Leanna Elizalde will walk, her story appalls nation and world
According to a reliable source, the family of Woodland High School senior Leanna Elizalde has been contacted with a solution that will allow Leanna to walk during the school's graduation ceremony on Saturday. Reports indicate that Leanna was one course short of the WHS graduation requirement due to her battle with cancer last semester.
There is rumored to be a special board meeting about the situation tomorrow (Friday) at 3 pm, however there is no posting of such on the district Web site as of 3 pm today.
The story has caught on across the United States, across our borders and across oceans.
Reports from Sacramento: News10, KCRA, CBS13/CW31
Report from the Bay Area: CBS5
Report from South Carolina: WLTX
Report from Virginia: NewsChannel3
From Georgia: CNN
Click here to access the Google results for Leanna Elizalde and see all the bloggers taking part in the discussion. Woodland blogs include appalled citizens from Washington, North Carolina, Ohio, Massachusetts, Idaho, New York, Texas, Oregon, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Hawai'i, Wisconsin, and Kansas. Bloggers have said they've seen reports in Canada and I've received an email from Australia.
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15 comments:
I'll start this commentary. Check out the Daily Democrat's editorial today:
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/editorial/ci_9489075
"As much as our heart goes out to Woodland High School senior Leanna Elizalde - who is now in remission for having a cancerous tumor on her leg - the fact is that in meeting the rules for graduation, she did not. Therefore, she should not be allowed to graduate."
"This is what life is all about. And remember, Elizalde will still be able to graduate this summer, after she makes up the class she failed. Isn't that enough?"
"But let's face it, the Woodland School District has been hammered over the years every time another state study has come out reporting on diminished graduation rates. That's one of the reasons why the rules were put in place, requiring a specific number of units before permitting someone to walk and receive a diploma."
# # #
Once again the editor and the publisher prove that they are out of touch with reality. The fact is, students do not receive their diplomas at the ceremony. The ceremony honors the graduating class. Leanna is part of the Class of 2008.
The statement "she should not be allowed to graduate" is ridiculous. The editor has mistaken the ceremony for the actual act of graduating. She will officially graduate when she completes her last course this summer. She knows that. Now the world knows that because the school district lacks the capacity to make a quick, reasonable decision.
Because of Leanna's special circumstances, she should be allowed to sit with her classmates, walk proudly to the podium, have her name announced and throw her mortarboard into the air during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Institutions across the United States allow students who lack units to participate in graduation ceremonies without any special circumstances. These thousands of institutions require nothing more than the promise that students will complete their coursework soon after the ceremony.
The correlation made to diminished graduation rates in the editorial is just foolish. Of course, "diminished" is a favorite word of the editor so it had to be plugged-in somewhere.
If the WJUSD does not allow her to walk, the fab 4 have just sealed their fate with the voters of Woodland once and for all. This is something that hits the voters right in the gut and we will remember this, regardless of the outcome. This should have never happened!
Out of the mouth’s of babes……As I became incensed with the recent unfolding of events surrounding the senior cancer student who was unable to walk with her senior class and was ready to dust off my 60’s garb and put on a full on protest, my daughter put things into perspective. Protesting would only damage and already tarnished event and take away from the real significance of the event. It would not take into an account the other 300+ students who deserve their own recognition for their accomplishments, not to mention the 40+ students who have achieved outstanding academic excellence. As she stated, we do not know the whole story. She may not have been a stellar student to begin with and the recent events may have caused her to slide under the wire. We only know what the media has presented to us. So, to focus on one individual who already is in the limelight is unfair to the other senior graduating class members who equally deserve their day to shine. And I thought parents knew everything…..
9:47
I see what you are saying. It would be a shame if it turned into a spectacle that took away from the other graduates. And I've heard some stories from the "other" side - however - from several accounts it appears that her deficit in units comes down to one class. Whether she didn't pass the class before she became ill does not negate the fact she developed cancer.
Considering there are probably many pieces to the puzzle... on what side do you error? It is apparent that people from across the US think Leanne should walk with her classmates. If it comes down to a coin toss - should she walk or not - what's the harm in letting her go through the motions?
The real mistake comes down to the district's handling of the situation. If Leanne's mother is being truthful, the principal had opportunities to nip the situation in the bud. First of all, the principal should have recognized the question above. Secondly, the superintendent should have come up with a better solution than to just have Leanne sit there. As I mentioned before, that little public announcement was sheisty.
