... That the drought has finally ended?

Earpj: Link

Weird. Does this work?

Yes. Good read.

Bathia_Mapes: I wonder if this teacher is retiring or something like that. I agree with him 100%, but you know there is going to be a whole lotta butthurt, especially from the parents in the audience.

Tough sh*t.
Hero tag should apply.

..prove me wrong, children! Prove me wrong.

Hero Tag was on vacation I see...

Spiffy Tag is a nice fill-in tho

this comment is awesome:

"I am from Wellesley. In contrast to what some readers have said who have claimed to "know" about Eastern Massachusetts and the families there, this town is actually NOT completely full of "pampered, spoiled rich kids". It is nonsensical to categorize an entire town, let alone half a state, into one sentence and somewhat foolish, honestly. Do not try to act as though you are "better" than us simply because you can write us off as being spoiled, with over-inflated egos. I, along with most people I know, have always worked extremely hard and taken nothing for granted, and while my family is well enough off, we have never been "rich". That being said, I quite enjoyed Mr. McCullough's speech and found it very amusing and thought-provoking. However, do not assume every student in Wellesley, or other towns, is a certain way just because of the image you have set in your mind."

she sounds pampered, spoiled, doted on, bubble-wrapped, etc

YES!

/WHS alumnus

Given that it's pretty easy to derive from what's quoted that the speech was more or less "you aren't unique, but don't mistake that for being unworthy" the butthurt tone of the article seems kinda disingenuous. Pretty standard commencement fare, that.

That. Was. AWESOME!!!!!

/and true

I was interviewing graduating engineers just last week. One guy was in the waiting room with his feet up on the coffee table. Within 5 minutes the interview was over for him. Pompous arrogant little douche. I was very blunt with him and he told me, "Dude, I graduated from Rolla with a 4.0. I can work anywhere I want." I told him that's probably true as long as he didn't want to work here. What really pisses me off is the little prick is right - but hopefully he learned a little humility before his next interview.

Asa Phelps: Barney reference? Those kids graduated a couple years ago.

My current (well, until today---yay summer!) 4th-grade class knows Barney, all too well. He is a scourge that will live on in syndication.

The man is right on.

Not sure about other regions, but here trophies are sprinkled everywhere for everyting till about age 7, then you gotta earn them, perhaps due to the leagues cutting costs. Of the 14 teams in Pony baseball, for example, only one team got trophies, the others teams went one-two-BBQ in the playoffs.

/Junior did get a medal (not trophy) for placing first in the state in a field event, tho. The fun lasted about 8 minutes.

No hero tag?

Butterflew: this comment is awesome:

"I am from Wellesley. In contrast to what some readers have said who have claimed to "know" about Eastern Massachusetts and the families there, this town is actually NOT completely full of "pampered, spoiled rich kids". It is nonsensical to categorize an entire town, let alone half a state, into one sentence and somewhat foolish, honestly. Do not try to act as though you are "better" than us simply because you can write us off as being spoiled, with over-inflated egos. I, along with most people I know, have always worked extremely hard and taken nothing for granted, and while my family is well enough off, we have never been "rich". That being said, I quite enjoyed Mr. McCullough's speech and found it very amusing and thought-provoking. However, do not assume every student in Wellesley, or other towns, is a certain way just because of the image you have set in your mind."

she sounds pampered, spoiled, doted on, bubble-wrapped, etc

I was born and spent my teens in Wellesley, and I can say this is true. My family was very wealthy, but no one automatically got a BMW/Mercedes/other-high-end-auto-here. In fact, all the kids only drove when they bought their own cars, and six months of insurance. Then, we were made to demonstrate maintenance knowledge. Even the girls were told that they could not drive until we learned to change "oil and tires".

And no, I don't have a trust fund. I learned how to manage my money.

This man IS a Hero.
I tell my kids that they are one in 100 million !!!!!!

Earpj: Link

Weird. Does this work?

Of course you don't feel special, so you're projecting your feelings on others. You're a pooch. Need a hug?

When do the lawsuits for mental and emotional damage start?
Will they cover it when he gets fired by the School board because of parental pressure?

"Talented" and "special" are meant to be adjectives, not nouns.

This is full of win.

scottydoesntknow: Bathia_Mapes: I wonder if this teacher is retiring or something like that. I agree with him 100%, but you know there is going to be a whole lotta butthurt, especially from the parents in the audience.

I can imagine a parent standing up, screaming "MY CHILD IS SPECIAL!" then looking around at every other parent standing up saying the exact same thing.

/cue Incredibles reference

MY child is Spartacus!

*MY* child is Spartacus!

No, MY child is Spartacus!!

Asa Phelps: weasil: Asa Phelps: Barney reference? Those kids graduated a couple years ago.

My current (well, until today---yay summer!) 4th-grade class knows Barney, all too well. He is a scourge that will live on in syndication.

Really? I thought he went off the air ages ago.

Do your kids wiggle from side to side like their butt itches whenever they talk to you?

from Wiki-New episodes have not been produced since 2009[citation needed]; however, reruns continue to air on various PBS stations.