School relents on barring valedictorian from graduation speech

Aurora Ponce, the 18-year-old South L.A. valedictorian who was barred from giving a speech at graduation because she participated in a student protest over growing class sizes and other concerns, was allowed to speak at Saturday's ceremony.

The teenager, her family and supporters met with officials of the Accelerated School for two hours Friday but the matter remained unresolved, Ponce said. She prepared her speech and school officials reviewed it Saturday morning before giving her approval minutes before the ceremony.

"It meant a lot to me," said Ponce, who is heading to UC Davis in August to study engineering. "All the seniors were supporting me, my parents were there supporting me, my teachers...I was really happy."

-- Seema Mehta

Comments

[Bob Johnson]

Valedictorian at this school? What is that, a 1.9? LOL

[Sean K]

Nice job Mehta... didn't even mention the name of the school. I would think that was a pretty important piece of information to include, even if the article was only 3 short paragraphs.

Anyhow, I'm glad Ponce's right to freedom of speech was restored, otherwise I think she would have had a strong case for a lawsuit, which, while deserved, would have cost the school district and taxpayers a lot of money for the incompetence of... well, actually I'm not sure who, since the article didn't even say who was making the decisions.

[HMatthews]

Why the unkind remark, B Johnson? She is obviously a good kid with a bright future. Why would you be so overtly bigoted?

I have an idea, let's take the higher road and as Ghandi said,
"Be the change you want to see in the world."

Seems to me this young lady is doing just that.

[Joel M]

With the strain on newsrooms everywhere at an all-time high, thanks to the Los Angeles Times from the teachers, parents & students at The Accelerated School (in South Los Angeles) for sticking with this important story! School administrators who invoke policies that abandon the First Amendment teach a dangerous lesson to students.

(PS to Sean K -- It's all in there: the name of the school is in the first sentence of the second paragraph. The location of the school is in the first sentence of the first paragraph. The second paragraph also makes it quite clear who made the original decison to bar Aurora from delivering her valedictory speech: school officials.)

[Joel M]

Thanks to the Los Angeles Times for continuing to shine a light on this important story. School officials that invoke disciplinary policies which violate the First Amendment teach a dangerous lesson to students.

And thanks to Aurora Ponce & her fellow students for refusing to be bullied by Accelerated School administrators into not speaking out against proposed increases in class size and cutbacks in teaching staff.

[Joel M]

Thanks to the Los Angeles Times for continuing to shine a light on this important story. School officials that invoke disciplinary policies which violate the First Amendment teach a dangerous lesson to students.

And thanks to Aurora Ponce & her fellow students for refusing to be bullied by administrators of The Accelerated School into not speaking out against proposed increases in class size and cutbacks in teaching staff!

[Jay]

To the mediator of the L.A. Times. Please do not allow these comment boards to resemble the comment boards in "The Daily News". Their commentators post many racists messages. I urge you to protect your reputation.

To the students of South L.A. , keep up the great work!!!!