How can a school expect to get away with this?

[dorbie 0]

Parents cheer at graduation, kid gets diploma witheld, the kid didn't cheer. Even after a meeting they witheld diplomas because no apology was offered.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/06/05/graduation.decorum.ap/index.html

Where do they find people this dumb to run schools?

[ryoder 1,384]

Love to see that one go to court, and the court telling the school officials to do the apologizing, or pay a fine.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Thanatos340 1]

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Parents cheer at graduation, kid gets diploma witheld, the kid didn't cheer. Even after a meeting they witheld diplomas because no apology was offered.

You mean people didn’t follow the rules and there was a Consequence? Wow!! What a Novel concept.

I agree that it could have been handled differently. The parents cheering after they were told they should not should have been ejected from the Graduation but that would have only caused further disruption.

The students did still graduate. They just did not receive the Ceremonial Printed Piece of paper because their guests could not follow the rules. If they really want a Diploma, Grab a Printer and MS Publisher and Print one.

And why wont the Parents apologize for disruption the ceremony? Why are they above the rules?

I bet next year there will be fewer disruptions.

I graduated from High School almost 20 years ago and even then, we were only handed a Blank piece of paper when we walked across the stage. The actual diplomas were mailed about a week later. We were told that diplomas would not be sent to those that pulled any stunts or pranks. Totally killed our planned mass Mooning Idea we had.

[BillyVance 34]

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We were told that diplomas would not be sent to those that pulled any stunts or pranks. Totally killed our planned mass Mooning Idea we had.

That's easily solved. Moon them a year later at the next graduation!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[sundevil777 93]

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You mean people didn’t follow the rules and there was a Consequence? Wow!! What a Novel concept.

It seems simple enough, but a person could cheer someone they didn't like just to screw them.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[Zipp0 1]

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You mean people didn’t follow the rules and there was a Consequence? Wow!! What a Novel concept.

Give me a freaking break - it was a high school graduation! I went to Catholic school, and people cheered inappropriately with no consequences besides looking like idiots.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[Thanatos340 1]

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It seems simple enough, but a person could cheer someone they didn't like just to screw them.

Sure, But that was not the case here. It was the students Guest that caused the disruption.

The penalty is that they do not get the Printed Piece of Paper that generally goes on the PARENTS Fireplace anyway. It is sad that the student is being held accountable for the actions of their Guests but I don’t see what other option the schools have to enforce the rules. Like I said Ejecting the disrespectful parents would only further disrupt the proceedings.

[Nightingale 0]

I think the problem is that they're punishing the kid for the actions of someone else. In some cases, it wasn't even the guests of the kid that were cheering. One of the kids even said that people were cheering because they didn't want another kid to get their diploma.

I think a far more appropriate punishment would be: cheer and get escorted from the graduation, and if you're graduating, you don't get your diploma. Let the poor kid on the stage who isn't doing anything wrong receive theirs.

[Thanatos340 1]

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I went to Catholic school, and people cheered inappropriately with no consequences besides looking like idiots.

Exactly. The rules were not enforced and therefore worthless. What is the point of making a rule that cannot be enforced? No one will pay attention to it if that is the case.

trying to remove the offending parties during the ceremony would only further disrupt the proceedings. Again I don’t think this is an ideal solution but it doesn’t sound completely unreasonable either.

It is just a ceremonial piece of paper. The student still Graduated.

Just another example of Symbolism over substance. The symbolic Piece of paper fit for framing is just that. The accomplishment (the Substance) is just as valid with or without the Symbol.

Schools are having a hard enough time because so many parents think They are above the rules. Hey, You want to disrupt the graduation ceremony by cheering for you Kids when everyone else is sitting quietly following the rules.. Tough Shit. You don’t get your "prize" to put on the mantle. If it is other Kids doing the disruption, they should be disciplined as well.

[kallend 1,623]

While I do NOT agree with withholding the kids' diplomas on account of the parents' actions, there is a real need to do something to restore appropriate behavior at graduations. I went to one where it looked more like a mosh pit than an academic festival. A few raucous parents and friends are spoiling graduations for all the others.

