Freethought & Rationalism Archive

trunks2k · 06-19-2002, 04:06 PM

So I pick my paper up this afternoon, walk back into the house and look at the front page and there is a story about the valedvictorian from the town next to mine giving a Religous speech at the graduation of the public highschool.

story can be read <a href="http://rep-am.com/top/3grv.htm" target="_blank">HERE</a> Here's a copy of it in case they close the link, which this newspaper tends to do and move it someplace else on the website.

Quote:

Newspaper: Republican American (Waterbury, Ct)
-Doug Dalena 2002

SEYMOUR � Seymour High School administrators were so concerned about the class of 2002 valedictorian's graduation speech, they asked her to "tone it down" and included a legal disclaimer in the graduation program.

Valedictorian Kristen Rychalsky's speech, which included several references to her faith and its relationship to "absolute truth," was presented during graduation ceremonies on the school's football field Tuesday evening.

Though Rychalsky didn't say what changes she was asked to make, she said administrators asked her twice to "tone it down." She did so once, but declined to make further changes after a discussion with Principal Robert Blake and other school officials.

Rychalsky's speech said the country's founding documents derived their strength from the founders' faith in a divine creator. The country has gone off course, she said, because it lost sight of the idea that faith in Jesus guided the distinction between right and wrong. She challenged her class to use faith to get the country back on the right course.

"Like a lighthouse in the storm, Jesus states this truth: �I am the way, the truth, and the life.' ... Lighthouses do not move at anyone's command. That's the way it is."

In conclusion, she said, "Right and Wrong! It doesn't matter what you think, it doesn't matter what I think, North is North! Truth is still truth! Jesus says, �I am the light of the world.' That's the way it is."

Please turn to 4A, FAITH#EHEAD#

Reaction to the speech seemed much the same as any other graduation speech. Graduates tossed beach balls, which administrators promptly confiscated. Children played behind the bleachers and several people carried on conversations. At the end, the crowd applauded, and more than just politely.

Blake said Tuesday that each student speaker is assigned a faculty adviser to assist with his or her speech.

He did his best to look at all speeches, hoping to keep the ceremony from running long, he said. Rychalsky's speech lasted several minutes longer than the others Tuesday.

Other speakers included salutatorian Melissa Eastwood, Superintendent Thomas Petruny, and Lester Forst, a 1953 graduate who went on to command the State Police.

Blake said his biggest concern involved the length of the speech, but acknowledged he had concerns about some of its content. "But after meeting with the family and the faculty advisers, I was satisfied," he said. He would not say what content he was concerned about, or what changes he requested.

He added the school had never included a disclaimer before this year, but that it would from now on.

Board of Education member Vincentena Kobasa said the board had no input toward the speech's content. "We were shown the finished product and that was it," she said. "The only reason that Tom (Petruny) showed us the speech was that it might be controversial. If people are going to take offense, then she's going to have to take responsibility."

Fred Dorsey, the board's attorney, said no one at the board contacted him about the speech. He would not say if school administrators had.

David Hudson, a First Amendment attorney at the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, said school officials get into legal trouble by trying to restrict the content of student speeches because the views expressed might offend someone. "A cardinal First Amendment sin is viewpoint discrimination," Hudson said.

He said administrators stand on more firm ground when arguing they want to avoid violating the Constitution by endorsing a particular religion.

Hudson cited a 1999 California case in which a high school banned the valedictorian from delivering what was termed a "religious sermon." The case was settled last month after a judge ruled the jury should have decided whether the school system violated the valedictorian's First Amendment rights. In an earlier case involving the plaintiff's brother, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that allowed the school to ban the brother from giving what was seen as a proselytizing speech to a captive graduation audience.

Konstantine Rychalsky, Kristen's father, confirmed he spoke to several school officials last week about allowing the speech to go forward uncensored. "The conversation was to ask the question, �What happened to the First Amendment?'" he said.

The Rychalskys were happy the board relented. "I don't want to talk about it, because the issue has been resolved," Kristen Rychalsky said. "I'm happy with my speech as it is."

"I can understand their viewpoint," her father said of administrators. "They have a captive audience and they have people of a lot of different backgrounds."

Vocational education teacher Frank Warecke didn't find the speech all that controversial. "It depends on what side of the fence you're on," he said.

GaryP · 06-20-2002, 03:38 AM

I don't know the court rulngs that would apply in this case. But it seems to me that this would be an instance of the student exercising her free speech.

It would be problematic if a school official gave the same type of speech; the choir sang overtly Christian songs; if a clergy member gave an invocation or if the majority of students "voted" to have a prayer.

I know the supreme court has ruled on clergy prayer. The other situations may depend upon which region of the country (due to District court decisions)the activity took place.

I would appreciate it if someone more knowledgeable than I would comment on this too. If this happened at my sons' commencement, I would be upset but I think it's legal.<a href="http://au.org/pcases.htm" target="_blank">Americans United</a>

[ June 20, 2002: Message edited by: GaryP ]

Writer@Large · 06-20-2002, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryP:
I don't know the court rulngs that would apply in this case. But it seems to me that this would be an instance of the student exercising her free speech.

I agree. Unless the school had some sort of guidelines in place about retricted content in a valedictorian address before this studdent submitted her bullshit for approval, then she's allowed to say whatever she wants on that stage. She could have done a one-woman performance of Who's On First if she wanted to.

I have been to at least 8 H.S. graduations in my time, and 4 more University ceremonies, and I can honestly say that I have never heard a valedictorian, or anyone else, deliver a speech even remotely memorable. It's sad to see that the trend continues.

