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Philly School Principal Now Embarassed Herself and School Over Graduation Rules

Written by Alex Lloyd Gross, June 17, 2023


by Alex Lloyd Gross

June 17, 2023

A Philadelphia high school and it’s principal have been going viral for all the wrong reasons.  During a recent graduation at the Philadelphia High School For Girls,  Principal Lisa Mesi  refused to hand over the earned diploma for graduate Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, 17.  The reason? Her parents clapped for her  when she danced across the stage to get her diploma.  12 years of hard work down the drain, due to draconian rules put in place  that most people think makes no sense.

 

For some a high school graduation is expected. It is also expected  that the student will get into an Ivy League school  where they will get their Doctorate in a few years.  Some families have never had a member of their family graduate  high school and for them it is a very big deal. Their parents are proud of them and will show it. For most graduations  the applause and yelling is expected. To punish a student by withholding their diploma  because a family member cheered for them is enough for  this story to start to go viral, as well  as the school and Mesi are being ridiculed all over the globe.

 

 

 

As soon as Hafsah Abdur-Rahman,  got to Mesi on stage she was told her diploma would be given to her after the ceremony, which it was. This resulted in  Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, crying at her graduation.  Not only the school and principal were being criticized all over the globe, but the School District of Philadelphia as well. They have no such policy and they insist the policy was exclusive to girls high and hot sanctioned by the district.  They issued a statement which reads:: “The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates.

“We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.”


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61 thoughts on “Philly School Principal Now Embarassed Herself and School Over Graduation Rules”

  1. Was the graduating class told what behavior was expected at graduation. If the class was given the rules prior to graduation why are upset that somebody suffered consequences for their behavior?

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      1. @Alex Lloyd Gross Not sure where you read that because it was not in the article. Her family did not cheer, therefore her family did not get her diploma withheld. Some people laughed, so she is to be held responsible for what others do? That does not sound right and I believe the school board agreed.

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        1. She should be fired along with anyone else that agreed with this policy. We want children to graduate. It is behavior in staff members and allowing bullying that cause children to drop out.
          Shame! Shame! shame!!!

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      3. The parents didn’t even cheer. The girl did a small shimmy and the audience laughed. She wasn’t told she couldn’t do this.

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      4. RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!The principal should be disciplined. The parents DIDNOT cheer and the girls behavior wasnot extreme. If there is a protest I’ll be there!!!

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      5. read the whole article, she did nothing wrong. She was a happy senior skip-stepping to her diploma. Her parents did not clap or raise their voices.
        It was a bitter racist white woman just having her last hooray on putting a black girl down.
        Fire that BITCH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

        False information, it was the audience, not her family. Damn white bigots only read what little they have to, assume everything else……………..

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      6. The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates.

        “We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.”

        it was not a rule. this statement is from the district

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      7. If the parents broke the rules they should be confronted. The girl didn’t do anything wrong. She deserved her diploma right then and there

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    2. @Glenn Wilson Not sure which story you read, but the one I read said they were told to own the stage as it was their moment. Secondly the family was warned not to shout or clap, they did not. A few people laughed. Should people follow the rules, yes. Since the rules were NOT violated based on their own wording, this principle should suffer consequences.

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      1. I’ve had 4 children graduate from Philadelphia high schools and every principal says the same thing about no applause but this was a case of someone laughing because she danced across the stage. She was happy there was no crime. Girls High is a very good school but that woman isn’t a a queen making the rules that she feels should be obeyed. Maybe because she looks like Camilla she she act like her. I bet had she been a white girl it would have not happened.

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        1. Rules are not the issue, however, control is certainly in this case.Had it not been a girl of color, the response would have been different. The principal’s abusive use of power shows she lacks competence in school administration and leadership. Rules are guidelines for order and safety, not just because, one person declares so.

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        2. Rules are not the issue, however, control is certainly. Had it not been a girl of color, the response would have been different. The principal abusive use of power shows she lacks competence in school administration and leadership.

