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Bonny Eagle High School Student Denied Diploma for Blowing a Kiss
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by Jarrett Martineau | June 16, 2009 at 09:52 am
97975 views | 51 Recommendations | 792 comments
Justin Denney, a student at Bonny Eagle High School student in Maine, was denied his diploma at a graduation ceremony on June 12th, for "fooling around" after his name was called.
His alleged infraction? Denney simply took a bow, blew a kiss to his family, and pointed to his friends as he got up on stage to receive his high school diploma.
The school's Superintendent Suzanne Lukas ordered Justin Denney to return to his seat and then refused him his diploma to graduate.
Both Denney and his mother Mary Denney are livid — and refuse to accept the school's claim that Denney misbehaved.
Justin Denney was graduating from Bonny Eagle High School June 12 and had gotten up on stage to receive his diploma when he gestured to his friends and relatives.
School Superintendent Suzanne Lukas abruptly told Denney to return to his seat, according to WMTW TV in Maine. He didn't get his diploma.
His mother, Mary Denney, is livid. Her son told her that the superintendent warned, "There's no fooling around up here."
"He just kind of looked at her because he wasn't fooling around. He didn't consider that fooling around or misbehaving in any sense of the word," Mary Denney told WMTW.
Lukas reportedly asked the soon-to-be graduate why he thought he deserved a diploma.
"He goes, 'Because I worked hard and I earned it,' and she goes, 'No, go take your seat,'" his mother told the station.
Other students also walked away empty-handed because of various disruptions during the ceremony. Some started playing with beach balls and others were separated from their friends, according to WMTW.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (792)
at 12:03 on June 16th, 2009
Send an email to these fools:
bschultz@sad6.k12.me.us; lnapolitano@sad6.k12.me.us ; kharrington@sad6.k12.me.us ; mlegage@sad6.k12.me.us ; SLukas@sad6.k12.me.us
http://www.sad6.k12.me.us/behs/Index
at 19:02 on June 16th, 2009
Here's some added info to help:
at 19:18 on June 16th, 2009
oops sorry, here you go
(207) 929-3831 phone
(207) 929-5955 fax
at 10:40 on June 17th, 2009
SUZANNE B LUKAS
180 WESTERN AVE
KENNEBUNK, ME 04043
(207) 967-2890
at 06:27 on June 21st, 2009
it is inappropriate for you to print her home address! you are trying to incite harassment - shame on you!!!
at 19:49 on June 16th, 2009
I am military and currently deployed to Iraq and read what happened to Justin Denney. It 100% infuriated me. How in the world can you possibly take what he did as something that shouldnt allow him to graduate? Seriously!
Are you people insane or just plain stupid? He blew a kiss, its not like he brought a gun to school or called in a bomb threat. No wonder kids no a days are doing stuff like that. You make big deals over idiotic stuff. Every last one of you, especially School Superintendent Suzanne Lukas should be fired and people with some damn common sense should be put in your place. You people are pathetic!
These kids are overjoyed with graduating and a little "joking around and playing" should be fine. When I graduated in 1999, there were things we did on graduation day that would curl your toes if you think blowing a kiss is so bad. These kids are normal to want to have some fun. Their lives are just begining and you are setting them down the wrong path by doing what you did to him and the others. These kids learn from you and will remember.
What needs to be done is that someone represting you needs to talk to the media about this and NOT make excuses. Just tell them that you were overreacting and gives these kids their diplomas, they DID earn them, no matter what YOU have to say about it, because apparently they were at the graduation ceremony to graduate.
-SPC Chauvette, Adam
Baghdad, Iraq
at 20:30 on June 16th, 2009
I know Adam, it is sad to think what this country is coming to. Hell i went to Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, CT and even they let us go a little crazy at our graduation.
at 05:54 on June 17th, 2009
that sounds like a crusty old dean from a a stereotype movie whoever made that final decision should be put down like a sick dog
at 07:40 on June 17th, 2009
The fact that someone could even misconstrue this as "joking around" is outrageous. If blowing a kiss to your own mother is against "policy" then what about waving to your family, smiling, even showing any type of emotion. Suzanne Lukas should be fired and stripped of any license she has to educate anything more than a parrot. Has she lived such a sheltered, conservative life that she has to take it out on a childs future? Furthermore, the board of directors who oversee Bonny Eagle High School need to take a serious look at who they have influencing the lives of these kids....absolutely ridiculous and if this is a representation of the future of our school systems in America, I'm shipping my future children to Canada.
