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Getting my diploma without walking?

maestro55

maestro55

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 13, 2005
2,708
0
Goat Farm in Meridian, TX
Today there was a senior meeting with mention of students needed to get their hair cuts before graduation. Our school has extremely tough dress code rules. However, I said back on January 4th that I was not going to cut my hair again anytime soon, and apparently it is out of dress code again, and I am at risk of not walking. While some would say the easy solution is just to cut it, I honestly don't care if I walk or not. I am more concerned about getting that piece of paper that says I spent 13 years of school earning the credits I need to graduate. The Principal said there is a long drawn out process to get the diploma without walking, I am curious if anyone knows how Texas goes about doing this. Number 1) if you earned the credits, how can they deny the rights for me to earn that piece of paper? 2) I don't believe they even give the diploma on graduation night, so they just mail it anyways, what difference does it make if I walk or not?

The reason I ask here, is because I don't want the school to try to use some powers against me, and I need advice to what they are legally entitled to do. By State of Texas I have the right credits and can graduate, how can graduation make that big of a difference?

Thanks,
 
maestro55 said:
Today there was a senior meeting with mention of students needed to get their hair cuts before graduation. Our school has extremely tough dress code rules. However, I said back on January 4th that I was not going to cut my hair again anytime soon, and apparently it is out of dress code again, and I am at risk of not walking. While some would say the easy solution is just to cut it, I honestly don't care if I walk or not. I am more concerned about getting that piece of paper that says I spent 13 years of school earning the credits I need to graduate. The Principal said there is a long drawn out process to get the diploma without walking, I am curious if anyone knows how Texas goes about doing this. Number 1) if you earned the credits, how can they deny the rights for me to earn that piece of paper? 2) I don't believe they even give the diploma on graduation night, so they just mail it anyways, what difference does it make if I walk or not?

The reason I ask here, is because I don't want the school to try to use some powers against me, and I need advice to what they are legally entitled to do. By State of Texas I have the right credits and can graduate, how can graduation make that big of a difference?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Do you go to a private school?

I had them mail me mine, I was going to be hard pressed to sit with a bunch of people I hated in celebration.
 
I graduated from a Texas School last year... they gave me my real diploma as soon as I walked off the stage. I do remember them telling us, however, that if we couldn't walk for one reason or another, we would be able to pick our diplomas up from the school during the summer.

They can't deny you your diploma, simple as that. Seems like everyone tries to make students think graduation is required... ha.
 
iGary said:
Do you go to a private school?

I had them mail me mine, I was going to be hard pressed to sit with a bunch of people I hated in celebration.
Click to expand...

Good man.

They just tell you it's tough to not walk because they want to show off how many kids are graduating from their school system. Schools are businesses. Just remember that. The better they look, the more kids come, the better off the administration looks and so far. It's all about money... much more so when you get to college.
 
iGary said:
Do you go to a private school?
Click to expand...

I go to a very conservative Texas public school. Thanks for the comments from everyone, I was under the impression that graduation was not required; however, obviously wondering if it was possible that they could deny that right legally if you didn't attend, that is basically what the Principal said.

It isn't that I can't cut my hair, it is that A) it isn't that long and it is clean, so nothing other than it being out of dress code rules (hair must not touch eyebrows or touch ear lopes or touch the top of the collar. My hair touches my eyebrows and collar. While it is indeed out of dress code, I like it, and so while I may sit out graduation, I still want my diploma. B) The school wants to win, but I don't see how they can in this situation. It would be against my basic thought system to let them win this. I will get my diploma (that I am entitled to) no matter what.

Thanks again.. and I will keep you posted.
 
So trim your hair to the minimum of specs to "pass" the dress code. After all, don't your parents/family want to see you walk and graduate? All the pomp and circumstance is more for them than for you.
 
Sometimes i feel like you have to bite the bullet and do something you might not want to do. Your parents and family are the ones who graduation is for, as Yellow mentioned above. Don' deny them this opportunity to celebrate one of your triumphs, let them be proud of you when you walk across the stage and get your diploma. That pride makes the haircut worth it.
 
I vote bite the bullet and get you hair trimed up just so it is inside the dress code. Because chance are high that 10 years from now it will be a huge regreted that you didnt walk. Plus family more than likely wants to see you walk. The gradutation is a huge thing for parents and you are dening them the 18 years they put up with you. Paid money to support you and while you grew up. They paid for you schooling and it be shallow to deny them seeing you walk because weather or not they say so they want to see you walk and it is a big deal to them.

If you dont want to walk do it for family and just bite the bullet and get your hair cut. Besides walking is a once in a life time thing here you can never go back. Your hair you can grow it back over the summer with out much of a problem and it is only a short term loss no a life long one.

