NY mayor gives school's first black valedictorian a platform after principal refuses [t]

Hill ^ | July 4, 2018 | Aris Folley

[bgill]

Lovett, who graduated from Rochester's University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men last month, had initially planned to give a speech at the ceremony, as other student valedictorians had done in the past, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper reported. But Lovett, who said he had a few encounters with his principal over student protests, told the outlet that the principal, Joseph Munno, refused to let him deliver the speech. "Unfortunately, Jaisaan's school did not allow him to give his valedictorian speech," Warren says in the clip on her public Facebook page. "For some reason, his school — in a country where freedom of speech is a constitution right, and the city of Frederick Douglass — turned his moment of triumph into a time of sorrow and pain. "Jaisaan will never graduate from high school again. He will never get that moment back. This is not the time to punish a child because you may not like what he has to say."

[bgill]

Principal likely didn't want the kid to pull a Mad Maxine at graduation. Noticed after 6 years of attending that prep school, his native ebonics still slips in.

Sounds like dad is deceased.

Noticed his friends' names. To be expected, he's headed off to a black university. Wonder what these past protests were.

Would the mayor give an Asian or white student so much as the time of day?

[AppyPappy]

It could be that Democrats are scared of the optics. Facebook and Twitter blow up every time some unhinged half-wit threatens people with violence. They think it plays into the “alt-right’s” hands.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I guess it has everything to do with being black and nothing else.

[pepsionice]

There’s a lot left out of this story.

[PSUGOP]

School admins don’t let speech givers say whatever they want.....sorry.

[ClearCase_guy]

For some reason, his school — in a country where freedom of speech is a constitution right

He has a constitutional right to take over a specific stage, on a specific day and give whatever speech he feels like giving? I don't think so. He can go to a town park, stand on a box and say what he wants to say. That's different. But the HS graduation is what the principal wants it to be, not what Mr. Junior Activist wants it to be.

[cgbg]

School admins don’t let speech givers say whatever they want.....sorry.

Years ago I was attending a relative's high school graduation in Danville, KY.

The valedictorian got up and gave their speech. The teacher who introduced them said it was her own words.

Unfortunately, the valedictorian was in fact reciting the Kipling poem "If", word for word.

Total plagiarism.

There were a few folks in the crowd who realized what was going on--it was easy to tell by the pained expressions on their faces.

Unfortunately, neither the school principal or any of the teachers seemed to have the slightest clue.

That is one reason I am such a fanatical supporter of home schooling. :-(

[PrincessB]

I think there is more to this story.

And, no, not all valedictorians speak at graduation. At the school I attended the valedictorian spoke at the rehearsal in the speaker’s spot. At the actual ceremony the speaker has always been an accomplished alumnus.

[GreenHornet]

I thought there weren’t supposed to be valedictorians anymore because it makes the other kids feel bad about themselves.

[yesthatjallen]

That's what I'm thinking.

I read two articles trying to make sense of this but even two didn't clear up what led up to this and why.

Both were written from the perspective that the 'noble' student 'forgives' the hateful principal.

[yesthatjallen]

Before we 'empowered' students, valedictorian speeches were a time to remember the good times and thank those who helped you make it to graduation. They were uplifting and grateful. They didn't need to be pre-approved.

Now they've become political speech of the hard left to DENOUNCE everyone who helped you. In fact, if those hateful sobs did their job EVERYONE would be a valedictorian.

These speeches are no longer inspiring. They're now hate-rants.

[Sacajaweau]

First of all, you have to know the "I hate Whitey" mayor of Rochester.

2nd....he works for her....which means he is totally connected Dem.

Third...it's the school's call...and it's a Charter School...not part of the Rochester School System.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

This is not the time to punish a child because you may not like what he has to say."

Seems they support it every time a young person wants to mention God.

Make up your mind honey child.

Either we allow them to say anything or we have speech controls.

But you can not have one rule for conservatives and another for libs.

[qwerty1234]

expecting black people to follow the rules is racist.

[JoeFromSidney]

It's true he'll not graduate from high school again. However, a racist valedictorian address will haunt him the rest of his life, whether he tries to live it down or continue in the same vein. Give him some more time to mature before he plants both feet in his mouth.

[I want the USA back]

We all know that this wouldn’t be happening if the word “black” weren’t in there.

Ask instead, why this is the first who apparently was thought to qualify for valedictorian.

Also, note that he was later found to be not qualified.

NO special privileges! No race-based preferences!

[bgill]

Hogg, meet Lovitt.

[A_perfect_lady]

OMG that would have been mind-blowing. I mean, it’s a great, great poem, and pretty well known! How could that kid believe NO ONE would catch it??

[Nifster]

Probably had to submit and edit for acceptance

I had to edit mine back in 1969. They threatened to kill the mike if I deviated

[Silentgypsy]

Weird. The diploma is the thing. I only attended my high school graduation because the teachers told me I wouldn’t graduate if I didn’t. (Those were different times.) I didn’t attend any of my college/uni ceremonies and they mailed me my credentials.