Agree wholeheartedly in theory.

 

Just like that was a bad rule and later changed this, too, is a bad rule and the sup should realize that and not punish the kid for actions of others.

 

I think both rules are rather silly. The first on the shirt is worse than this one. Since I work at a HS, I go to graduation each year. We ask the crowd to not cheer when each student is announced so all names can be heard. We get the 1-2 second cheer and the occasional relative hollering out. The principal that was there when I started working would have people removed if they were too loud or cheered excessively. Now, we don't get too worked up about it.

 

It's funny it is usually pretty quiet the first 15-20 students that are announced and it only takes 1 person to holler or cheer WMD it opens the flood gates after that.

I agree... Totally a socioeconomic difference... straight out of Ruby Payne's book.

I do wish something could be done to people who are rude enough to get up and leave after their person's name is called. Those who trample down the bleacher seats while other names are being called are so selfish. But selfish isn't against the law.

When you deal with people, you get people...

I'm with you on this issue TOG. The lady claiming that if she signed it, she didn't read it reminds unfortunately of too many homeowners that didn't (allegedly) read the loan papers before they took out a loan with an ARM interest rate provision to buy their homes and then cried foul when the interest rate rose. Only an absolute moron or fool does not read what he/she signs.

 

I said it in the Marine t shirt thread and I'll reiterate it here: a rule is a rule. If we expect kids to get that message, parents better show they get that message. What an absolutely poor example those committing the excessive celebration provided for their children.

 

I also agree that the kid unfortunately bears responsibility for those to whom he provided the tickets. That may seem harsh, but there really is no other way to regulate the matter.

 

Which gets to the crux of the matter: is it really necessary to regulate the excessive cheering? I get the joy of seeing a child graduate. I've felt it twice at the high school level with my sons and once (so far) on the college level.

 

But jeezil petes, if I can't have the discipline to control myself I should be ashamed of myself. Hoop and holler all you want after the ceremony is over, but don't detract from the ceremony or the other people wanting to hear their children's name be called. It's really not that difficult of a rule to comply with in my opinion.

 

Perfectly written. Exactly my sentiments. You want to clap and cheer for one brief second during the ceremony, I've got no problem like that. To carry on like they did as if their child was the only one graduating and almost cause the subsequent student's name from being heard by his family is ridiculous. They knew the rules (or should have), but couldn't care less and apparently felt they were above them. Love the punishment quite frankly.

Edited June 6, 201214 yr by cooperstown

I've always believed this issue is a socio-economic issue and that's why we see the hard stances being taken. Too many people cannot relate.

 

The "excessive" cheer took all of about 3 to 5 seconds. The rule is unnecessary as most families will not cheer at all or will, as TBG points out, throw a quick "yay!". So asking the speaker to delay the reading of the next name in the few instances where many of us deem "excessive cheering" takes place isn't that big of a deal.

 

The sup needs to re-evaluate her rules.

 

I guess that depends on when you feel it became "excessive." After a couple (2-3) seconds, it's excessive to me. As I recall watching the video last night, the cheering was so loud and lasted so long that the subsequent student had to be held up at the stage in order for his name to be read. That's ridiculous IMO. Just make your quick hoop-de-doo, then shut your pie hole for the rest of the students who also happen to be graduating and whose familes are following the rules. Everyone does the same thing as these selfish people and graduation ceremonies would lose just a tad of their pomp and circumstance and be nothing more than a Saturday afternoon football game. I absolutely love the stance the school took. As as far as the socio-economic explanation/defense for their actions, :puke:. It's called class, respect, decorum - and certain people in all classes/cultures lack it.

I guess that depends on when you feel it became "excessive." After a couple (2-3) seconds, it's excessive to me. As I recall watching the video last night, the cheering was so loud and lasted so long that the subsequent student had to be held up at the stage in order for his name to be read. That's ridiculous IMO. Just make your quick hoop-de-doo, then shut your pie hole for the rest of the students who also happen to be graduating and whose familes are following the rules. Everyone does the same thing as these selfish people and graduation ceremonies would lose just a tad of their pomp and circumstance and be nothing more than a Saturday afternoon football game. I absolutely love the stance the school took. As as far as the socio-economic explanation/defense for their actions, :puke:. It's called class, respect, decorum - and certain people in all classes/cultures lack it.

 

Any time you think about making a rule you first have to decide if the problem is big enough to warrant it. It's not. The fact that the speaker had to wait a few seconds a FEW times during a ceremony doesn't mean it's a big problem. Did the kid behind him get his name read ? Yes. What's the problem? It doesn't meet our definition of decorum? Come on. They're excited for 5 seconds. Big F deal. The next kid wasn't harmed.

Any time you think about making a rule you first have to decide if the problem is big enough to warrant it. It's not. The fact that the speaker had to wait a few seconds a FEW times during a ceremony doesn't mean it's a big problem. Did the kid behind him get his name read ? Yes. What's the problem? It doesn't meet our definition of decorum? Come on. They're excited for 5 seconds. Big F deal. The next kid wasn't harmed.

