Last night was my school’s commencement ceremony, and it was truly one of the best I’ve attended. The speakers were excellent, the exchange students honored, the 7 valedictorians presented, and the graduates excited but under control. The kids tossed beach balls around every once in a while, and they cheered for their friends and waved ...

I felt quite honored today to have a few students request that I hand them their diplomas during graduation next week. They are so cute when they ask. Their faces blush a bit; they smile while looking away, and then they ask if I’m going to the ceremony. And finally, they meekly ask if I [...]

A while back I had a student, Davy, reach the final week of his final semester in high school, and he had a 40% in my senior Mythology course while maintaining an attendance rate of 60% (and I think a blood-alcohol level of 2.0 most of the semester). I wouldn’t budge on giving “extra credit” [...]

Five students didn't receive their diplomas because of cheers from the crowd as they walked across the stage in Galesburg, Illinois.  Rules are rules, I guess, but this seems a bit excessive to me.  About a month before the May 27 ceremony, Galesburg High students and their parents had to sign a contract promising to act in dignified ...