PALMER, Mass. – The speech that Superintendent Gerald Fournier gave at Palmer High School’s recent graduation was an inspirational one – that can be found easily on the Internet.

Fournier expressed surprise this week, saying he didn’t get the speech from the Internet and that he didn’t know it was widely available on the Web. The origin of the version on the Web.

Fournier said he got the speech from former colleagues about five years ago.

In fact, he said, he even gave the same speech then.

“I thought a colleague had written it,” he said. “If anyone is offended by the apparent liberal borrowing of this story, I apologize. It was not my intent to mislead.”

Titled “If I were any better, I would be twins” or “Choose how you start your day,” the story is about a man, always in a good mood, always with something positive to say, who chooses to look on the bright side of life. This man suffers a traumatic accident, but gives thanks to his doctors’ skill and his own positive attitude.

While Fournier’s speech was tailored, the gist was the same – and in parts nearly identical – to text on the Internet.

Fournier said he wanted to convey a positive, uplifting and educational message, for an academically focused class.

Valedictorian Samuel Dykstra said people have different styles when it comes to making speeches. “If he thinks it’s OK, it’s his call,” Dykstra said. “Some people like to use quotes …” which isn’t original work either.

But it would have felt better to the graduates if Fournier wrote his own speech, Dykstra said.

Senior Class President Nicole Breault called the speech “overall a good life lesson story.”

School Committee member James St. Amand dismissed the value of any speech by an official at a graduation, saying the focus should be on the words of the graduates.

“We’re not there to listen to the superintendent or the school committee chairperson … Speeches by the superintendent or chairperson should be minimal, if at all,” St. Amand said.

DS END STABILE

(Lori Stabile is a staff writer for The Republican of Springfield, Mass. She can be contacted at lstabile(at)repub.com.)

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