Oh yes, they ask for pics- for the Newcomers' Book, and also one for that same form. I suppose they could surmise sexual preference by your answer- interesting thought.....
Most of CW's answers were pretty tongue in cheek- he said at the end that he took things more seriously than that form might indicate.
I still haven't had time to write about how he almost didn't get a diploma. He was putting out an online paper along the lines of NAt'l Lampoon and the administration found out about it. They were not very happy that their star graduate was writing sarcastic parodies, and also some in not such good taste. He refused to turn in the rest of the contributors' names and we were told that some of the teachers who were parodied wanted him not to be able to graduate or go to the grad. party (for which I'd spit up 100.00) We were called in, as was of course, CW, who got in an uproar about his First Amendment rights. (The paper was done at home and had nothing to do with school)
We tried very hard to separate the legal aspect from the "Wow, was that dumb, and maybe not very kind", aspect. But we had decided that if they tried to withhold his diploma, we'd fight it. TO the principal's credit, he was able to see that CW had the right to do it, but he was hurt and disappointed. He also said that CW would become a martyr for the students if they did anything, but he felt some punishment was needed. (For being crude?) I thought they had no right to do that, but Dan told me to be quiet, that it was a good compromise, and would keep CW out of trouble til graduation. CW worked 15 community service hours, and graduated. On his own he went to every teacher and apologized if he had hurt them, that it was meant to be humorous.
It had started as a joke after he saw a similar online one at Rice and thought it was funny. Thing is- some of it he showed me (before he got in trouble) was very funny, I thought. (I begin to think that I don't take offense too easily.) We warned him about using real names and about staying within the boundaries of good taste. Unfortunately we had different ideas of good taste. What I saw later- after the trouble- was kinda raunchy. And he hadn't counted on the popularity and attention it quickly generated among the student body. The kids LOVED it- it made fun of teachers, and policies, and the school board, and athletes and nerds. EVERYone got it.
If we can keep CW out of jail, he will be a great success at something. |
