A 93-year-old Ohio woman has received the high school diploma she was denied in 1942 because of rules that expelled married students.
Dorothy Liggett was a few weeks from graduation from Akron’s North High School when officials discovered she was married.
Akron Public Schools Superintendent David James hand-delivered the diploma to Liggett in a surprise ceremony Wednesday in suburban Fairlawn, The Akron Beacon Journal reported.
Liggett’s daughter Janice Larkin had written to James about her mother.
James said he read the letter and researched what happened.
“I felt terrible for the way Mrs. Liggett was treated all of those years ago and wanted to do what we could to make it up to her,” James said. “To have invested 13 years in school, to have been a good student and still not receive a diploma because of that, was simply wrong.”
Liggett and her late husband, John Huston, had run away to Kentucky to get married after he was called into the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Huston graduated from North High School two years earlier. The two had planned to have Liggett join her husband after she graduated.
During one school day, Liggett forgot her gym attire and the teacher told her to go to study hall. Liggett said she replied, “No, I’m married. I’m going home.”
The school then acted on its policy to ban married students.
Superintendent James said they felt Ligget’s birthday was the perfect occasion to make amends.
“While it may be an honor for Dorothy, for us it is a long overdue recognition,” James said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
It sounds like we had liberal educators back in 1942 who were working to destroy our country. I guess nothing changes. I’m glad the current superintendent has more sense than his predecessor from the years of World War II had.
I’m glad this woman finally received the diploma she earned in the 1940s.
I am too
Got news for you: those weren’t liberals. Most likely, they were God-fearing Christians that had only slightly more respect for underage weddings as they had for out-of-wedlock/underage pregnancies. Punishment for both crimes: banishment.
Got news for you, too. What makes you think they were “God-fearing Christians […]”? My very public, NON-Christian school In Hawai’i did not allow married students to attend classes with the rest of the students – probably because they might introduce us to or discuss their nighttime activities – and encourage an interest in sex. Heaven forbid they get preggers and show proof of that! ~~~1965.
It reminds me of my mother who did not receive the American flag when my father was killed in action during WW2. The reason given was there were not enough flags. Many, many years later it was given to her with a brief ceremony. I’m happy that the woman was finally given her diploma which is long overdue. God Bless her.