PRINCIPAL HALTS ONE OF BEST VALEDICTORIAN SPEECHES OF THE YEAR

REGINA SCHAFFER, PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY - 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
speech was interrupted by the principal, and Elnahal cut his remarks
short and left the ceremony. Mainland principal Robert Blake said the
speech insulted Elnahal's classmates. "That was so hypocritical of him
to make that statement," Blake said. "It was an insult to everyone here
at this school ... he made inflammatory comments about the school in
general." Reached at his home Wednesday, Elnahal said he regrets the way
the situation unfolded. He was embarrassed and apologetic. "I put the
principal in a very uncomfortable position - he's a very nice guy,
actually - I feel bad," Elnahal said. "I feel bad that he had to deal
with this." "I just wanted to finish up, I felt pretty guilty," he said.
"I felt embarrassed that the ceremony had to happen this way. It's
supposed to be a day of celebration." At the same time, Elnahal said he
is glad he had the opportunity to make his point. "I went to two parties
last night, and I'm their hero now," he said. "I felt like this was the
right thing to do," Elnahal said. "I couldn't show the speech (to
officials) beforehand because they would have rejected it. I could tell
by the reaction from students that they felt the same way. I had to
express it or I felt that nothing would change."

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/education/story/6456794p-6312027c.html


THE SPEECH

Four years ago, we gathered here for an education. Today marks a
milestone in that pursuit, a culmination of four years of learning,
growth and shared memories. At such times, it is appropriate to reflect
on years past, to examine what we have done and what we have learned.
Today I am charged with that difficult task, and I would like to thank
the school for the opportunity to stand before my peers and reflect on
our time together.

Education can be defined a number of different ways. For me, it is the
product of human curiosity. Intellectual thought, as far as I can tell,
is nothing but the asking and answering of questions. In my reflection,
however, and I have reflected on this a great deal, I found that many of
life's most important questions are ignored here. What is the right way
to live? What is the ideal society? What principles should guide my
behavior? What is success, what is failure? Is there a creator, and if
so, should we look to it for guidance? These are often dismissed as
questions of religion, but religion is not something opposed to
rationality, it simply seeks to answer such questions through faith.

The separation of church and state is, of course, important, but it
should never be a reason for intellectual submission or suppression of
any kind. Ethics - it is what defines us - as individuals, as a society
- and yet it is never discussed, never explained, never justified.
Rousseau, Descartes, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Aquinas, nearly every major
writer I've encountered devotes time to the subject. And it's not as if
these questions are without practical concern, that they are less
immediately relevant than science for instance.

Our laws, our institutions and all our actions are a reflection of our
ethics. Our own society owes itself to the writers of the enlightenment,
but we never probe their work we fail to espouse the movement's central
principle, doubt. Doubt everything. We study what is, never why, never
what should be. For that reason, the education we have received here is
not only incomplete, it is entirely hollow.

What's more, this same lack of focus can be found in many of the
subjects we do study. We approach history as though it were a story,
endlessly cataloging every major character or event. But the details of
that story are insignificant - what is significant is the progression of
ideas. A study of history should get some sense of how the society he
sees around him developed from those built thousands of years ago, what
ideas changed and what changed them.

When humanist scholars looked into ancient Rome during the Renaissance,
they searched for moral examples, for ideas. They didn't mull on every
single daily event. They were inspired, and they transformed society.
History is not an end in itself; it should act as a tool for greater
thought.

But it's not only history. I've taken a literature class nearly every
year of my life, but never has a question so basic as "What is good
writing?" come up. Literary technique, what should be the focus of the
class, is never discussed. How does an author develop plot? How can an
author control mood or tone in his writing? What is the advantage of one
author's methods over another's? Such matters are never discussed.

We read for the sake of reading, to talk about our interpretations in
class as though we were in a book club. But no attention is paid to why
we read the books we do, what makes them so special. And this pattern,
grade for the sake of a grade, work for the sake of work, can be found
everywhere.

Ladies and gentlemen, the spirit of intellectual thought is lost. I
speak today not to rant, complain or cause trouble, and certainly not to
draw attention to myself. I have accomplished nothing and I am nothing.
I know that. Rather, I was moved by the countless hours wasted in those
halls.

Today, you should focus on your child or loved one. This is meant to be
a day of celebration, and if I've taken away from that, I'm sorry. But I
know how highly this community values learning, and I urge you all to
re-evaluate what it means to be educated. I care deeply about everyone
here, and it is only our fulfillment I desire. I will leave now so that
the ceremony can go on. Again, my deepest apologies, God help me.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/education/story/6456794p-6312027c.html