I would be interested to hear what people's views are.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[warpedskydiver 0]

You mean kinda like a few 6th graders parents cheering very loudly that their child graduated the sixth grade?

Actually it was a minority group that cheered each MINORITY student of the same race.

It took about five minutes extra, each time they were handed the almighty sixth grade diploma.

No further learnin needed up in here... Yo

I especially took note of the 14year old mom graduating that day from the sixth grade.

I also did not hear a peep out of that crowd for our
daughter who received the presidential academic excellence award.

[Zipp0 1]

We had no rule against cheering. It was assumed that people were smart enough to know when to shut up, and 99% of the people were. Those who made a scene just looked like morons, and made the kid on the stage very uncomfortable.

Withholding a diploma from a kid who worked for 4 years to get it is not appropriate in this case. I suspect the courts will agree with me. It may only be a symbol, but to that kid it is the biggest achievement in their lives to that point.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[Zipp0 1]

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You mean kinda like a few 6th graders parents cheering very loudly that their child graduated the sixth grade?

Actually it was a minority group that cheered each MINORITY student of the same race.

It took about five minutes extra, each time they were handed the almighty sixth grade diploma.

No further learnin needed up in here... Yo

I especially took note of the 14year old mom graduating that day from the sixth grade.

I also did not hear a peep out of that crowd for our
daughter who received the presidential academic excellence award.

Come on man, just say it! I know it is killing you not to just blurt it out!

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[kallend 1,623]

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We had no rule against cheering. It was assumed that people were smart enough to know when to shut up, and 99% of the people were. Those who made a scene just looked like morons, and made the kid on the stage very uncomfortable.

But looking like a moron is hardly going to embarrass those who are indeed morons to the point that they will adjust their behavior.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Zipp0 1]

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We had no rule against cheering. It was assumed that people were smart enough to know when to shut up, and 99% of the people were. Those who made a scene just looked like morons, and made the kid on the stage very uncomfortable.

But looking like a moron is hardly going to embarrass those who are indeed morons to the point that they will adjust their behavior.

Who fucking cares? You get your piece of paper and never go back there for the rest of your life.

Couldn't the person announcing the graduates just say "Security, please escort the person making the disturbance from the building"? It seems simple to me.

But really, who gives a shit?

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[NCclimber 0]

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Withholding a diploma from a kid who worked for 4 years to get it is not appropriate in this case. I suspect the courts will agree with me. It may only be a symbol, but to that kid it is the biggest achievement in their lives to that point.

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Who fucking cares? You get your piece of paper and never go back there for the rest of your life....

But really, who gives a shit?

so, which is it?

"the biggest achievement in their lives"?

or

"really, who gives a shit?"

[Zipp0 1]

Both-

It's the biggest achievement for the kids.

The who gives a shit part applies to idiots that want to cheer.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[warpedskydiver 0]

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You mean kinda like a few 6th graders parents cheering very loudly that their child graduated the sixth grade?

Actually it was a minority group that cheered each MINORITY student of the same race.

It took about five minutes extra, each time they were handed the almighty sixth grade diploma.

No further learnin needed up in here... Yo

I especially took note of the 14year old mom graduating that day from the sixth grade.

I also did not hear a peep out of that crowd for our
daughter who received the presidential academic excellence award.

Come on man, just say it! I know it is killing you not to just blurt it out!

What is it that you think I want to say?


I already said what i wanted to...you accusing me of being PC?

[Thanatos340 1]

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The who gives a shit part applies to idiots that want to cheer.

Who "gives a Shit" is the parents of the other kids that are abiding by the rules and would like to hear their Childs name when it is called and not some rude people hooping and hollering for the kid called right before theirs. A little decorum for a ceremony to honor a major achievement. Each Graduate is entitled to the same respect. If parents and friends cant appreciate that then action should be taken.

The idea that you hold applause until the end of the Names is pretty standard now. This is explained at the beginning of the ceremony.

