[miketwalker]

One thing that I've learned, and definitly have had very much reiterated as a college mentor is that you simply can't do stuff like that. The intention is totally honorable, but the thing is... there are so many ways that it could have been done. Unlike the other posts here, I have to say I fully agree with the principal's actions. You totally broke rules, snuck around cops, trespassed on property, and had no permission to display what you did. Yes, you had good intentions but you simply can't go about things in that way.

Think about it from a principal's perspective, if he were to let you go with a light punishment who knows what kind've prank someone else might do this year or in future years if they think "Oh, I'll just get a slap on the wrist." Honoring those who have passed is respectable, but you simply can't do that. You're not a freshman, you're a graduating senior. Act like it.

If this sounds harsh, that's cause it needs to be. You need to not look at this as an "My administrator was a mean jerk!" thing and take it for what it is. This is how the future is, and if you were to do this not as a student I can assure you that you would be in a much worse situation then not going to prom. Prom is an honor not a freebie.

I honestly feel that had you brought something about this thing you wanted to do to the administration before hand and went through proper channels you could have done something. Yea, probably not banners on the top of a building, but that's life. You need to learn from this now or you are going to run into major, major problems in the future. You went against the rules, and if anything I think the punishment was light. The rules are the rules, and nobody cares what your intentions were. Wars are started with the best intentions, and look how those turn out. Respect those who have died, but doing it in the way you did is incredibly disrespectful to your administration and school that HAS gotten you to the point your at now and is ready to send you off with their seal of approval. That far outways the intentions, because so many other proper channels could have been used to respectfully honor them whether it be in school or in the graduation ceremony or something. I hope that you make a quick change in your attitude or you'll have severe consequences down the line.