Pregnant student, banned from graduation, walks anyway

[Darius11 12]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uspreg0519,0,4006038.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

Quote

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

May 18, 2005, 2:34 PM EDT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A pregnant student who was banned from graduation at her Roman Catholic high school announced her own name and walked across the stage anyway at the close of the program.

Alysha Cosby's decision prompted cheers and applause Tuesday from many of her fellow seniors at St. Jude Educational Institute.

But her mother and aunt were escorted out of the church by police after Cosby headed back to her seat.

"I can't believe something like this is happening in 2005," said her mother, Sheila Cosby. "My daughter has been through a lot and I am proud of her. She deserved to walk, and she did."

The school's guidance counselor delivered Cosby's degree to her house earlier Tuesday, but she still wanted to participate.

"I worked hard throughout high school and I wanted to walk with my class," she said.

Cosby was told in March that she could no longer attend school because of safety concerns, and her name was not listed in the graduation program.

The father of Cosby's child, also a senior at the school, was allowed to participate in graduation.
Copyright 2005

This is just fucked up. Did they want her to get an abortion? And why was the father allowed to participate.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[BillyVance 34]

What the heck do you think? There are a lot of things wrong in Alabama... That school's administration is just going to get a lot of egg on their faces from this brouhaha...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[FallRate 0]

Quote

Did they want her to get an abortion?

They probably wanted her to not become pregnant.

Good or bad, the threat of disgrace is quite effective in influencing behavior.

I'm not a Catholic...don't really care, particularly when taking into account it is a private school.

Should the father have been allowed to attend if the mother was not? My opinion is "no". But then again, it's a private school, doesn't concern me.



FallRate

[Rebecca 0]

Quote

Should the father have been allowed to attend if the mother was not? My opinion is "no". But then again, it's a private school, doesn't concern me.

That's what really hacks me off. If your policy is to forbid pregnant teens from attending graduation (which is a f-ed up way to 'punish' or 'make an example' of anyone who's earned a diploma), then make BOTH parents accountable.

Allowing him to attend reinforces SO many negative attitudes, it's ridiculous. The blame and stigma is placed squarely on her, and he faces no consequences in the eyes of the other grads and students.

They're both responsible, so they should both bear either all or none of any disciplinary action taken.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[D22369 0]

Roman Catholic***

those two words explain quite eloquently what the core problem is......

Roy

They say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it.

[Tonto 1]

With you 100% on that.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[jumperboy357 0]

I find it very interesting that the Catholic church would ban a pregnant student from attending her own graduation. This just really goes against Christ's teachings in my opinion. Aren't we all "sinners?" Aren't we supposed to turn the other cheek or let the man who has not sinned cast the first stone. Enough preaching from me.

Aren't most of us guilty of having sex in high school? I bet they would have to ban the whole senior class if they didn't use birth control. I guess the Catholic church thinks it's OK to ban a law abiding student that may have started having her children earlier than she wished. But it was also OK for the church to shuffle priests from diocese to diocese after molesting boys. Hmmmm. Where's the real sin?

[jakee 1,499]

Quote

Allowing him to attend reinforces SO many negative attitudes, it's ridiculous. The blame and stigma is placed squarely on her, and he faces no consequences in the eyes of the other grads and students.

But didn't you read the whole article? She wasn't banned because what she did was wrong, it was actually health and safety. Yeah, really. Apparently it's so dangerous for a pregnant woman to walk across a stage that the police had to come and take her family safely home.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[FallRate 0]

People, please! Catholicism is a religion of peace.



FallRate

[Tink1717 2]

Quote

And why was the father allowed to participate.

\

Because they are religious hypocrites.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[rehmwa 2]

I see little substantial difference between the religious hypocrits and the non-religious hypocrits. This school is messed up, the individuals running it are self righteous asses, I suspect they would be that way regardless of their religion. Being an asshole is not restricted to a particular belief structure, race or political affiliation no matter how easier it is to try and believe some arbitrary stereotype.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[skycat 0]

I'm Catholic and have had many cousins become pregnant out of wedlock (you know you aren't suppose to use birth control. ) even one in HS. They all "redemed" themselves by getting married before the baby was born. Well except for one who is still shunned by the family, kind of like myself except for me it's cause I'm living with a guy and not planning to marry him. They just don't like my answer of why buy the bull when you can get the horn for free.

Fly it like you stole it!

[Lindsey 0]

What this shows me, more than that the Catholic church has some biases that are detrimental to human beings, is that people's strength can be more powerful than the negativity sent out by any group, no matter how large and influential. I'm proud of the young woman.

linz

[Ron 10]

Religions are messed up....The Catholic religion doubly so.

But I agree with the school for not letting her. It is their right. It is a PRIVATE school and they are allowed to make their own rules. As for letting the guy walk. He is not pregnant.

I also agree with the girl walking anyway. It is important to stand up for your rights.

Now I want BOTH parties to live with the consequences of their actions. Not hide behind some BS...You made the CHOICE, now face the music.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Tink1717 2]

Quote

I suspect they would be that way regardless of their religion.

Yep, all religions are equally hypocritical. The Baptists are just as bad as the Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Jehovahs Witness', Mormons, etc, etc.... No person does hypocisy as cheerfully or as thoroughly as when fueled by religion.

Quote

Being an asshole is not restricted to a particular belief structure, race or political affiliation no matter how easier it is to try and believe some arbitrary stereotype.

Not by a long shot, the difference is only the religious assholes try to inflict their assholeness on others, even those of their own stripe.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[billvon 2,998]

> I see little substantial difference between the religious hypocrits
>and the non-religious hypocrits.

The religious hypocrites are more consistent assholes, since they (mostly) start with the same sheet of music.

>no matter how easier it is to try and believe some arbitrary stereotype.

Difference there is that religious hypocrites generally do conform to the stereotype; they've had decades of practice and don't stray much from their usual planks (i.e. secular humanists are bad, morality must be legislated, gays are evil etc.)

[tigra 0]

Yes, public schools have done the exact same thing if I'm not mistaken. And they'll claim its for "safety" but they really don't want teen pregnancy being glorified in any way- out of sight out of mind I guess. Of course, I think that's BS, but this isn't the first time I've heard of something like this. Might be the first time the PARENTS have gotten arrested, though!

[tbrown 26]

This girl's going to go a long way in life. As far as the Catholic Church goes, they've got enough trouble keeping their sanctifued hands off the altar boys, so they can just shut the fuck up.

(Yeah, I was raised Catholic, can you tell ?)

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[fallingchip 0]

Quote

Because they are religious hypocrites.

Can you honestly name one "organized" religion that isn't in one way or another

______________________________________________
"A radical man is a man with both feet firmly planted in the air."
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt