Kaitlin Nootbaar, a straight-A student with a 4.0 GPA, was named the valedictorian of her graduating class in Prague, Oklahoma three months ago. While addressing her fellow seniors at commencement, she used the line, "How the hell do I know? I've changed my mind so many times."
Although her speech was met with warm laughter and applause, Nootbaar was berated by her former principal when she went to pick up her diploma and told that she would not receive it until a formal apology letter was written to the school. I bet that was an awkward conversation. Likely an ageing fossil of a man feebly trying to explain to a girl demonstrably more intelligent than himself how a group comprised of he and his cronies reached their noble decision.
School administrators were honest in their admission that the speech they had approved contained the word "heck" and Nootbaar's "cursing" was not acceptable.
 |
| Heck is a place for those who don't believe in Gosh. |
I'm not sure what is more ridiculous. The withholding of the diploma because the use of a word that has long been considered innocuous or the fact that a straight-A valedictorian needs to have a speech "approved" before delivering it. Frankly, it's disturbing that educators are taking this position. It's something you'd expect from some fringe cultists or small town minister trying to make a name for himself, but when those whom we trust with the minds of children make "calls" like this, we can't act fast enough.
Rightly, Nootbaar has refused to apologize and the school has declined further comment calling the situation "confidential." They didn't disclose whether or not an exorcism is being planned for the new graduate.
The self-righteous among us may suggest that religious fanaticism only exists on the other side of the world and may assume that zealots only belong to those "other" religions from which Middle America was not descended. I've got news for you.
America, surely you jest!