As much as your child shed light on the true meaning of the ceremony, the media attention could have been avoided if the district had some sense.
Here's a new report from News10:
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=42846&GID=fSqbiuYB6pkzqf2F5g4bWCAJ0UDoTH99g9HYJRvPAEo%3D
According to the report, "After meeting with district officials and the girl's teachers, Elizalde and her mother said they were told she could sit with her classmates and graduate as long as she completes one final English paper."
Still a bit unclear... but another source indicates that "she will walk on Saturday."
PS: Ironically, in the News10 report, Cottingim was quoted using the word "integrity:"
"Somewhere, there a place where the integrity of the diploma and the other things are protected, but the student still gets what the student needs," Woodland Unified School District Superintendent Jacki Cottingim said.
It is a compelling story, but like in other issues there are other sides to it.
Rumor has it that the student lacks more than one class. The story line by her supporters is that she lacks one class. Which one is it? The mother and the student have a moral responsibility to clear this issue. The district, by federal law, can not divulge such data to the public. But the parents can and MUST. I have witness several times over the years that the media and public only get one side of the story because school district and other public agencies are not allowed to divulge confidential information.
One story that comes to mind was last year's issue with a music teacher. We only heard one side of the story and it was not accurate.
THE MOTHER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE PERMISSION TO THE DISTRICT SO THAT THE OFFICIAL RECORD BE MADE PUBLIC. THEY TOOK IT TO THE PUBLIC WAVES AND NOW MUST DO THE ETHICAL AND MORAL THING; RELEASE THE RECORDS SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT IS THE TRUTH.
1:14 Rumormonger
Check out the Daily D:
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/ci_9500723
Despite the insensitive headline ("Cancer teen to graduate Saturday at Woodland High School"), the paper released more details about the missing requirements. Apparently she was just one class short and the teacher has allowed her to make up her missing work. It doesn't say what semester Leanna took the class.
I've asked a trustee what, exactly, will happen on Saturday. The way it looks now, however, is that she will complete all of her coursework today and will satisfy the graduation requirements - making the walking/sitting controversy moot. Therefore, your cry for records might be for naught.
Sounds like this cry for the student's records is just an attempt to dig up something that could be used to smear her.
"Oh, look, she got a C- in History, so obviously she isn't a good student and is asking for special favors!"
Leave your swift-boating tactics out of this issue.
Dino, why are you afraid to have the family disclosed the records? The info... in DD does not clear the confusion.
Truth never kills anyone. Mrs. Elizalde do the right thing and release your daughter's school records. Correct the rumors and let us see the truth.
Your insinuation that I'm afraid of the information contained in her records is stupid. I tried to summarize all the accounts I know about (from statements gathered from many sources). It appears she will earn her credits for graduation today.
What records are you trying obtain? Her total credits? It seems the DD report cleared it up with Leanna's quotes. Like I said before, even if she has to make up two classes this summer she should still be able to walk with her classmates during the ceremony.
Regardless of classes to be made up, summer school etc.....How many idiot celebrities are given "honorary" degrees from some of the top educational institutions in the world for dong nothing but collecting ticket dollars.
Let the girl walk...fix the credit issues quietly, with dignity in the background but ensure the standards are met.
Why this had to become a national media circus is ridiculous.
When I graduated high school, NO ONE got anything but blank paper in that leather folder. We had to return days later for our diplomas and the summer school folks had to wait until they were complete to get theirs.
Where the heck is the fire? Is the WUJSD Management that inept that they cant handle the simplest of conflicts?
This whole thing has stir raw emotions from many individuals. School board members, administrators and other educators (not from WJUSD) have received nasty e-mails and life threats. Life threats must be investigated by the authorities. When persons write anonymously, they think they can threaten people. I have news for those that sent such e-mails, the authorities will track you down and convict you.
What a shame that we can not have a civil conversation even when we strongly disagree! The nature of this medium may be a contributing factor.
No one is innocent here. We have all contributed to the malaise that has fallen upon our city.
There is much that went wrong in this case. What a pity. It will take time for us to heal from this unfortunate event. As stated in another post, we do not know the whole story and 300+ students that completed their assignments on time as required will remember this sad event.
Anon 9:57....
Strangely, for being such a proponent of "accountability" you actually posted anonymous. Maybe the irony was lost on you...but to me, that is hypocritical. Next time, if you want some credibility with us, sign your post.
If you are so righteous why did you not write your real name. Gallina.
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