Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Middletown BOE Withholding Diplomas From MHSS Co-Class-Presidents

Middletown High School South Co-Class Presidents Eric Dominach and Mike Sebastiano, are being threatened with the withholding of their diplomas by the Middletown Board of Education(BOE)for given an unapproved speech during graduation ceremonies last week.

The speech has been deemed somewhat inappropriate and is being called "bullying" by the BOE because Dominach and Sebastiano mentioned fellow classmates and made comments about administration and school culture.

This incident was brought to my attention this morning by a fellow classmate of theirs who wished to remain anonymous but who provided a Facebook link to a video of the speech, which you can watch HERE if you have a Facebook account.

My initial reaction to the speech after seeing the video is that it was a playful attempt at saying good-bye to friends and faculty with a little inside humor and wittiness. It was somewhat enjoyable to listen to; it was cleverly done and by the reaction of those in attendance seemed to go over well.

Was it as bad or inappropriate as the BOE may think? I don't think so, it was two kids talking to their friends in a way that kids do today, with references to POP culture and texting shorthand.

Is the BOE over reacting slightly? Yes and No. I understand that members of the BOE and some school faculty/administrators are upset that Dominach and Sebastiano went ahead on their own and delivered a speech that was not approved of by those in charge and rightfully so, they are taking action to send a message. But what these kids did wasn't, in my opinion, viscous, vindictive or mean spirited in anyway and it certainly wasn't bullying.

I say that the BOE should mail these guys their diplomas and be done with it, why create a mountain out of a mole hill? Why give parents and students anymore reasons to disagree with the actions of the BOE then they need to, seeing how many of the decisions made in the past year have been somewhat questionable.

I'm sure that the message has been sent, loud and clear, to future class presidents that they need to abide by the wishes of those in charge and not deliver a speech that wasn't first approved.

Make the announcement at tonight's Board of Education meeting (7:00 at MHSN) that they will be receiving their diplomas and be done with it.

*******************************
UPDATE 4:45pm

According to Facebook page "Operation Get Eric and Mike a Diploma" - Eric Dominach posted the following message about 40 minutes ago: 
We have Received our diplomas due to large support from the community and no complaints about our speech. I would like to thank everyone who said they would come support us. It really mean a lot and I am proud to say I graduated today. Thank you all.






26 comments:

Anonymous said...

As if the students at MHSS didn't have enough reason to leave high school with a bad taste in their mouths. Not content to exert their muscle with teachers and administration, our small minded BOE now has graduating students in their crosshairs.

Anonymous said...

Just an update: the students in question have now received their diploma.

Bob Hughes said...

There were many of us parents that viewed this whole situation. These kids did nothing wrong except for sway away from an approved speech. Actually they added to the whole graduation. They were nothing like the sticks in the mud that was sitting on the stage. If anyone disrespected anyone it was the adults on stage that disrespected the graduating class. There was a new Superintendent of Middletown Schools slouching in his seat with arms crossed, an intrim principal that was yacking with an assistant principal and finally the BOE President Minnuies yacking with L.Camanitti. Now I ask who disrespected whom??? These clowns should have been taken behind the barn and b-slapped. Disgraceful Superintendent, Phony Principal and Crooked BOE!!!!! SHAME MIDDLETOWN BOE

Anonymous said...

The worst thing about this incident is how the superintendent used the well intentioned NJ Bullying Law to harass and bully two innocent students.

Anonymous said...

The worst thing about this incident is that the superintendent used the well intentioned NJ Bullying Law to intimidate and bully two innocent students.

Anonymous said...

These two former class presidents deserve an apology from the school president, superintendent all parties involved.

First, for publicly embarrassing them in front of their classmates by having them leave their high school empty-handed as other students walked out with diplomas in hand.

Second, for being accused of bullying their former classmates and friends.

Third, for not being commended on their witty satirical interruption to a very otherwise boring ceremony.

Anonymous said...

The BOE president and the rest of her entourage are disgusting and out of touch with the real world.

That's what the residents in this town get when POLITICS interferes with educating our children!

The morons on the TC running our schools by "proxy"!!! It's all about control of the money, not about educating Middletown's kids.... You get what you vote for and it's about time for intelligent choices not dropouts in charge of one of the most important jobs a parent is responsible for...educating their offspring.

Middletown republicans couldn't care less about quality education, just want to control the funds that SHOULD do that !!

The schemes that impact the library are classic of just that lack of concern for the best things that have existed in Middletown, the library and the schools.

Anonymous said...

Did you actually try to contact the administration or BOE members to verify any of this story before you published it Mike?

That would have been the responsible thing to do

I am not buying it.

I think any story that is based on what a student heard and a Facebook page should stay on Facebook.