at 09:59 on June 17th, 2009
Have you tried conducting a "dignified" graduation? Until you can conduct a graduation ceremony with over 400 seniors, who think there are no more consequences for poor behavior and a lack of judgement, then you are qualified to attack those educators. I have done so for the past 2 years, and it is very difficult. Parents and the public think that it is supposed to be all fun and games, but it is not. It is supposed to be a very rewarding and gratifying experience to graduate, students who misbehave, make it unfair to ALL parents and other friends and family members to enjoy the ceremony and not loose behavior that they can do at a graduation ceremony. Have you never heard of decorum. Should we bot teach that as well, it is obvious that his mother doesn't understand that. The students have the rest of thier lives to "blow a kiss at his mother," just not on stage. It should be dignified, not a show. Earning a high school diploma is an accomplishment and the ceremony should show this. His education is not a joke, but your comment seems to suggest that it is. Suggesting to ship to your children to Canada b/c they are ask to behave in front of an audience of possibly 3,000 is outrageous. You could also homeschool and conduct the graduation ceremony anyway you choose.
Finally, the likihood of him not getting his diploma is slim. The diplomas that you see at most ceremonies are fake, just paper. Don't you remember your graduation? The administrators will allow him his diploma after he serves a consequence, which is fair. During the graduation rehearsals students are told that there will be consequences for poor conduct. Beside, he wouldn't be able to walk if he didn't earn his diploma, credits that is. It is already reflected in his official transcript. That cannot be taken back!
at 10:36 on June 17th, 2009
Go lay by your dish TED. U suck. U Know it. Get off the web.
at 18:42 on June 18th, 2009
Get a life. This is where you educators have lost all common sense. I'd say problems at a graduation would include drinking, drugs, weapons and dangerous driving.
I'd say these would not be problems - beach balls and blowing kisses to your parents.
I guess many educators are just control freaks that would rather suppress all individuality.
at 15:56 on June 20th, 2009
R u serious? what is the consequence for blowing your mom a kiss at a ceremony that u and she have been waiting for a long time? what is the consequence for showing your family that your acknowleging them for helping you through high school? r u so stuck up that you seriously think that thats innapropriate behavior? o no 400 seniors are going to blow kisses to their moms whatever are we going to do? this is vulgar how could they think of blowing kisses to their moms? i mean if they mooned some1 or shouted somethng stupid or made a suggestive action sure suspend them getting their diploma for awhile. yes this is a prized ceremony but still it gets boring to watch people do the same thing walk shake walk seriosly lay off
at 10:43 on June 17th, 2009
T Turner, you are missing the point. First of all, the general public overwhelmingly does not agree that his actions were "misbehaving", so you are outvoted. It was an excited teenager acting out, but it was not malicious in any way. Second, it sound to me like Superintendent Suzanne Lukas was angry over other students behavior and so she chose to unfairly make an example out of Justin Denney. She is probably a control freak and I think she overstepped her boundary, if not her authority. What does her misdirected anger teach that graduating class?
at 11:04 on June 17th, 2009
Seriously, are you THAT big of a stuffy old douchebag that you think blowing a kiss to your mother is unacceptable? Since you felt perfectly unreserved in voicing your opinion of how this kid's mother has raised him (by the way do you even know these people or pay their bills? Just wondering because you are so quick to judge them) I have no reserve in offering my opionion on you. You obvisously have unresolved issues with your mother, but that is not these people's fault. So please don't display your own distaste in kissing your mother on them. And yes probably no one besides you has ever tried to organize a function of 400 plus graduating students. Well congrats on all your many years of service in this area, but that's your job right? That's what you get paid to do so, if it's to much for you, you should seek employement elsewhere. Possible in a retirenment community where things are nice and boring. Really did he moon the audience or shot them the bird? No he blew a kiss to his mother. I guess all this time I just assumed the educators were the adults and the students were the brats. Guess i was incorrect.
at 11:20 on June 17th, 2009
your the definition of stupid
at 07:23 on June 18th, 2009
"Your" the definition of needing to learn about apostrophes.
at 19:06 on August 5th, 2009
*You're
Fixed. =3
Understand the proper usage of the word you're. It is a contraction, or a combination of the words you and are. Example: "You're a good friend."