Smaller schools where they are not trying to get 500+ graduating seniors across the stage in a reasonable amount of time, May have the flexibility to allow cheering for each student. Larger schools do not have that luxury. Rules will have to be more strictly enforced.

[kallend 1,623]

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The who gives a shit part applies to idiots that want to cheer.

Who "gives a Shit" is the parents of the other kids that are abiding by the rules and would like to hear their Childs name when it is called and not some rude people hooping and hollering for the kid called right before theirs. A little decorum for a ceremony to honor a major achievement. Each Graduate is entitled to the same respect. If parents and friends cant appreciate that then action should be taken.

The idea that you hold applause until the end of the Names is pretty standard now. This is explained at the beginning of the ceremony.

Smaller schools where they are not trying to get 500+ graduating seniors across the stage in a reasonable amount of time, May have the flexibility to allow cheering for each student. Larger schools do not have that luxury. Rules will have to be more strictly enforced.

Another option is that no-one walks across the stage and the diplomas, degrees... are bestowed en masse.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Thanatos340 1]

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Another option is that no-one walks across the stage and the diplomas, degrees... are bestowed en masse.

It would be an Improvement however some people really like to cling to long held traditions.

My idea was more along the lines of a Sniper (With a Silencer of course so not to further disrupt the proceedings). If we are going to REALLY try to solve the problem.. Solve the problem. Remove the offenders from the gene pool and make the world a better place.
And if it is a Liberal Arts School, Then just use rubber Bullets to keep the tree huggers happy.

[Zenister 0]

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While I do NOT agree with withholding the kids' diplomas on account of the parents' actions, there is a real need to do something to restore appropriate behavior at graduations. I went to one where it looked more like a mosh pit than an academic festival. A few raucous parents and friends are spoiling graduations for all the others.

I would be interested to hear what people's views are.

dont go to them.

it is a meaningless ceremony anyway.. you have already done (or not and are getting your piece of paper anyway ) the real work...

Graduation Ceremonies are simply one more unnecessary task tacked on by the institution. I dont like institutions wasting my time, so i simply skip the 'additional time sinks'.

To bad they wont deduct the fees for these worthless events from tuition costs. If they did you'd see alot more people 'opting out' as well..

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[kallend 1,623]

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While I do NOT agree with withholding the kids' diplomas on account of the parents' actions, there is a real need to do something to restore appropriate behavior at graduations. I went to one where it looked more like a mosh pit than an academic festival. A few raucous parents and friends are spoiling graduations for all the others.

I would be interested to hear what people's views are.

dont go to them.

it is a meaningless ceremony anyway.. you have already done (or not and are getting your piece of paper anyway ) the real work...

Graduation Ceremonies are simply one more unnecessary task tacked on by the institution. I dont like institutions wasting my time, so i simply skip the 'additional time sinks'.

To bad they wont deduct the fees for these worthless events from tuition costs. If they did you'd see alot more people 'opting out' as well..

That's an option for some. However, some people derive pleasure from participating in an event whose origin (for university degrees at least) dates back over 1,000 years, and some aspects of which can be traced back over 2,000 years. Why should these people have their day spoiled by yahoos? Not attending doesn't solve the problem. Just because YOU think it worthless doesn't mean others do. It's not ALL about you.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Nightingale 0]

I went to my high school, college, and grad school graduations. I'd finally had it with graduations, crowds, and long speeches that really didn't mean anything, so I skipped the law school graduation and went to vegas. The family wants to throw a party, so I've told them they can do that the day I actually get sworn in. Seemed a fair compromise.

[Royd 0]

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Both-

It's the biggest achievement for the kids.

The who gives a shit part applies to idiots that want to cheer.

The problem here is that some people follow decorum and expect to be able to hear the child's name announced publicly.

The ignorant ones only care about their own kid and screw everyone else's.

And yes, I'll join Warped in his thinking except that I'll say it.

It's mostly blacks with a " I've been held down by the man for centuries, and ain't nobody gonna tell me what to do." attitude, who don't give a shit if anyone else is actually able to enjoy the activity.