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        3. Why bring in race??? I saw the girl’s dance moves. She shouldn’t have done it. They were told the rules and she set herself up for the consequences.
          We just attended our grandson’s high school graduation in South Carolina and the guests were told the exact same thing. No one made a sound. And none of the graduates behaved as this girl did.
          Since YOU brought up race I’ll say this. Because this girl is black and a Muslim don’t the rules apply to her?!? NO EXCEPTIONS for blacks or anyone else!! Period.

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          1. God imagine being so ignorant to American history that you can just “pretend” race isn’t a thing.
            A white person in a position of power humiliated black children for the actions of other (adult) people.

            She is the person who should be held accountable, because she is a full ass adult, and in the hired position to take accountability. Policing the way children and their families celebrate is repugnant behavior and the ONLY reason you are incensed about it is because you are defending a fellow racist white woman. Gross.

          2. As a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Girls (the high school in this article) the graduation ceremonies are from a long history of rules and requirements. The principal acted correctly upholding the requirements of the graduates participating in the ceremony… Philadelphia High School for Girls is n academically competitive school steeped in the tradition of upholding young women to prepare them to for a successful post high school life, whether it be collegiate, work force or trade school.. as a student there, you learn this from day one. This is not a racial or religious issue, this is an issue based on no self respect or respect for the traditions of her high school. The principal.is to be commended for the outcome of this student’s behavior. More principals and superintendents should behave in this manner.

          3. I used to be a teacher and it is absolutely ridiculous to expect family members nit to cheer and celebrate such a great moment like graduation. You can say it’s not about race but they were 3 brown girls and their moment was stolen because of a skip across the stage and cheers and laughter from the crowd ! Crazy ! I bet if someone watches the whole ceremony other white students may have exhibited similar behaviors. The principal’s actions were disgraceful and she should be properly reprimanded.

          4. I used to be a teacher and it is absolutely ridiculous to expect family members nit to cheer and celebrate such a great moment like graduation. You can say it’s not about race but they were 3 brown girls and their moment was stolen because of a skip across the stage and cheers and laughter from the crowd ! Crazy ! I bet if someone watches the whole ceremony other white students may have exhibited similar behaviors. The principal’s actions were disgraceful and she should be properly reprimanded. The district may be sued

    4. You can’t be serious. The student can’t control the audience. The people laughing were probably not even her family. You are a clown mr wilson

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      1. The people were laughing because of antics on the stage. Why is the blame being shifted to the audience? And why *can’t* parents refrain from whooping when their child’s name is called; are they pre-schoolers with no impulse control? Boisterous behavior lacks decorum, slows down the procession, and steps on the name of the next kid in line. If you don’t agree, then send your kid to a different high school, not one steeped in a long, dignified tradition.

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    5. I salute the principal!
      Right on, Alex….Disobeying the rules should have consequences.
      The student herself and her parents were the driver of this incident.

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      1. No rules were broken, that’s why the principal is embarrassed and the district had to apologize for her behaviour.

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      2. You are insane. There isn’t any rule and TF my kid is celebrating across that stage and that fat bitch can eat a Dick right along with anyone else who didn’t like it

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      3. Why is the school district publicly apologizing if there was no wrong doing? Really showing your colors. How embarrassing for you.

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        1. This policy applied to just the girls high school and was not sanctioned by the school district. That’s the reason the school district is openly apologizing.
          I’m sure “Karen”, the principal, is most likely in hiding now that her picture has gone viral.

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    6. I agree I heard the story and her a parents did follow what was said she was punished because of her own little dance. It was others who applauded.As a parent you are supporting what is supposed to be the end of one life into another and the fact the 12 years to some is considered a lifetime.It’s also hurtful to be embarrassed not to be proud of your accomplishments in what’s considered a ceremony of commencement deserved!!

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    7. Graduating high school is a big deal and for the principal to ruin it just because people clapped was SO WRONG.

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    10. Does it matter if it was? Why is this white principal of a largely black school so offended by black joy? The decision to withhold the diploma was based on whether their family cheered or not – something the children graduating have little control over. Additionally, why is controlling the way children and their families celebrate necessary? If I can clap and cheer at a military graduation, a girl’s high school shouldn’t be any different. This was unbelievable cruelty that didn’t teach anyone anything valuable. Gross. She should be fired.