Also you principle may not be lieing it could easily be a long drawn out process to get you deplomia in just how they want everything done. They cannt not deny you it but it can be tricky to get it. As for the deploma meanning much yeah it a peice of paper. Colleges are never going to care about it or you are going otshow it. All they care to see is you transcript. So in that way yes they could easily deny you it. They can not deny you transcript but the diplomia yeah it just a worthless piece of paper. Some schools make you pay for them if you want it. To them they make walking part of the requirment to get that little piece of paper and the state is not going to care because transcripts all that matters
 
Get even and follow the guidelines techincally. However, do a simple bowl cut to the length required. Then do a reverse mohawk. ie shave a strip down the middle and spike the sides:eek: .

This is a great way to protest their silly dress code requirements. If they tried pulling this in California all of the hippy libreal parents would be breathing down the administrators necks.

You can also just get the proper haircut. Then when on stage get your diploma remove the gown and cap and leave (DON'T STREAK). Holding a sign saying, "forced to get haircut just to get my diploma".
 
I say go through the "long, tedious process" and don't walk. It probably isn't too long or tedious.

As for your hair, maybe you should think about getting it trimmed just for aesthetic reasons. How is it styled currently? :)

e
 
Screw the "walk"!

Five years from now it wont even be a memory.

I have almost zero rememberance of my graduation "walk".

It was more for my family then me.
 
We don't get a "diploma" in Australia, here in NSW I just got a fancy bit of paper from the NSW Board of Studies stating that I had satisfied all the requirements of the Higher School Certificate.

Mind you, we don't consider finishing High School to be "graduation" either, it's just called "finishing High School" we had an assembly, followed by a dinner that night and that was it. 5 days later the exams started and 2 weeks after that I didn't have to enter the school ever again.

This sounds like a really big deal for you guys so my advice to the OP (and remember, this is coming from an Aussie - we're blunt, we don't ever mean to offend but we don't gild the lily in any way) would be to suck it up and cut your hair.
 
maestro55 said:
...hair must not touch eyebrows or touch ear lopes or touch the top of the collar...
Click to expand...
Adjust the collar on your shirt down a couple of inches and shave your eyebrows, then you get to walk and **ck your principle off at the same time. Score.
 
Here are my thoughts


1. I walked but it was stupid. When I got my diploma I mooned the faculty!
2. I have no idea where my HS diploma is and dont' care.
3. College graduation means a hell of a lot more that HS, everyone know HS sucks anyway.
4. Slick your hair back so it "meets" the requirements, then get your dimploma let your hair hang out and give that good old one finger salute that everyone loves.
5. Screw it don't walk.
6. don't listen to me I hated HS.
 
who need to do the walk, I was on a plane on the prom night and graduation was 2 days later, my father just went and pick up my diploma plus letter of congratulation from MPP, transcript and all that jazz few days later, my friends said it was a boring ceremony anyway, the only thing I miss is Canada Day :D [day after the prom] since it's the only thing that happens in Ottawa/year :p
 
Please forgive me, but I'm going to be very blunt.

You need to get over yourself and cut your hair for graduation. You owe it to your parents who spent the last 18 years preparing you for this day. Hair grows back. It's not a big deal.

However, it is a big deal to rob your family of the opportunity to see you walk. It's the least you can do to show appreciation for their 18 years of hard work and sacrifice on your behalf.
 
I'd say Fight The Power! It's public school, so I find that ridiculous. How can they tell you that long hair is unacceptable? It's the 21st freakin century. I can't help you out on the Texas law stuff, but denying your diploma (or creating and alternate, more tedious way of receiving it) is messed up.
 
hoyboy9 said:
Please forgive me, but I'm going to be very blunt.

You need to get over yourself and cut your hair for graduation. You owe it to your parents who spent the last 18 years preparing you for this day. Hair grows back. It's not a big deal.

However, it is a big deal to rob your family of the opportunity to see you walk. It's the least you can do to show appreciation for their 18 years of hard work and sacrifice on your behalf.
Click to expand...
My parents had done alot for me in the 18 years of my upbringing, but public high school was definately NOT one of them!

That was all ME. Anyone who survived public school should be allowed to address this however they want.

If it is truly the wish of your parents to watch you walk then perhaps you could honor them. But to imply that my parents had "prepared" me for that day couldnt be farther from the truth and insults my dedication to learning as a whole. If that was the case then it would only be fitting for them to walk and not me.

Now college $$$, that deserves a walk;)
 
faintember said:
Why cant you just tuck your hair under your cap, and just wear it all during the ceremony? No one will be the wiser.
Click to expand...
Being at a very strict school, and am, which his a coincidence, walking tonight, will not allow you to wear caps. ;)
 
freeny said:
Screw the "walk"!

Five years from now it wont even be a memory.

I have almost zero rememberance of my graduation "walk".

It was more for my family then me.
Click to expand...

Same here. The only reason I did it was for my family (and the presents :p :D ). Other than that it's just a boring waste of time. The only memory I have of it is not wanting to be there.
 
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