It was Spring 1993 when "Donna Martin Graduates" become a teen anthem.
In the famous episode, Donna Martin (played by Tori Spelling) had to attend a disciplinary hearing regarding her drunken activity on prom night. Donna was denied participation in commencement ceremonies and her friends were left to stand up to Mrs. Teasley and the school board to ensure that Donna Martin graduates.
At teacher Gil Meyers' suggestion, the Peach Pit gang planned a school wide walk-out and a mass demonstration in front of the school board. With Brandon, Brenda, Dylan, Kelly, Steve and David leading the large crowd, "Donna Martin Graduates" was rolling off the tongues of every student. Ultimately, the school board voted to let Donna off with a minor penalty, allowing her to attend commencement and graduate with her friends.
This message of supporting your friends and your peers still resonates today. Throughout our schooling, I am sure we have all had at least one "Donna Martin Graduates" moment. While you may not always agree with the action or stance a peer has taken, supporting their ideas and opening the lines of communication is never a bad thing.
Next time the opportunity presents itself, create your own fabulous "Donna Martin Graduates" moment. And please, try to recreate the fierceness of their '90s attire. Don't you die for Brenda's mom jeans and Brandon's teal jacket? Oh and R-Patz is totally rocking the Dylan hair.
Good post. I agree with standing up for your peers and what you think is right.'
ReplyDeleteHowever, it made me think of a time this student made a facebook group bashing a teacher - the school board expelled him. His school colleagues protested in his defence, and they were all suspended.
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/14746--school-board-ponders-facebook-suspensions
Made me wonder, are times changing??