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    13. She was punished because somebody else laughed. Another student’s diploma was withheld because somebody else cheered. The students can only pass the info along. It an audience member breaks the rule, that isn’t the student’s fault.

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  2. I think the rule about not cheering may be to protect the graduates who have no family to cheer for them. I always clap for all of them and many others do so too. The dancing? I think there should be some decorum. Ok you dance, I’ll crawl. Let’s have someone do some flips, and maybe some moon walking. There have to be some rules. Why should she act out but not others?

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  3. How many times are people who do something they are asked not to do they do it anyway and the when the punishment is doled out everyone is upset and want to reward the rule breakers. My daughter graduated from girls high in 1993 and it was a lovely ceremony the girls wore all white. I have been to some graduation ceremonies where the parents and attendees are so loud you can’t even hear when they call your child’s name everyone wants to celebrate their child give the principal a break they have rules and rules needcto be followed.

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    1. Because it’s a stupid rule! It’s a graduation ceremony. CEREMONY!!!! Look up what that word means. It’s a celebration and a joyous one at that especially at a time where kids are gunned down in school and aren’t guaranteed to graduate. I’d yell and clap and scream my head off if my kid was successful at that but apparently the school wanted the audience to all act like robots and show no emotions at a graduation ceremony? Wtf!? Did you even see the stupid reason she was given? “…because you made your family chuckle”. A chuckle was all it took? A freaking chuckle? There were people blowing kisses and I love yous who got their diploma but you do a little tasteful dance and get humiliated at your freaking graduation ceremony! A day that’s supposed to be filled with happiness and joy all through for a high school kid ffs! Do not defend something this stupid. It’s a CEREMONY! Perhaps you do not know what that word means. I understand not wanting to cause a ruckus but a chuckle? People cannot even chuckle or display an ounce of happiness for their own kid at their freaking graduation? Miss me with that bullshit!

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    2. @Teresa Bailey-Cox I agree rules should be followed, but they should also very specific. In this case they were not hence the reason the principle is in hot water. I add this why do that to the graduate as opposed to asking the family to leave if they violate the rules? The person getting the diploma cannot control people in the crowd. So if someone shouts for a complete stranger how do you handle that, as you must know it can happen as some people do things just to see what will happen.

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      1. If the school did not say this to students in the beginning, it should not have been done. She earned the diploma. Give it to her no matter what. Make a public apology. Then fire the principle and sue the school district. Make sure this never happens again.

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    3. I’m going to help you out because semantics matter. “No shouting, no yelling and no clapping” does not equal no laughing. Is that the only graduation you’ve ever attended? Each and every one of my graduations, the guest speakers told a joke or two. Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6th grade, 8th grade, 12th grade, 4-year degree and masters degree graduations.

      Yes, there are plenty of times where people are inappropriate at graduation ceremonies; however, you never know a person’s situation. Her sister died and did not graduate from high school, she did. Understand sometimes it’s not about you.

      In the city of Philadelphia, we have a lot of orphans whose parents/grandparents/guardians died from COVID. Over 70 children in the city have been killed this school year. They have siblings, family members and friends graduating. Do you go to weddings and if the groom’s mother or bride’s father passed away before the wedding, and ask why are these chairs empty?

      There are so many things going on in the world for you stand for, don’t be foolish enough to fall behind someone else’s bad behavior. She’s wrong. Ms./Mrs. Mesi took a moment from that young lady, her family, friends, fellow graduates and the attendees. They can NEVER get that moment back. After darn near two years of virtual school, each and every child that continued to get through all need a round of applause. Each child that didn’t have the help, support, love and guidance dropped out may still those same things to drop back in.

      I wish you the best beloved.

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    4. No I will not give her a break. You are wrong. Her parents didn’t laugh or cheer. It was others that did. She did absolutely nothing wrong. You should to read more about this event before making ignorant statements.

