Graduation Controversy

I think it's stupid. They might as well start handing out diplomas on the last of school and forget the whole ceremony if they're just going to suck all the joy out of it. 

I think it is very unfair. A friend of mine chose to say a prayer at his graduation (he was saludatorian) when it was in the official speech rules that you could not. He got a standing ovation adn was denied his diploma until Sept.

I can see both sides. I don't think they should have not allowed him to get his diploma, but I know from experience how ANNOYING it is when people cheer like that. At most larger graduations (both of my kids too) they ask the people to NOT cheer for each kid as it prolongs the ceremony and even worse, it keeps the next kids parents from being able to hear their kids name. I'm on another board and this was posted a day or two ago, and one person said the family of the student in front of her child cheered anyway and she missed hearing her own child's name. I'd be cranky if someone denied me that opportunity. There can still be lots of joy at graduation even if people hold their applause until all the names have been announced.

Well, I guess N would have been disciplined and we would have been thrown out.  How ridiculous!  Ours were all huge events held in a college basketball stadium and you could clearly hear the names being called.  Everyone cheered for their own "people".  I can't imagine having a policy like that.

I read a story about the woman who was arrested. It said that it was announced to hold all cheering to the end. It does make the ceremony ridiculously long, and then people can't hear their child's name being called. My graduation was held at a large open-air auditorium (popular concert venue) and I remember we were told no cheering, calling out, clapping, etc., for each person going across the stage. It was supposed to be a dignified, important ceremony. Then, at the end, enormous cheers went up and we all threw our hats in the air. To me, that shows the respect and dignity of a ceremony like a graduation, and then the joyfulness at the end. I would find it appalling if, after each name was called, parents were shouting "That's my boy!" "You Go Girl!" "Woooooo!" - especially when specifically told not to. I would have been mortified if it happened to me.

 

There is a time and place for everything. The jumping up and down & screaming with joy is at the END, NOT when they are supposed to solemnly walk across the stage & receive their diploma. THAT is supposed to be dignified. I've been to graduations at my high school for myself, friends in other grades, and my older sister. My younger sister - at a different high school. My brothers' for college. People never called out and cheered and clapped for their individual kid.

I just read the story in our paper--it's local.  All the parents had to sign a form that stated the rules that they weren't supposed to cheer or their child wouldn't receive their diplomas and had to do community service.  As much as I think the rule is ridiculous, if they signed it, then they should abide by them.  

 

I agree. 

I personally think it is ridiculous.  I don't care if a contract was signed, it was announced or what...it's just ridiculous.  It was announced at every graduation ceremony that I've ever attended (including mine) to hold all applause until the end, but some people still did it.  I just think it is going overboard not allowing the kid who worked hard to graduate not get his diploma and have to work 20 hours community service just because his family cheered for him.  It's not his fault, the family members should have to do the community service.