Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Speech from Duval's heart would have meant more

I am a graduate of Springstead High School Class of 2005. I have read the letters that were sent in response to the article about principal Susan Duval, and I agree with most of them.

What would make plagiarism acceptable in this situation? The fact that she represents our school and is our principal? That makes matters even worse. She is supposed to be a role model for her students; in actuality, she is just as bad as some of them.

Students get penalized and punished when it is apparent that they have plagiarized, whether it was an honest mistake or not. (In most cases it presents a sign of laziness, where many students get their information online, and simply copy and paste. It takes a lot less time than actually having to think and apply yourself.)

You would have thought, that in respect for the graduating class of 2005, Duval would have taken the time to write a speech from the heart, containing original thoughts and comments, rather than getting the information online. Whether the speech was good or bad, we students would have appreciated it more than anything else because we would know it came from her heart and that she wished us all the best. Instead, we find out that she's a fraud and she plagiarized the entire thing. It's pretty sad that when we look back at the speeches given at graduation, we will remember hers like that.

Also, in spite of letters that praise her, I don't see Duval in the light some others do. I do understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, she is in no way, shape or form a role model to me.

During the school year, you would think it would be normal to see your principal around the school campus or even in classrooms. I rarely saw her and fortunately never had a reason to have to deal with her for specific purposes.

I also wanted to comment about all the teachers who have written letters in regards to this situation have commented on the fact our school received a "B" grade from the state due to Duval. In my eyes, and others', we have ourselves to thank for that. Students worked hard for that grade, with the help of our teachers and peers.

Schools lucky to have such a superintendent as Tellone

Re: Tellone was a bad choice from the beginning, June 9 letter to the editor.

Wendy Tellone was a great choice for school superintendent. I am happy the School Board saw fit to turn to her to help make Hernando County schools a better place to learn and grow.

I had the honor of getting to know Dr. Tellone when I was serving as Hernando High's student government association president. Sitting in a room with her for least one hour once a month with three other student government presidents, I saw she cared about what went on in schools. She was concerned with the type of education we were receiving, not only in books, but also in life.

I saw how she wanted to make our schools improve not only in performance for the FCAT, SAT and ACT, but how we would survive after we graduate from the little classrooms of our schools to a bigger course called life.

To letter writer Philip Cuthbertson, I tip my hat to you. You did something that many people are afraid to do. You are out there protecting our country so my friends and I are safe and have a place to speak our minds freely. But you should have no worries about your kids being in a "Tellone-free school zone." They will be lucky to be under such great leadership.

I have three sisters who have yet to graduate; I know they are in good hands and will turn out just fine.

[Last modified June 23, 2005, 00:46:08]