I don't think that administrators can withhold the student's diploma because he exercised his freedom of speech.

The last thing Dr. George wants is to be in the headlines because these kids contacted the ACLU.

I realize that you do not consider yourself to be a journalist, as you have said, but this is pure rumor and really hurts your credibility.

Why don't you devote the same amount of time that you spent putting this story on your blog and criticizing the administrators and BOE to verifying it with a few phone calls, then get back to us?

That seems like a fair request to me.

MiddletownMike said...

Anon 6:37,

The bottom line is the story was correct. End of story.

Anonymous said...

To the person making the comment above... You are 100% wrong. The story was 100% correct. Ask any of the kids who were there when the diploma was denied. Were you at MT South when the diploma was denied? Have you spoken to Dr. George or Principal Rinella? Do you have any evidence the story wasn't true? You don't know anything...

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:37
First off, if Mike were to contact the BOE, do you honestly think they would give him a straight forward answer?

They would not, based of one precedent and one fact. The precedent being that the BOE could not provide the members of the MHSS community with the full story of why Dr. Shallop was removed from office. Second, the school and BOE cannot release student information because it violates privacy policy.

As to this being a rumor born off a facebook page, I can certainly say Mike presented his facts as objectively as he could with the information he could attain. Being one of the students mentioned in the speech, I was afforded certain insight into this matter an will verify that Eric and Mike were indeed accused of bullying by MHSS Administration and the BOE.

Also, just because something is posted on a facebook page by a student does not make it incredulous. To be honest, the members of the BOE are just as likely to lie as a high school student. They have not put forth a transparent and honest image in recent years...

That is all.

Anonymous said...

Well put anon 10:11.

Anonymous said...

Factually incorrect.
The BOE does not have any ability or opportunity to contact these kids.

So that is flat out wrong and shows a lack of understanding of how this and every district operates.

I did not say to contact the BOE, I said contact the administration. You don't contact the BOE. It is nine different people.

And for Mike to simply state that the story is accurate without providing any evidence to support the claim is why this column is now and always has been nothing more than a rumor mill.

Shall I remind everyone about the article where Mike stated that two BOE members were going to be removed in one month by the state ethics board back in October, 2010? And do I need to remind everyone that a full year after he claimed it would happen he was still defending his article. And now a year and a half later still no board members have been removed. He cited a "reliable" source at that time too.

The fact is that these kids repeatedly refused to change their speeches when they were requested to do so, no doubt under the advice of their parents.

And no, the administration did not refuse to give them their diplomas. Their parents were asked to go to central office to collect them, a pretty minor price to pay for disregarding the instructions of the administrators. In my opinion it was a bad idea because it just afforded them an additional opportunity to be disrespectful.

So why didn't these kids let everyone know that was what was going on? Why didn't they say that all they had to do get their diplomas was to go collect them? Because they are enjoying the drama and the attention that people like Mike are all too willing to give them.

They played you Mike and knowing that you never check facts, they knew what they were doing.

And I wonder who called the Asbury Park Press and told them to go to the BOE meeting Wednesday evening? I have my own idea on that.

So what happens now? What do the administrators do next year? Maybe based on the disrespect and the precedent that these two individuals have set there will be no more speeches by outgoing senior class presidents.

Maybe every year instead of a senior giving a speech they should announce these kids by name and say that because they were insubordinate and disrespectful that there will no longer be any speeches by seniors.

Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. But using it as a crutch to disrespect the very people who have made it possible for you to obtain your diploma shows a lack of appreciation, judgement and class.

I hope they are proud of their legacy.

Anonymous said...

"The fact is that these kids repeatedly refused to change their speeches when they were requested to do so, no doubt under the advice of their parents."

If the above is true as Anon 2:12 states, then the school administration surely had notice of the students horrendous recalcitrance! Why did they even allow the students to take the stage? Did they get up at gunpoint?

Legion/Anon 2:12- where do you get your info from, your unelected family member on the board?

Yes, freedom of speech is wonderful as long as people like you hear speech that echoes your views. It is really amazing to see how little tolerance there is for criticism even from our students. The very definition of "freedom of speech" means freedom to make a speech that even our local patronage crew finds distasteful.

Anonymous said...

They allowed them to speak because they had to weigh getting the school's name in the paper for the kids saying something that they weren't supposed to say and and having the school's name in the paper after these kid's parents called the newspapers and the ACLU for not letting them speak.

I heard the little twirp parked in the super's parking space and bragged about it on a tweet. What a disrespectful little ingrate.

What a shame that they squandered an oportunity to show some class and gratitude and used it to try and make the people they should have been thanking look bad.

