let me walk - article

this is discrimination, pure and simple. honestly, pregnancy is hard enough. being pregnant while being a student - at a roman catholic high school! - i imagine would make it all the worse. but to then not be allowed to receive your diploma with your class? no way! granted, it's probably not as simple as "if you earn it, you should have that right" since i do understand that as a religious school, there are certain moral principles at work that aren't an issue with public schooling. still, if that's the case, why was the father of the child not given the same treatment? you'd think there would be some element of forgiveness on the part of the administration. or understanding at least.

(yes, i was one of the ones who hated the scarlet letter in school...!)

Pregnant student defies graduation ban

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- A pregnant student who was banned from graduation at her Roman Catholic high school announced her own name and walked across the stage anyway at the close of the program.

Alysha Cosby's decision prompted cheers and applause Tuesday from many of her fellow seniors at St. Jude Educational Institute.
But her mother and aunt were escorted out of the church by police after Cosby headed back to her seat.

"I can't believe something like this is happening in 2005," said her mother, Sheila Cosby. "My daughter has been through a lot and I am proud of her. She deserved to walk, and she did."

The school's guidance counselor delivered Cosby's degree to her house earlier Tuesday, but she still wanted to participate.

"I worked hard throughout high school and I wanted to walk with my class," she said.
Cosby was told in March that she could no longer attend school because of safety concerns, and her name was not listed in the graduation program.

The father of Cosby's child, also a senior at the school, was allowed to participate in graduation.