Massachusetts Teacher Tells Graduates 'You’re Not Special'; Was the Commencement Address Too Harsh?

A commencement speech by a Massachusetts high school English teacher is getting national attention. David McCullough, Jr., told students at Wellesley High School, “You’re not special. You’re not exceptional.”

Radio talk show host and Boston Herald columnist Michael Graham weighed in on the speech during today’s America’s Newsroom. He said that when he played the speech during his radio show, he was surprised that his listeners weren’t all in support of it.

In fact, Graham said, “One mom called in and said, ‘I didn’t come to my daughter’s graduation to hear that speech.’ She had nothing against the content, she just wasn’t sure that it was the right venue.” Graham believed that his listeners would be in support of the no-nonsense speech, as they are typically against babying the children in our society.

Graham discussed the fact that there are 37,000 valedictorians this year. He said, “The valedictorian number is not accurate because so many schools in the country think that valedictorians are unfair and make the other kids feel bad that they now hand out multiple valedictorians.”

“This speech is such a bracing, refreshing moment. Unfortunately, it’s probably the only time these cupcake kids have ever heard that speech, which is why I was cheering it, absolutely.”