Wow, just wow!

[Gman]

Sounds more like somebody's scared cows were offended.

That led to a strange mental visual.

[CS1983]

The cardinal virtues go back to Aristotle and Plato. They have nothing to do with religion per se, but are some of the philosophical foundations of Western Civilization.

The student(s) failed to adhere to those values, and in a way which impacted students as young as 7th grade (12-13 years old?).

That every single violation of these virtues would be placed in a Code of Conduct book (a la the parents asking what "rule" was broken) is not only a legalistic bit of sophistry, but ridiculous in expecting such a scope of things to be defined. Something need not be defined to impact and intersect with another thing which *is* defined. And while the thing defined might not be the specific thing violated as such, it can be violated in kind.

This same argument is directly on the school page which Skip linked, insofar as its explanation of prudence:

Of the several threats to freedom, bureaucracy ranks high on the list. So why do prosperous organizations, including entire nations, inevitably strangle themselves by the tentacles of freedom-crippling bureaucracy?

Bureaucracy stems from a desire to formalize virtue. When a particular habit or policy fails to deliver order, the impulse of leaders, especially in a democracy, is to impose bigger and more comprehensive rules to make sure the mistake does not happen again.

Over time, reliance on virtuous people yields to a dependency on virtuous rules, regulations, policies, checks, balances and systematic accountability. This is the essence of bureaucracy.

In bureaucratic cultures, practical judgment and personal virtues are deemphasized. Praise and appreciation instead accrue to those who follow the rules and who go by the book.

From there, the law itself comes to define public morality. “If it is legal,” bends the logic of a bureaucratic society, “it must be acceptable.”

Freedom, however, thrives by prudence, a virtue predicated upon practical reason. It entails discernment of the true good surrounding every situation and the moral means of achieving it.

Prudence is antithetic to bureaucracy. It elevates individual responsibility and secures liberty.

St. Thomas Aquinas identified various parts of prudence. He characterized acquired prudence as perfected through the exercise of acts and lessons.

Also, he wrote of gratuitous prudence which is infused and reinforced by virtuous habits, for example, those modeled by good parenting, religion, perhaps schooling.

The Founding Fathers believed every man should share in the governing of America according to the free choice of his reason, and that it is proper for all self-governing citizens to possess the virtue of prudence. Abraham Lincoln spoke persistently about the necessity of prudence.

It is a core American virtue about which Americans scarcely speak anymore. Yet, prudence is the most powerful and complete remedy for the disease of bureaucracy.

Prudence promotes freedom which is why we rely on it, and speak often of it.

ibid

Graduation for high school is stupid anyway.

[.455_Hunter]

I am sure the school is academically excellent, but why does distributing 25 condoms around the school warrant disbarment from the graduation ceremony? The question of charter vs normal public is really not the issue here.

[Rucker61]

I am sure the school is academically excellent, but why does distributing 25 condoms around the school warrant disbarment from the graduation ceremony? The question of charter vs normal public is really not the issue here.

Yeah, this is nuts.

[Bailey Guns]

It's exactly the issue. The charter school has rules and standards students are expected to follow and they're enforced, unlike most public schools. It's not a secret they're keeping from anyone. Students failed to uphold standards and/or violated rules or codes of conduct. Maybe I'm simple-minded but it seems pretty clear to me.

Honestly, if it were my kid that was punished like that, I'd be OK with it.

[Gman]

It's exactly the issue. The charter school has rules and standards students are expected to follow and they're enforced, unlike most public schools. It's not a secret they're keeping from anyone. Students failed to uphold standards and/or violated rules or codes of conduct. Maybe I'm simple-minded but it seems pretty clear to me.

Honestly, if it were my kid that was punished like that, I'd be OK with it.

^^^^ THIS

The standard public schools and the teacher's unions don't want to be held to performance standards. Their strategy seems to be to dumb it all down and make sure the kids get an overdose of social engineering to make sure they follow the party agenda in the future.

I have 2 nieces that went through the classical education at D'Evelyn. Both are closer to Gen X'ers than Millennials, but a chunk of that is probably due to their Gen X parents that raised their kids like they were raised.

How'd you like to be one of those students that had a condom hidden in their gear and found by a parent that holds that kid to high standards? If you want to be stupid, that's on you. If you want to be stupid and it affects others, then you should be held accountable for your actions.

[.455_Hunter]

How'd you like to be one of those students that had a condom hidden in their gear and found by a parent that holds that kid to high standards?

That sounds like Carrie White's family. Don't go to prom!!!

I would be concerned about a family where an unopened condom showing-up unexpectedly could cause catastrophic emotional issues instead of a few basic questions.

[Gman]

I would be concerned about a family where an unopened condom showing-up unexpectedly could cause catastrophic emotional issues instead of a few basic questions.

It could create some 'trust issues'. I doubt anyone would have "catastrophic emotional issues".

[xiondavis]

Am I on the right website? You think that’s a liberal school)? Next you guys will be complaining they don’t have any needle zones.

I read their values and unless it’s poorly run or has some sort of 3rd focus agendaI might have to move north so I can enroll my boy there so I don’t have to quit my job and home school him.

No it’s not nuts. Who cares what it was, condoms or otherwise... maybe it was more about the student embarrassing others than about the actual condoms. If they push integrity and personal responsibility, hold students accountable, and focus on academics with some healthy social / athletics, then that’s becoming an island here.

[FoxtArt]

It is an OxyMoron (punny) to complain about how schools fail to discipline students, and out of the same mouth, complain when a school disciplines someone slightly too much.

Nothing is ever consistent in life, nor is it fair. If we bitch en mass about how something was slightly excessive; then you produce a system where it's safer for the school to take no action at all in every other instance.

The kids didn't "walk" but they still graduated. It has no lasting ramifications nor does it affect their future success. If anything, the slightly unfair situation better prepares them for life, if it wasn't for the attention upon it. Justice isn't fair. The sooner they learn it, the better.

Honestly, I wonder what the net effect would be if schools intentionally metered out unfair punishments more often and with irregularity. Perhaps those kids wouldn't grow up with false expectations of how our government works, or the belief they have a "right" to "feel" their version of "fairness".

TLDR: 1st world problems, who gives a shit.