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  4. Please stop didn’t you guys family cheered and made noise for you all when you walked across the stage but we cam never be celebrated or happy wtf man can we live.

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  5. First of all, as adults you know that you cannot control another adults behavior. No yelling, no screaming and no clapping. When have you EVER attended a graduation where there was no clapping during the entire graduation? I’ll wait. In addition, she didn’t receive her degree because attendees laughed. When was the last time you attended a graduation and the guest speaker did not tell a joke? While you are thinking. I believe this was the 175th graduation class of Girls High School of Philadelphia. Also, the way the principal dropped the diploma in the basket is the same way dog owners drop poop bags in a trash can. She needs to be fired and NEVER able to supervise staff, teachers, hell if she has children or elderly parents she cares for, perhaps CPS and Office of the Aging need to pop by for several visits. If this is how she acts in front of people, who are RECORDING, what is she doing behind closed doors?

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  7. How many other graduations have there been where more than this has happened? You can tell family and friends not to say anything and they still do. It’s a celebration! I graduated from GHS myself in 1989 (233). I guess this principal thought she was superintendent of the district. In times like these many of our children are dying early. They have overcome way more than their parents had to deal with at their age. To go further, we don’t know what they’ve gone through to reach this accomplishment. To go even further, why can’t they just be celebrated?

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  8. Someone please proofread these articles before they go to print. This read is terrible. I almost forgot what the article was about.

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  9. I salute the principal!
    Right on, Alex….Disobeying the rules should have consequences.
    The student herself and her parents were the driver of this incident.

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  11. I guess 90% of all he commenters have low reading comprehension scores. The school district has clearly stated that it does not condone withholding diplomas. Period. It doesnt matter what the principal, lunch lady or gym coach approves or disapproves.

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  12. The principal should get fired immediately. How dare her withhold that young ladies degree on such asinine pretenct of her BS. Ultimately, that principal is clearly saying that she’s not going to give the young lady her earned degree because her parents cheered her on. To the parents, get a lawyer and sue that so called principals ass period

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  13. There are consequences to behaving like the rules don’t apply to you. She should be angry with the people who caused her to have her diploma withheld during the ceremony. Actions have consequences. For those of you playing the race card, would you want the principal fired if she was black?

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    1. Give it a rest. Would your reaction be the same if the principal was Black and the student white?? You are telling on yourself.

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  14. This was clearly racially motivated. I guarantee Karen’s reaction would have been very different if this was a white person. She should be disciplined. The poor girl had her moment stolen after working so hard and for what?? For celebrating her graduation?! Give me a break. To all those supporting this BS, reflect on whether you would have felt the same had this been a white woman.

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  15. when my child graduates I will cheer very loudly, and I will have no pity for anyone trying to stop me or witholding my child’s diploma

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  16. The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates.

    “We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.”

    for the ppl not willing to read the article in its entirety.

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  17. My daughter and grandson attended Morrisville High. I could write a page about the draconian Principals, teachers and so called safety officers but I do not have the time. If you are expecting for teachers to conduct themselves in a professional manner with the kids they are entrusted to teach look elsewhere. They are there to collect a paycheck and if they have to work a little harder with a child that may have a problem learning he most likely will fall between the cracks of a system that only cares a about stats and not true educational facts. Parents we hold some accountability as well, teach our kids to be respectful and accountable for their actions and diligent in their school work. But being an ex military wife and having my children in different schools hands down Philadelphia school district has to be one of the worst.

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  18. As a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Girls (the high school in this article) the graduation ceremonies are from a long history of rules and requirements. The principal acted correctly upholding the requirements of the graduates participating in the ceremony… Philadelphia High School for Girls is n academically competitive school steeped in the tradition of upholding young women to prepare them to for a successful post high school life, whether it be collegiate, work force or trade school.. as a student there, you learn this from day one. This is not a racial or religious issue, this is an issue based on no self respect or respect for the traditions of her high school. The principal.is to be commended for the outcome of this student’s behavior. More principals and superintendents should behave in this manner.

    Reply

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