Anything beyond that is asinine and generally offensive.
Is that your girl bragging? :o)
So you are going to place yourself in the place of God, to determine the sincerity of their faith? You have more chutzpah than me - that is a very dangerous place to stand.
and as to the claim of privacy, I’m sure they accept endowments, and charge for tuition, so they are not likely any more private than a Safeway store.
A "private" school is one that is not a government "public" school. The fact that they accept endowments and charge tuition have absolutely nothing to do with whether they are a private school or not.
>> “A reasonable penalty is not letting her participate in the ceremony.” <<
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Probably, but they waived that opportunity, thus removing the gravity from their own rule.
You keep your paws off my Hillary.
**** “Arbitrary rules are meant to be broken.” ****
I think of it as more of a Duty, no matter if I agree with them or not, besides I enjoy it when I do it.
TT
Sounds reasonable to me.
As long as the school has a properly drafted enrollment contract, the student does not have a case. The only consequence to the school might be bad publicity, but I think most parents who would want to send their kids to a Christian school would consider this GOOD publicity for the school.
She wanted the feather.
They've declined to give her a piece of paper.
Each party is doing what they chose to do.
It's a great country!
And the freepers who are gleefully predicting lucrative lawsuits are symptomatic of why everyone always "lawyers up" and why nothing can be done simply but always needs layers and layers of government/legal paperwork. Too many people want to go their own way -- and make someone else fork over money as some sort of reward for walking the the untrod path.
>> “So you are going to place yourself in the place of God, to determine the sincerity of their faith?” <<
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Total strawman.
We have God’s word that tells us what Yeshua said during his life, and nothing in the school’s statements, nor actions are in conformance therewith.
A private school is no more private than a grocery store. Both advertise and charge for their product.
She knew the rules.
She signed the form.
She broke the rules.
She wasn’t allowed to participate.
It sounds like there was problems previously as they had a form.
They should have just mailed her diploma.
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