Understand the proper usage of the word your. The word your is the possessive form of you, referring to something that a person has, or something that belongs to the person in discussion. Example: "Your book is on the table."
at 11:47 on June 17th, 2009
Since when is blowing a kiss to your mother misbehaving? I can understand doing cartwheels on your way up to recieving your diploma or making an obscene gesture with your hand but -------- blowing a kiss to your mother?!!!!! You are as rediculous as the super
who made that aweful decision to hold back that young man's diploma.
at 12:01 on June 17th, 2009
As such. Then a graduation ceremony is for what? If you cannot display a non verbal display, to your friends and family with a simple non offensive gesture like a kiss, bow or a wave, then perhaps there is no purpose for the fake display of a "graduation ceremony" to begin with. Outrage, hurt and disappointment loom. Apparently, dignity nor respect were given to the student or parents here. Why then in return should any be given to the administration? True, beach balls may be inappropriate. The ceremony was obviously uncontrolled. However, what the adminstration lacked most here was the ability to prioritize and interpret acts of potential poor conduct. Overall, the administration put on a great show to be the center of the attention of superiority, instead of the graduating students. Parents all around should be "livid"! These "students" are our babies who have grown into successful young adults. These "students" live and thrive because these parents were there from the beginning. We suffered with them and for them. Just remember why the ritual of graduation ceremony continues. This "ceremony" is a celebration for students and family. If it cannot be controlled to an acceptable measure, eliminate it. Otherwise, put on a brave face and embrace the ritual in all it's glory.
at 12:57 on June 17th, 2009
T. Turner reminds me of Ed Rooney---the principle in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".
at 13:02 on June 17th, 2009
T Turner - The students should be the ones who determine how to celebrate their accomplishments. Not some repressed witch so self-loathing that she chronically overeats herself into obesity. Most schools have drugs, violence, unplanned pregnancies, and all Lukas can find to focus her hostility on is a kid blowing his mom a kiss? She should not be in education, wasting tax payer money and ruining kids' lives.
at 08:38 on June 18th, 2009
"a kid blowing his mom" - teehee.
at 14:25 on June 17th, 2009
get bent!!!
at 14:39 on June 17th, 2009
When my sons graduated from High School there were over 900 in each of their classes. They cut up and wave to the screaming parents in the crowd when they went across the stage. Some teachers and faculty hugged their students. Now 900 is a big class and they did not punish and embarrass them by telling them to sit down. Even back when in my own graduating class we had done a lot more than just a blowing kiss or a wave and that was at a Catholic High School. This superintendant has a bug somewhere that she needs removed. It is the final step into adulthood and they will have plenty of time to be so serious. Lighten up. He could have been waving a gun and if this is how strick they are then maybe next year at graduation there will be worse trouble. Kids will find a way to get back at rules that are unfair.
I know rules are rules in High School. My nephew's father died the night before graduation. He wanted to wear his dad's clothes(same size) to graduation so that he could feel his dad was there. The superintendant would not let him walk with the other students because it was dress clothes affair. My nephew's ROTC Captain tried to change the superintendants decision to no avail. All of the students were upset that he could not walk the proudest walk of a teen to get his diploma because of a stupid rule. They did not call his name so when his name was to be called our large family screamed his name out. There are always exceptions to the rule. This high school will not get any support from anyone in our family...ever.
Lighten up. One day of injustice can change a childs or adults outlook forever.
at 14:41 on June 17th, 2009
But how is blowing a kiss to your mother labeled as "misconduct"? Nowhere in these reports do they state that this particular person was participating in the throwing of inflatable ducks. When I received my diploma I waved to my family. How is this not supposed to be expected? I see no difference between waving in acknowledgment and blowing a kiss.
These people just have shoved too many of those little diplomas up their butts, it seems.
at 15:08 on June 17th, 2009
A "dignified graduation"? You're kidding, right? There will always be one or two cut-ups at ceremonies like this, and the mature way to deal with trivial things like this is to ignore them, not to overreact like Ms. Lucas did. When you call someone's name at graduation, you are declaring that they have earned their diploma. The fact of the ceremony means the students have met the standards for graduation. Denying it at that point is both petty and irrational. If someone is truly disruptive, have them removed and mail them their diploma - since they STILL earned it.
The real problem is that some people really are that small and petty, and cannot be trusted with ANY authority at all, as they will somehow find a way to abuse it. Ms Lucas is proof of this.
at 16:19 on June 17th, 2009
EXCUSE ME...DO YOU REALLY THINK TAKING A BOW AND BLOWING A KISS IS GROUNDS FOR PUNISHMENT, AND IN A PUBLIC FORUM OF 4000 PEOPLE???
PLEASE SAY YOUR SORRY!!!
at 13:25 on June 18th, 2009
Hello I think Justin did nothing wrong.He should get his diploma.I think they should fire her for her behavior.She was wrong these kids worked hard for there diploma and someone took it away.SHE WAS WRONG.
at 19:42 on June 17th, 2009
T Turner, you should be euthanized along with the idiotic staff of that school.