McDonough student wears bolo tie to graduation, school withholds diploma

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Here I Go...

I must say I am one with a history to push the limits and that's all this kid was doing was pushing the limits. Alot of people make a living out of doing this, and everyone tries once in their life to push the limits. I recall I used to take directions too literally. The thing is every time I came out on the losing end.

Every year people try to push the limits at their graduation. I recall Westlake's 2004 Graduating class. They had said to keep calm and act in a professional manner. Well, this one person was handed his diploma. So he decides to let out a loud scream, screaming "Yeah!" and did backflips off the backstage. I was no fan of this, but come on. 90% of us want to do that when we graduate.

 

[K_Jo]

What is a bolo tie?

I don't feel like resizing a picture so here's a whole bunch.

 

[SeaRide]

What is a bolo tie?

http://images.google.com/images?q=bolo+tie&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

Click above for images.

What about the kids in the west graduating with bolo ties? I don't see anything wrong with wearing bolo ties in Texas (or other states nearby) as long as it's not offensive.

I must be missing something here. Catholic school? Baptist school?

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Update

From ABC 7 News:
Charles Senior Denied Diploma for Dress Code Violation
Posted: June 10, 2005 10:37 AM EST
URL: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0605/234868.html<bfont size="2">

The parents of a graduating senior in Charles County are demanding an apology from school officials for embarrassing their son at his graduation ceremony.

Thomas Benya was told Wednesday he couldn't get his diploma because he violated the dress code by wearing a Native American bolo tie under his graduation gown. Benya says he wore it as a tribute to his heritage, but administrators at Maurice McDonough High School said the tie was too skinny and withheld his diploma.

School officials say a letter explaining the mandatory dress code for the graduation ceremony was sent to parents in March. And Benya was told at a rehearsal on Tuesday that the tie was unacceptable.

Benya's mother Marsha says the schools are asking him to ignore his heritage.<afont size="2">

The parents of a graduating senior in Charles County are demanding an apology from school officials for embarrassing their son at his graduation ceremony.</afont>

TM & ©2005 WJLA/NewsChannel 8, a division of Allbritton Communications Company

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press... Associated Press text, photo, graphic audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributes directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.</bfont>

 

[K_Jo]

http://images.google.com/images?q=bolo+tie&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

Click above for images.

What about the kids in the west graduating with bolo ties? I don't see anything wrong with wearing bolo ties in Texas (or other states nearby) as long as it's not offensive.

I must be missing something here. Catholic school? Baptist school?

Public school. I don't get it either. There must be one heckuva reason though.

 

[SeaRide]

I read the article. Now I see what's the fuss. Now how does one tell the kid who is a muslim wearing ragtop? :shrug:

 

[K_Jo]

The parents of a graduating senior in Charles County are demanding an apology from school officials for embarrassing their son at his graduation ceremony.

How refreshing - asking for an apology instead of filing a law suit.

 

[cholo]

McDonough grad here too.

I just went to their website and was surprised to see a lot of the same teachers still there after nearly 20 years.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

I just seen it on MSNBC TV LIVE on CABLE. I hope the Charles County Board Of Education feels like $#!+.

 

[czygvtwkr]

Actually I was unaware that naitive americans had shirts with collars back in the day to wear ties with in the first place.

Those bolos really don't look naitive american. However I think its silly its not like it was a necklace made out of your enemies ears.

 

[Ponytail]

Actually I was unaware that naitive americans had shirts with collars back in the day to wear ties with in the first place.

Those bolos really don't look naitive american. However I think its silly its not like it was a necklace made out of your enemies ears.

That would be a "tyson", not a "bolo".

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

ABC 7 News

They said on ABC 7 News that they recieved a copy of the dress code and it did not specify standard ties only a tie be required

Click for video report

Also, the Governer of Montant called him and told him to keep up the fight.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

They all disagree on ABC 7 Message Boards

 

[Kizzy]

They said on ABC 7 News that they recieved a copy of the dress code and it did not specify standard ties only a tie be required

Click for video report

Also, the Governer of Montant called him and told him to keep up the fight.

Who the hell wants an apology if they have to demand it?

Seriously, that is as bad as an apology with 50,000 "buts" behind it.

How could an apology in either form have any sincerity in it what so ever?

 

[Mikeinsmd]

Now that I've seen what a bolo tie is, I understand why we get labeled "SMIBS". McDonough needs to pull their head out of their arse!! It was a tie! Forget heritage and all the other crap, it was a TIE~!! Not an offensive tie either. SMIBS!!!

 

[Kizzy]

I just realized I left out a quote above. On the quote I did quote above, my comment was that it was as I suspected, not clearly defined, which goes back to what I said way earlier in the thread. The school is only saying he was told ahead of time to CYA.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

My bieest thing with the tie is I don't believe for a minute he was wearing it to reflect his heritage. Sure it is his heritage and he said he's worn it before. I think he was just trying to push the limits to see just how car he can go. Every year somebody does it. This isn't as bad as what I have seen other people wear/bring to graduations. Both sides were wrong in this ordeal.

 

[vraiblonde]

Both sides were wrong in this ordeal.

I completely agree. The kid is being a victim ass - "I shouldn't have to set aside my heritage " And the school officials are being little martinets by saying a bolo tie isn't up to spec.

 

[Kizzy]

I completely agree. The kid is being a victim ass - "I shouldn't have to set aside my heritage " And the school officials are being little martinets by saying a bolo tie isn't up to spec.

I agree. It is like tossing the race card out there. The school was specific. The specs should have been clear, specific in saying no "bolo" ties, and since it wasn't, the school was wrong to not allow him to obtain his degree on stage. After reading the history on the type of tie he wore, I just don’t see how it could be linked to his culture.

It is just like any conflict, each action feeds on another. Rarely is one side clearly in the right or clearly in the wrong, ever.

 

[Ken King]

Seems simple enough, dress slacks, white shirt and tie. The kid complied. Now because the asswipes at the school do not recognize the bolo as a tie doesn't mean that the kid wasn't within the guidance. If the school officials wanted everyone to look the same shouldn't they have provided the neckwear to the students or clearly defined what it is they thought they meant (tie is a broad term)? This whole deal is and as no specifics were given as to what was considered a tie and what wasn't they should have just let the kid get his diploma. To say the bolo is disrespectful is absurd, almost as much as the bolo being Arizona's official state neckwear.