Graduation--What is Wrong With People

[Royalbear]

My dd graduated yesterday with a class size of about 350. Before the ceremony, in the program and right before the reading of names, it was made perfectly clear that applause should be held until the end, so that all names could be be heard.

It then became a contest to see who could cheer the loudest for their child. Some people brought noisemakers, for goodness sake. This drowned out the name of the next child being called, and with that many grads, the speakers were not pausing to wait for the applause to die down.

First off, it is HIGH SCHOOL, not the Nobel Prize. I certainly hope my dd achieves more in her life than just graduating from high school, so I remain quietly proud of her. Second, what makes people think that their kid is more important than anyone else's. Third, why can't people respect the rules? What kind of example are you setting.

Apparently the administrators got the names of the worst offenders and are sending them letters telling them that future siblings will be allowed to attend their own graduation, but the families will not be guests. I am sure there will be heated debates over this one at the school board meetings, but if they didn't allow others to hear their child's name, why should the offenders be allowed to hear their children's names?

 

[Tybug]

It's not just graduation. Many people feels the rules don't apply to them all the time...

 

[emmoms]

http://news.aol.com/topnews/article...r/20070601155509990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

 

[Pixiedust34]

This happens at dd's dance recital every year. They call the girl's names for the girls to come on stage to get a trophy and take a bow. The dance director asks to hold all applause until all of the girls are on stage together and then everyone can applause at once. But during the reading of the names, all kinds of shouting and cheering takes place, and that takes away the joy from the girls who follow the loud families as they can't even hear their own name being called.

There is one mom who does the loud cheer every year, and then she yells, "Sorry, everyone, but that's my baby!" as if that makes it OK that she had to shout out and drown the name of the dancer who follows "her baby."

 

[SC Minnie]

At our local HS gradutaion people are asked to leave if they yell out for a graduate- if they do it more than once they are arrested for disorderly conduct.

The students are told at school what will happen if people yell out, the crowd is told before the ceremony to hold all applause and what will happen if they don't. Still people do it and think they are being handled unfairly when they are told to leave or actually arrested.

 

[Disneymaddness]

At our local HS gradutaion people are asked to leave if they yell out for a graduate- if they do it more than once they are arrested for disorderly conduct.

The students are told at school what will happen if people yell out, the crowd is told before the ceremony to hold all applause and what will happen if they don't. Still people do it and think they are being handled unfairly when they are told to leave or actually arrested.

WOW! I think that's great. Alot of people yell out because they know nothing will happen.

 

[mickeyfan2]

This is why that school had the policy that you did not get your diploma if there were cheers.

 

[goofy4tink]

I always feel badly for those kids that have families that respect the rules and don't cheer, hoot and holler. Or, for those who don't have many people there to begin with. Those that cheer, applaud, hoot and holler, make it a popularity contest...those with the largest numbers cheering or the loudest noise, win. Thanks to all the school districts that lay down the law and then follow through with it if necessary.

 

[declansdad]

Sorry but I don't agree with the way the school handled this. I have been involved in organizing graduations before and you always ask that people refrain until all names are called but it is not going to happen.

Yes it might be considered rude but in all honesty we are only talking about a couple of seconds of cheering. If the person reading the names is reading faster than that they are reading too fast. Things like noise makers and air horns have no place though and I could see some school taking a harder line on those.

 

[MidgeD79]

I am concerned about the persons who intentially yell/cheer for someone not their child so that student doesn't get their diploma.

 

[Beth76]

The same thing happened at my neices' dance recital. During some of the dances there were people yelling and screaming names. So tacky.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I am concerned about the persons who intentially yell/cheer for someone not their child so that student doesn't get their diploma.

ITA.

I think the school did not take into account all of the possibilities when they had their contract.

Honestly it did not matter to me if my name we heard or not. Anybody who cared knew I was there. High school graduation was not the end all of my life but the start.

 

[ericamanda01]

Give me a break! This has got to be the dumbest rule. HS kids just want to graduate and their family and friends are proud of them, so what is wrong with cheering them on? What next parents can’t cheer at the local baseball, basketball, football ect. game because it distracts the kids from playing well?! Everyone wants to hear cheers for their accomplishments, weather it's a HS diploma or the Nobel Prize.

 

[Beth76]

Give me a break! This has got to be the dumbest rule. HS kids just want to graduate and their family and friends are proud of them, so what is wrong with cheering them on?

Do you know how long a graduation ceremony would take to have people cheer after every person? My graduating class size was 600. What's wrong with everyone cheering at one time--at the end? These people know the rules. They know the names are being read without pauses. They are choosing to yell and scream over the name of someone else. That's ok with you?

 

[lillygator]

This is why that school had the policy that you did not get your diploma if there were cheers.

and I have to agree with that. If I was the parent who could not hear my child's name being called out, I'd be pissed!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Everyone wants to hear cheers for their accomplishments, weather it's a HS diploma or the Nobel Prize.

Ummm... no they don't. Not everyone!

I agree that it's high school graduation - hopefully just a step in life on the way to bigger and better things.

Of course I did not even attend my college graduation - nor my future DH's.... I was working to make money for our honeymoon.

To each their own......

 

[mickeyfan2]

Do you know how long a graduation ceremony would take to have people cheer after every person? My graduating class size was 600. What's wrong with everyone cheering at one time--at the end? These people know the rules. They know the names are being read without pauses. They are choosing to yell and scream over the name of someone else. That's ok with you?

We had 670 in my HS graduating class. The cheers were only at the end and all went smoothly.

This need to cheer for every little thing a kid does is why the young adults are so self centered.

Did you cheer if they used a tissue to blow their nose instead of their shirt.

It is a class graduation and all should be cheered at the end.

 

[declansdad]

Do you know how long a graduation ceremony would take to have people cheer after every person? My graduating class size was 600. What's wrong with everyone cheering at one time--at the end? These people know the rules. They know the names are being read without pauses. They are choosing to yell and scream over the name of someone else. That's ok with you?

Sorry but it wouldn't have to take any longer than it already does. Let's say that on average it takes 10 seconds for someone to cross the stage to get a diploma. Their name is called, cheers for a few seconds, the next name is called. It wouldn't slow anything down and if the reader only pauses for a few seconds, everyone can hear.

Witholding a diploma is a punishment that doesn't fit the crime. At both of my graduations, I received my diploma on stage. Does that mean that if my family cheered, the principal/chancelor would then say sorry I can't give this to you, your family cheered?

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

It's a matter of respect/manners, people don't seem to need dignified events anymore. I am so disappointed at the behavior of some people at graduations. I really miss the old respectful ceremonies.

While there are still people raising their children to have respect for others, it is so sad to see the incredible decline in manners and respect in our society. You even see it displayed on this board frequently, the "me" attitude and lack of respect for others.

 

[snowy76]

My graduating class was 500 - now, at my old h.s. each class is 800 kids. They call the name as you enter the stage but there are three kids on stage at any one time - one entering, one in the middle walking to the other end, and the one at the end getting the diploma. Even with that system in place, our walk took about an hour. Then there are the speeches, the musical performance (h.s. vocal jazz group) and you're looking at over two hours. And that is trying to rush the kids across the stage! And you'd better be on time because the local hockey rink is being used for the ceremony and they have one each booked at 10, 1, 4, and 7!

If the rule is "Wait til the end" then fine! I'm tired of everyone thinking they're the exception to the rules.