I hope these kids look back on this one day and realize that they were given some very misguided advice by the people they look up to.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:12 PM:

So I am “factually incorrect”? While I appreciate your redundant humor, I must inform you that I am not incorrect.

First, you did tell Mike to contact the BOE as well as the MHSS Administration:
“Did you actually try to contact the administration or BOE members to verify any of this story before you published it Mike?

As to not being able to contact the BOE because it is nine different people, that is also false. One may address the BOE at the meetings or contact them via their central office number.

Nowhere in Mike’s article did he state that his words were accurate. He merely provided his opinion on the evidence (the actual video of the speech and the words or concerned students and parents) given to him by a concerned student and the other information he was able to gather about the issue. He left it up to readers to do further research and form their own opinions. As to stating that this column is a rumor mill, can you not say that about almost all forms of media and journalism? Please refrain from using semantics in your argument.

Yes, these kids refused to change their speech. However, they refused because there was no reason to change their speech. If the BOE and MHSS Administration were so concerned about its content, then why did they not work with them to find a medium between the students version and what the deem acceptable? The truth of the matter is, and I can verify this because Mike and Eric told me the day they were informed to edit their speeches, that the BOE and MHSS Administration would not work with them. It was essentially “their way or the highway”.

Moreover, Mike and Eric were informed that their diplomas were being withheld. Mike and Eric were told that they were going to have to apologize in front to MHSS Administration and the BOE at the meeting this past Tuesday. After overwhelming criticism and support for Mike and Eric from a myriad of students, parents, and teachers, the BOE and MHSS Administration caved in and had Mike and Eric pick up their diplomas. Now it appears they are doing damage control and saying that their intention all along was to have Mike and Eric pick up their diplomas at central office.

So why didn’t these kids let everyone know that was what was going on? Because what you stated was not what was going on. How can you say that Mike and Eric are enjoying the drama by supposedly manipulating us and lying about their diploma situation? Are you a psychic or a medium? How can you say that is what they are doing? You cannot because you are not Mike and Eric.
I thought you appreciated the reporting of facts not rumors and opinion. Sadly, it appears you are a hypocrite because you just created a rumor yourself.

Let me tell you that Mike was not played, he did check the facts he was given, but let me again state that he gave his opinion, and never did state his article as fact.

As to who called the Asbury Park Press, I can say with certainty that it was one of the parents of a MHSS student that I know.

So what happens now? The administration continues to let students give their speeches. Mike and Eric exercised their freedom of speech. I can say that every fact stated in their speech was based in truth or a truth outright. Mike and Eric had no malicious intent; they merely wanted to make a witty and humorous speech that kept MHSS graduation exciting. There are much more important issues for MHSS Administration and the BOE to worry about than making mountains out of molehills.

My word, are you a caustic individual. What grudge do you must have against Mike and Eric to say that they lack of appreciation, judgment, and class? You are basing this opinion of one event, which you cannot even get your facts correct on. I’m a teenager and I don’t even rush to judgments that quickly. Mike and Eric are not bad students or people.

Like you, Anon 2:12, I to hope that Mike and Eric and proud of their legacy. In fact, I know that they are.

That is all.

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:45, how would you feel if I called you a twerp (not spelt twirp…) or an ingrate? I might just react by parking in your parking spot!

If you are going to criticize Mike and Eric for showing a lack of class and gratitude, please criticize them with class and intelligence, not with the same lack of class you say that Mike and Eric showed.

Can you verify your statement that “They allowed them to speak because they had to weigh getting the school's name in the paper for the kids saying something that they weren't supposed to say and having the school's name in the paper after these kid's parents called the newspapers and the ACLU for not letting them speak.”?

That is all.

Anonymous said...

If the BOE and Administration let the boys speak because they were afraid of negative publicity they are not fit to lead or serve. They must have taken their ethics course with the Middletown Republican Club. The two boys look better and the the Board of Ed looks smaller with every detail that comes out.

Anonymous said...

Well boys and girls. You are entitled to your opinions and I mine.

A thousand apologies for misspelling twerp.

Here are the facts. The administrators asked the kids to change their speeches because they mentioned individuals in a derogatory way. It may have been humorous, but under the new bullying guidelines administrators cannot support that kind of talk.

In fact, they added things to the speech that no administrator saw.

Are we supposed to let a kid give any speech he wants to give? Or should it be approved by the administrators that are ultimately responsible for it? These kids made their own rules because they hid behind the right to free speech. They abused that right and did themselves a disservice in the process.

It comes down to respect. The administrators have their job to do and these kids hid behind freedom of speech to disobey the administrators. These kids demonstrated a complete lack of respect for the people that made their graduation and their opportunity to speak in front of the class possible.

