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Schools

Palatine High Graduates Class of 2011

Be responsible, be creative speaker tells 656-member class of 2011.

In a sea of Pirate red and in a gymnasium crammed with family and friends, Palatine High School Sunday graduated 656 members of its Class of 2011.

District 211 Board of Education President Robert LeFevre, Jr., Superintendent Nancy N. Robb and Principal Gary Steiger presented the diplomas to the  graduating seniors, who left the gymnasium with the words of social studies teacher Asa Gordon ringing in their ears.

“You need to learn to work without a net,” he told them, “without your parents. Young people need to see and do for themselves. If you want to be a man, if you want to be woman, then you’ve got to accept responsibility.”

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In a firey speech that drew loud and long applause when it was over, he urged students to “be creative.”

 “When you are doing things on your own, always remember there is always another way and a better way to do something,” he said. “Never be satisfied with an ordinary job, always do more.”

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And his final piece of advice was this.

“I always tell my students, don’t do anything your grandmother wouldn’t do,” he said.

After the last diploma was handed out, students left the gymnasium  through a gauntlet of teachers and staff members, headed by Steiger who shook hands, hugged and patted the graduates on the back as they passed.

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