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Kareem Elnahal learned a lesson Tuesday night — even in graduation, the school still rules.

The class valedictorian surprised administrators and his fellow 2006 graduates at Mainland Regional High School when he opted to give an unapproved speech criticizing the school. Mainland, Elnahal said, does not encourage intellectual thought and the exchange of ideas.

The senior, in a detailed speech that referenced philosphers and ethics principles, referred to his education as “entirely hollow.” The speech was interrupted by the principal, and Elnahal cut his remarks short and left the ceremony. [READ THE REST].

For those who want to know, Here is the rest of the speech. I agree with this editorial, which concludes:

School officials should be asking themselves why they wouldn’t have approved this speech in the first place. Elnahal’s fellow graduates and Mainland’s teachers and administrators shouldn’t be embarrassed by him. They should be proud of him.

When you think about it, it was not Elnahal who insulted the students. It was the principal who interrupted the speech and later said, “My hope was they did not hear or understand what he was saying.” What a great statement! I hope the people who we’ve “educated” for four years are too stupid to understand what he said.

Hat Tip: Chris O’Donnell