I called him an ingrate because he showed no gratitude.

Anonymous said...

At least as class presidents these kids were elected by their peers. Which is more than you can say for certain unelected members of the Board of Education.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:39:

You are entitled to your opinion, as I am free to agree and disagree.

As to you misspelling of twerp, please don't take offence, that was my dry attempt at humor, not meant to insult you by any means.

As for the students being mentioned in the speech in a derogatory way, I know every single person mentioned in the speech, and none were offended by Mike and Eric's comments because they were true. If making humor out of the truth is bullying then all jokes should be banned from schools, and society in general, because that will certaintly stop bullying. While I do agree with the BOE and MHSS Administration following the bullying guidelines, why could they not with Mike and Eric? It would have been easy to contact the seniors mentioned in the speech and have them sign media release forms to cover for liability. Its the end of their senior year, and let us be honest, chances are they have nothing better to do in school...

No, the students should not be able to give whatever speech they feel fit. The BOE and MHSS Administration are present to work with them through the speech writing process. As I have been told, the MHSS Administration and BOE were not willing to work with Mike and Eric. The whole review process was done last minute. After first reading their speech they saw Mike and Eric as nothing more than disrespectful brats and were not willing to work with them to find a happy medium for both sides in regards to the speech.

Please, do not give the soapbox speech that the BOE and MHSS Administration made it possible for Eric and Mike to get their diplomas. They did their own school work. Did the BOE or MHSS Administration do Mike and Eric's schoolwork and apply to college for them? No they did not. Mike and Eric earned their right to graduate on their own. All the BOE and MHSS Administration did over their four years was make MHSS a worse school while school like CBA and High Tech rose in prestige.

However, before I sound like a complete cynic, I will say that along with the very bad, I also experienced the very good at MHSS. I had teachers that changed me as a person and a student for the better. I am quite grateful for that.

I digress.

Mike and Eric did not "hide" behind their freedom of speech. They used it for what it was intended for. To vioce their opinion about what is wrong with MHSS and have some fun joking around with their friends.

Let me tell you that Mike and Eric do have respect. Respect for the few members of the BOE and MHSS Administration and faculty who have done their jobs over Mike and Eric's four years at MHSS.

But again, you are entitled to your own opinion.

Just be wary that kids like Mike and Eric don't come back to live in Middletown, because they will get involved, and for once, things might change for the better.

Anonymous said...

From out of the mouths of babes comes gems 10:47 p.m..

How insightful of our youth to see the current BOE,the MHSS Administration and this town's government for what they really are.

Kudos to the KIDS !!!

Anonymous said...

It was not the students who were hiding behind the banner of freedom of speech, but rather the administration which hid behind the bullying rap. In an effort to place the speech in a category of "limits to free speech," they foolishly and inappropriately tried to characterize the content as hate speech. Once again, town leaders put our tax dollars at risk by inviting litigation, though for once they corrected their error before the town attorney cashed the check.

Anonymous said...

Let’s call it like it is. Many of the students of Middletown have no class and what is worse is that neither do their parents. Unfortunately it’s supported and encouraged. Added to the mix is a militant teacher's union and that most of the members of the Board of Education are self centered and not student centered and share a brain between the nine of them. The Superintendent is making efforts to address the systemic problem of entitlement, dysfunction and mediocrity that has plagued our district for many years. Unfortunately, much of his time will be spent untying his hands and the hands of his administrators while jumping through the metaphorical hoops and over the metaphorical hurdles that will be placed in his way each day. Good luck Dr. George, you will need it.

Anonymous said...

Upon his appt, Dr. George said"

“I’ve seen Middletown in its glory and I know how glorious it can be. I’m excited to be a part of that. I’m excited to get feedback from parents and students and community members to get to know Middletown the way the experts do.”

At least George recognizes that these are not Middletown's "glory days" as he recalls the times when Republican political agendas didn't poison all aspects of life in the township.

And while the prior posters anti-union rhetoric is tiresome, I will have to concur with her that it would be a challenge to find a working brain amoung the entire Board of Ed.

Anonymous said...

Eric and Mike's speech was lighthearted, humorous and something the graduating class of 2012 overwhelmingly enjoyed. These kids exercised their freedom of speech in a witty, satirical way.

Call them 'twirps' or ingrates but these kids are intelligent and didn't cower under threats made by those in power of a corrupt school system, like other students might have.

One specific threat was that they were going to be removed from the stage at graduation if they delivered the unapproved speech. That clearly did not occur; the matter was dealt with behind closed doors after the ceremony.

There is a reason why over 180 students and their families planned to attend the BOE meeting and stand up for the two class presidents. That kind of overwhelming community suppport speaks for itself.