Since mid-May, Anthony Bongo has been telling people he “graduated” from Teachers College at Columbia University. The Isaac E. Young web site was edited to insert the title “Dr.” before mentions of his name, even for letters and memos written and published before he “graduated”.
A week after Bongo “graduated”, we corrected the record: Isaac E. Young Principal Anthony Bongo Hooded at Columbia University Ceremony; Claims “Doctor” Title Prematurely
At Isaac E. Young Middle School an announcement was made over the loud speaker system last week stating that Mr. Bongo had graduated with his doctorate. Bongo wasted no time having the Isaac web site edited to add the title “Dr.” to his name. According to the Office of Doctoral Studies at Columbia Teachers College Anthony Bongo was give permission to walk in the graduation ceremony but will not graduate until he submits his final requirements which the Office of Doctoral Studies expected to be completed by July. Until then Mr. Bongo remains a Doctoral Candidate as he has been since 1996 and may not use the title “Doctor”.
By May 30th, the use of the title “Doctor” or “Dr.” disappeared form the Isaac E. Young web site.
On June 7th, two school board members referenced “Dr. Bongo” after the board meeting. Hearing this, I corrected them. They both insisted that Bongo had graduated and earned his Doctorate. They said they knew this because they were just with Anthony Bongo the day before and he had told them so. The following day I forwarded them a copy of our article on Bongo’s improper use of the “Doctor” title. I never heard back from them.
A message has since appeared on the Isaac Young web site sans-title which yet again falsely asserts that he has completed his doctorate and “graduated”.
The staff and the community of IEY want to congratulate Principal Anthony Bongo on the completion of his doctorate degree at Teachers College, Columbia University. He successfully defended his dissertation on April 25th, 2011 and graduated on May 18th, 2011. We look forward to the publication of his work and welcoming back Dr. Anthony Bongo in September.
You would think that having taken 15 years to get his far, Mr. Bongo might want to just wait a bit longer to actually finish up the degree and celebrate his soon-to-be honorific after he has actually earned it. Nope. The statement itself does not even make sense. It says “Principal Anthony Bongo” graduated on May 18th. Then it says “We look forward to…welcoming back Dr. Anthony Bongo in September.”
Which is it? If he graduated he is now Dr. Anthony Bongo but they refer to him without the title and talk about him having the title by September. Further, school is still in session but the message is written as if the year is over. Why?
Let’s review:
“completion of his doctorate degree” – until his dissertation is accepted he has not completed his doctorate.
“successfully defended his dissertation on April 25th, 2011” – again, all well and good but that does not mean he is done.
“graduated on May 18th, 2011” – still wrong; he was allowed to walk in the ceremony pending the completion of his degree requirements which he has still not met.
As we have said before, when he has actually earned his doctorate we will be happy to announce that here on Talk of the Sound and offer congratulations. But until then Anthony and his posse down at Isaac should really calm down and wait until the degree has been conferred on him by Columbia University.
If you are new to this topic you might also want to read this.