--W@L

Joel · 06-20-2002, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Rychalsky's speech said the country's founding documents derived their strength from the founders' faith in a divine creator. The country has gone off course, she said, because it lost sight of the idea that faith in Jesus guided the distinction between right and wrong.

The truly scary part about this story is this student actually seems to believe the excerpt quoted above.

Grumpy · 06-20-2002, 01:12 PM

Quote:

The country has gone off course, she said, because it lost sight of the idea that faith in Jesus guided the distinction between right and wrong.

I'll say! If only we had a President who embraced Christian ideals, instead of pandered to Christian voters.

Of course, then he'd have to hate his family members... so no more campaigning for Jeb in Florida. And it would be really hard to craft a federal budget and still abide by Matthew 6:34 -- "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Read "next fiscal year" instead of "tomorrow.")

S.D.Jim · 06-20-2002, 02:04 PM

I have a more serious concern with this story. How did this young lady get to be Valedictorian with such a distorted view of American History?

Is this indicative of the level of History Classes in our high schools? As one who has had a lifelong love of history I fear it is.

GaryP · 06-20-2002, 02:27 PM

S D Jim-- I think it is more a case of HS history teachers not exposing kids to the Founders' strong belief that separation was the best road to take.

I think that most history teachers and/or text books barely address the issue of separation of C/S. Therefore, this issue is fertile ground for the David Bartons of the world.

It was a front page picture of my local superintendent praying at a church before watching a David Barton video that got me off my duff and more active in voicing my support for separation.

trunks2k · 06-20-2002, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by S.D.Jim:
I have a more serious concern with this story. How did this young lady get to be Valedictorian with such a distorted view of American History?

Is this indicative of the level of History Classes in our high schools? As one who has had a lifelong love of history I fear it is.

Well this girl is from Seymour High School. Seymour Highschool isn't exactly the best school in the world. In fact I went to a catholic high school rather than go there (my town is too stupid to put it's own Highschool in, so we pay Seymour to go to their highschool, but that's another rant of itself). It's strange that I learned a much more secular view of history at a catholic highschool than this girl did at a public school.

[ June 20, 2002: Message edited by: trunks2k ]

Arrowman · 06-20-2002, 05:27 PM

I'll give her father some credit...

"I can understand their viewpoint," her father said of administrators. "They have a captive audience and they have people of a lot of different backgrounds."

Yep, free speech I guess. I'd suggest that if the school knew in advance the speech was going to be religious they might be well advised to include a "the opinions of the valedictorian are not necessarily..." disclaimer in the program - which apparently they did.

Also, were I a school principal I might be inclined to advise valedictorians that whatever the content of their speech (and especially if it's religious) that there's a subtle difference between expressing your own faith, and proselitysing. And that whatever the legal situation might be, it's inappropriate for a valedictorian to express such sentiments in such terms that they do not acknowledge the different beliefs in the student body. After all, a valedictorian is supposed to speak not only for themselves, but to include (or at least broadly, speak on behalf of) all the students, aren't they?

[ June 20, 2002: Message edited by: Arrowman ]

06-20-2002, 03:38 AM	#2
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	I don't know the court rulngs that would apply in this case. But it seems to me that this would be an instance of the student exercising her free speech. It would be problematic if a school official gave the same type of speech; the choir sang overtly Christian songs; if a clergy member gave an invocation or if the majority of students "voted" to have a prayer. I know the supreme court has ruled on clergy prayer. The other situations may depend upon which region of the country (due to District court decisions)the activity took place. I would appreciate it if someone more knowledgeable than I would comment on this too. If this happened at my sons' commencement, I would be upset but I think it's legal.<a href="http://au.org/pcases.htm" target="_blank">Americans United</a> [ June 20, 2002: Message edited by: GaryP ]</p>

06-20-2002, 05:27 PM	#9
Arrowman Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,358	I'll give her father some credit... "I can understand their viewpoint," her father said of administrators. "They have a captive audience and they have people of a lot of different backgrounds." Yep, free speech I guess. I'd suggest that if the school knew in advance the speech was going to be religious they might be well advised to include a "the opinions of the valedictorian are not necessarily..." disclaimer in the program - which apparently they did. Also, were I a school principal I might be inclined to advise valedictorians that whatever the content of their speech (and especially if it's religious) that there's a subtle difference between expressing your own faith, and proselitysing. And that whatever the legal situation might be, it's inappropriate for a valedictorian to express such sentiments in such terms that they do not acknowledge the different beliefs in the student body. After all, a valedictorian is supposed to speak not only for themselves, but to include (or at least broadly, speak on behalf of) all the students, aren't they? [ June 20, 2002: Message edited by: Arrowman ]</p>

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06-20-2002, 02:04 PM	#6
S.D.Jim Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 12	I have a more serious concern with this story. How did this young lady get to be Valedictorian with such a distorted view of American History? Is this indicative of the level of History Classes in our high schools? As one who has had a lifelong love of history I fear it is.

06-20-2002, 02:27 PM	#7
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	S D Jim-- I think it is more a case of HS history teachers not exposing kids to the Founders' strong belief that separation was the best road to take. I think that most history teachers and/or text books barely address the issue of separation of C/S. Therefore, this issue is fertile ground for the David Bartons of the world. It was a front page picture of my local superintendent praying at a church before watching a David Barton video that got me off my duff and more active in voicing my support for separation.

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