Student praised for defiant graduation act after district banned books
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: West ADA School District
Graduation day is meant to be the happiest day of your education life and a new beginning into the world of work.
But with the amount of people at any given ceremony, I suppose it's a pretty good place to make a point as well.
And one student has been praised for her defiant graduation act after the district banned a certain category of books.
Annabelle Jenkins, an Idaho high school student, gave West Ada Superintendent Derek Bub a graphic novel adaptation of the famous book The Handmaid's Tale.
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Annabelle passed over the book at the Idaho Fine Arts Academy commencement on 23 May, but the superintendent refused to take it.
According to Idaho EdNews, The Handmaid's Tale is one of 10 books the West Ada School District took off its shelf back in December.
Annabelle decided to take a stance against this, in a video that is documented on her TikTok channel.
Donning the typical graduation attire complete with cap and gown, Annabelle walked across the stage, shaking everyone's hand.
But as she approached Bub, the student took a copy of the book out and gave to the superintendent.
Bub decided to refuse the book, so Annabelle ultimately placed it on the floor by his feet before she walked off stage.
Speaking to KTVB about the graduation incident, Annabelle recalled: "I just realized that I did not want to walk across that stage and get my diploma and shake the superintendent's hand. I just did not want to do that.
"I got up there and I got the book out. I kind of showed it to the audience really quick. He crossed his arms like this and he wouldn't take it."
She added: "I don't like to be the center of attention or do things just to, like, get a reaction. So when I do things, I want it to be very purposeful. I want people to know that this is something deeply, deeply important to me.
"My goal was never to be disruptive or mess up the ceremony. And I really don't believe that I did. I mean, at the end of the day, I think that that was my time on stage and that was my moment and that was something that was important to me to do."
Meanwhile, West Ada School District spokesperson Niki Scheppers told Idaho Statesman: "While we respect the right to voice concerns, it is important to maintain the focus on the achievements and hard work of our students during such significant milestones."