This principal isn't setting a very good example

For her graduation speech, Springstead High School principal Susan Duval read almost word for word from Mary Schmich's infamous June 1997 Chicago Tribune "Wear Sunscreen" column -- without giving credit. She insists the plagiarism wasn't intentional. (St. Petersburg Times)

Comments

[Chris Meyer]

Not only is this unoriginal, it's pretty uncreative even for plagiarism. I mean who hasn't heard it before? If I were going to ripoff a graduation speech, this is the first one that would come to mind.

A good lesson for the kids: the adult world has just as much bullsh!t as school, except with the pretenses of honor and integrity.

The other lesson: if you aren't being graded, even the appearence of integrity is not necessary.

[Oxhead]

A few years back the Wilson Quarterly published a study on the worst educated professionals in America. Nurses were dead last. Second to last were school administrators. Since I became acquainted with the study, I have had numerous occasions to recall it. Reading this article is one of them.

What's it going to take for people to realize that if even if writing is posted anonymosly the Internet, if you use it without attribution, it's plagiarism. And you also run the risk of perpetuating a hoax, as many columnists have learned.

[T.R.]

"The other lesson: if you aren't being graded, even the appearence of integrity is not necessary."

Good one, Chris.

[Lou Sussler]

What a great piece it was. I followed the link and re-read it just now. Except for the part about NYC, it was fantastic.

From NYC (and lovin' it)

[Glenn Becker]

Somewhat OT, following on Lou's post:

Although there are _many_ things I like about NYC, the phrase that most vividly conjures up memories of Manhattan is Michael J. Nelson of MST3K fame's description of the "breeze" rising from Subway stairs as "a warm blast of urine-scented air."

That may be paraphrased somewhat, but at least I gave credit. :)

No wonder I'm so screwed up: NYC 19 years, Northern Calif., 14 years. I'm really aggressive, but never follow through.

And I thought I worked for the world's worst school administrator . . .

Ugh, I hate that piece. It comes off as... smarmy.

[Alex]

I'd like to meet the morons who gave her a standing ovation for the speech instead of calling her out on her bullshit or at least booing her off the stage.

[Chris Mitchell]

> When asked if a student in a similar situation would be considered guilty of plagiarism, Duval was unapologetic.

> "Was I turning this in for a grade? No," she said.

Ugh, yet another example of authority figures who can't walk their talk and when confronted move reflexively into denial mode.

Whatever happened to "I was wrong, I'm sorry"? Presumably that's what she would expect of a student who broke the rules!

[Russ]

If the valedictorian had done this, his/her diploma would have been held.