Student who spoke against abstinence-only assembly no longer allowed to speak at HS graduation

[marmar]

Katelyn Campbell is among several students who will no longer be allowed to speak at George Washington High School’s graduation ceremony, the Charleston Gazette reports. The senior recently made headlines when she was allegedly threatened by the West Virginia school’s principal for speaking out against a mandatory abstinence-only assembly.

Campbell and seven other students were expected to speak at the school’s graduation ceremony on May 22, based on their receiving the school’s “highest honors.” However, on Wednesday, principal George Aulenbacher revealed that only the two students with the highest GPAs would be speaking, due to changes in the format of the ceremony, according to the paper.

On Wednesday afternoon, Campbell took to the "Friends of Katelyn Campbell" Facebook page and suggested the graduation changes were made in an effort to prevent her from speaking. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/katelyn-campbell-graduation-abstinence-only-assembly_n_3293101.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037

[babylonsister]

1. She's my new best friend...on FB. Smart and principled. nt

[Thinkingabout]

2. There is a lesson we could all learn from Elizabeth Smart, she said this should not be

Taught in high school. Her example was being told no one wanted to chew gum which had already been chewed was told in abstinence class. Her reasoning is some who attends these classes may have been abused through no fault of their own and again abused by telling them to remain abstinence and this is not possible. Those who want this taught are abusing further. It may seem so simple but a large misunderstanding of others lives.

[MountainLaurel]

3. Small-minded people

Retaliating the only way they can. When Katelyn hits the state line on her way to Wellesley, she should never look back.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. That "Abstinence Only" crap is thinly veiled religious right Jesus flogging.

Scratch someone who hyperventilates endlessly about the "culture in crisis" and you'll usually find someone trying to shoehorn in some religious right agenda.

[RainDog]

10. It's amazing that the "educators" at this school

thought it was a good idea to have a lying sack of shit spread disinformation to the students.

If my kid were in that school - I would want to find another place for my child b/c those people who did this are christofascists who have no regard for truth, education or the well being of young people to develop healthy and happy attitudes toward themselves and the person or persons with whom they will share precious bodily fluids.

When my niece was in 6th grade, her church had a haunted "abortion house" for kids.

wtf.

at least they kept it at church and didn't force kids to remain in a locked auditorium to hear their religious propaganda.

[Lunacee_2013]

13. A haunted "abortion house"? For 6th graders?!

WFT, indeed. Is that suppose to be like one of those "hell houses" some churches have for Halloween?

[RainDog]

19. Yes. The "hell houses"

My personal opinion is that religious indoctrination for children into fundamentalist religions is child abuse.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. Wow... talk about a bitter, bitter, small-minded principal.

[intheflow]

6. Headline makes it sound like she was singled out.

But the school - under a regional school system directive - had to limit their speakers to two students. Her school chose the two kids with the highest grade average. It really isn't about silencing her.

[MrModerate]

8. That's flatly untrue. Read the story.

The district recommended shortening the ceremonies but did not direct the reduction in the number of speakers. At least one other school in the district has decided to disregard the suggestion on the basis that students are what the ceremonies are about and reducing their participation is a bad idea.

Nope, this is clearly a vindictive little bureaucrat (and none too bright, it would appear), trying to get one more lick in before the student who embarrassed him goes off and quickly outstrips him in achievement.

[intheflow]

9. "Campbell and seven other students..."

She was not singled out for her views, though I'm sure the little prick of a principal is pleased to have the excuse to silence her.

[Mariana]

11. No, she's not being singled out publicly.

But as you say, it's pretty obvious what's going on here. The other students are "collateral damage".

[WinkyDink]

17. Hidden in plain sight, the motive.

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. It probably is about silencing her; the principal's excuses don't hold up under examination

George Washington High School student Katelyn Campbell said she received quite the surprise this week when she and five other honor students reported to Principal George Aulenbacher's office.

She said he told them their already pre-approved graduation speeches weren't going to happen anymore. Breaking away from tradition, only the top two students with highest honors were going to be allowed to speak.

"Why are we finding out now a week before graduation that we will no longer be able to speak, when this policy has already been in place and that it has been advertised that we were going to be able to speak?" she asked.

http://www.wowktv.com/story/22272119/some-gw-high-school-honor-students-upset-they-cant-speak-at-graduation

Already advertised? Pre-approved speeches? And the principal claims this change just "slipped his mind", despite the advertising and someone approving those speeches? It sounds like bullshit. And when we know the man has the character of a cornered weasel, with his threat to defame Campbell by telling her prospective college she is 'of bad character', I think it's reasonable to conclude the shitstain just saw a way to get petty revenge on Campbell - and doesn't care about the other speakers.

[RainDog]

7. The principal at her school sounds like an asshole

She has already left him in the dust, intellectually.

[GiaGiovanni]

12. So these high school speeches are actually "virginity honors"

Or the assumption thereof, since we know that abstinent teens often aren't really that abstinent.

[Ikonoklast]

18. Garfunkel and Oates got it right.

Warning: NSFW due to language.

Check out their other work, too. If you are a BBT fan you'll recognize both of these women.

[Dwayne Hicks]

14. ugh

I expect nothing less from the south.

[YeahSureRight]

16. Ms Campbell and her friends should blow off the graduation and get out of

WVA as fast as possible as should all liberals and progressives living in regressive states.