Valedictorian Yanked From Speech, Forced to Take Psych Test

By R. Brownell

LODI, NEW JERSEY – Devan Solanki has it made, he finished his recent high school career with a 4.3 GPA and even earned an acceptance letter to Harvard University in the Fall.

Chosen to be the class Valedictorian, Solanki’s opportunity was taken from him when school administrators halted his opportunity to give the graduating class’s commencement speech due to allegations of having a history of disciplinary issues.

Not only did the administration not allow him to be the commencement speaker, but Solanki was then forced to take a psychiatric evaluation as recommended to the administration by his guidance counselor. According to nj.com, who first reported on the issue:

Solanki admits to having disciplinary infractions but insists they’re minor – using a cell phone on one occasion, and on two separate occasions, talking back to teachers. He thinks it’s his reputation for occasionally being sharp-tongued with Lodi High School staff that’s led to the end-of-year graduation woes.

Solanki, not consenting to the guidance counselor’s order to take a psychological exam in order to give the speech, asked for mediation between himself and the administration and counselor in order to calm the situation before things got out of hand. Asking the counselor to “…handle this peacefully today”, the counselor took Solanki’s request as a threat and ended up suspending him instead unless he consented to the psych evaluation.

Upset over the counselor’s action, Solanki published a letter to the community describing what had been occurring between himself and the school board over their series of coarse decisions:

I’m writing to you to explain how my valedictorian speech was taken from me.

This past Thursday, June 4th, [Teacher] called me into [Principal’s] office where I was told that I would not be permitted to give the commencement speech at my own graduation. They told me that they have been trying to implement a new policy where National Honors Society members apply for the chance to give the speech and now was as good of a time as ever. They said that due to my disciplinary history I would not even be considered in the running. I was told that I had two choices. I could either tell everyone that I decided not to apply altogether or send in an application knowing that my speech had no chance of winning, regardless of its merit.

The thing that hurt the most was the timing of it. They decided to tell me June 4th. Not only was it the day of prom but it was two days after the Valedictorian Breakfast. [Teachers’ names removed for confidentiality] had just spent an entire morning telling me just how proud they were of me and of my accomplishments. I don’t understand how they could sit by and applaud while I get my certificate knowing that they would soon take it all away from me. After they told me that giving a speech just wouldn’t be in my future, they offered to retain the ceremony honoring the valedictorian. What I don’t understand is why they thought that the title valedictorian was synonymous with being number one in the class. No it’s not. In fact a valedictorian is someone who gives a valedictory, or in layman’s terms, a closing speech.

Their reasoning is that since I’ve faced disciplinary action in the past, I’m no longer fit to hold such an honor. In all honesty, regardless of the credence of the actions that landed me in the vice principal’s office, I think “getting in trouble” makes me all the more representative of my class, not less. I am human after all.

I’ve been lectured time and time again about picking my battles very carefully. To be frank, I can’t think of anything else that I’d rather make a stand against. If I’ve learned anything during my four years at Lodi High School, it’s that when you feel you need help, there are people all around you that you can turn to. Whether or not you’ve had me in class or merely heard about me, I think you should be able to decide for yourself whether or not this is a fair thing to do to a student. I’m not asking you to act, but merely acknowledge and share with me in my plight.

As of now school administrators have refused to comment on the situation to reporters, due to privacy laws protecting student’s disciplinary records from being disclosed to the public. More information on the matter is to come in the coming days leading towards the school’s graduation day later this month.