 

Well, gee, maybe it's not a big deal BECAUSE 99% of the other families have actually chosen to follow the rule. We should overlook it because only 1% of the families choose not to follow it? When does it become unacceptable? When 10% of the families behave this way? 25%? Half of them? And the fact that the following student wasn't "harmed" is irrelevent. He certainly could have been had someone not held up the speaker. We all have rules we don't particularly wish existed or care to follow, but do because someone of legitimate authority established the rule. Someone of legitimate authority set this rule and for good reason. You don't want to follow it - don't go to the graduation or accept the consequences when you break it. And they weren't excited for 5 seconds. It went on longer than that. There are certain events that carry with them expected and standard levels of decorum. Graduations are one. If you think it should be akin to an outdoor concert, you have stepped outside this accepted level of decorum.

 

They would be best served to simply shut their mouths, do the community service, and move on. Interesting that apparently 3 other families were also affected, but aren't on the news complaining about the penalty.

I've always believed this issue is a socio-economic issue and that's why we see the hard stances being taken. Too many people cannot relate.

So respect is a socio-economic issue?

 

Or are we, very subtly, playing the race card now? :idunno:

I agree... Totally a socioeconomic difference... straight out of Ruby Payne's book.

I do wish something could be done to people who are rude enough to get up and leave after their person's name is called. Those who trample down the bleacher seats while other names are being called are so selfish. But selfish isn't against the law.

When you deal with people, you get people...

 

The Ruby Payne book should be on a required reading list for anyone in education, healthcare, social work and many other professions that deal with the general public.

 

You are correct. For the most part, the cheering occurs or is worse for students from the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder.

So respect is a socio-economic issue?

 

Or are we, very subtly, playing the race card now? :idunno:

In my case, all of our students this year were white or middle class Hispanic. Yet, Clyde's generalization held true.

We all have rules we don't particularly wish existed or care to follow, but do because someone of legitimate authority established the rule. Someone of legitimate authority set this rule and for good reason. You don't want to follow it - don't go to the graduation or accept the consequences when you break it. And they weren't excited for 5 seconds. It went on longer than that. There are certain events that carry with them expected and standard levels of decorum. Graduations are one. If you think it should be akin to an outdoor concert, you have stepped outside this accepted level of decorum.

 

They would be best served to simply shut their mouths, do the community service, and move on. Interesting that apparently 3 other families were also affected, but aren't on the news complaining about the penalty.

Exactly. Should we abide only by the laws that we think prevent the most serious consequences? No. We obey all laws, because an established authority has created them for a good reason. Despite how insignificant anyone feels the consequences of this behavior might have been, it was still a violation of an established (and accepted) rule. Therefore, those who chose not to follow the rules should expect consequences.

The kid's family shouldn't have cheered that way, no. He is also responsible for the actions of the people he invites to his graduation, yes. His mother should have also read what she signed.

 

STILL...the superintended has puffed her chest out and made issue vocally and visibly enough, and she needs to stop wasting her time on the matter. She is being paid (by the very people she is arguing with) to do a LOT of things besides get into a tussle about 5 seconds of cheering. Instead, she's wasting her time arguing, writing letters, and giving interviews over this silly little 5 second celebration for a high school graduate. She's the school superintendent...if can't find anything better to do, maybe they don't need to pay her as much as they are, because she apparently doesn't have anything productive that she needs to do.

Last reported enrollment numbers for Mt. Healthy High School (2010) showed 853 students, so let's assume the graduating class was roughly 1/4 or 215 students. Two-thirds of the school's students are on the free lunch program, indicating some type of economic need. 70% of the students (approx. 600 total, so possibly 150 in graduating class) are black.

 

Yet only 4 students were affected by this rule affecting excessive outburst during the ceremony. We don't know the race/economic situation of these other 3 students, but just seems to me that there would have been a heckuva lot more people affected by this "socio-economic"-oriented rule. Or perhaps it just affected selfish persons who have an issue with self-discipline and respect?

Besides the cheering, the student was a gum "chomper" too. That is one of my pet peeves. You are at a ceremony, not a ball game.

 

As a famous coach once said, "Act like you've been there before".

 

The problem is not so much culturally or socio-economically, it is wide spread, old fashion values are just that; old fashioned. go to any wedding, funeral, graduation, birthday (anything that involves public appearance and celebration) and you see shorts, t-shirts, cheering, talking loud on cell phones, leaving before ceremony is over...

 

I think this type of cavalier attitude is a sign of the times. JMO

The kid's family shouldn't have cheered that way, no. He is also responsible for the actions of the people he invites to his graduation, yes. His mother should have also read what she signed.

 

STILL...the superintended has puffed her chest out and made issue vocally and visibly enough, and she needs to stop wasting her time on the matter. She is being paid (by the very people she is arguing with) to do a LOT of things besides get into a tussle about 5 seconds of cheering. Instead, she's wasting her time arguing, writing letters, and giving interviews over this silly little 5 second celebration for a high school graduate. She's the school superintendent...if can't find anything better to do, maybe they don't need to pay her as much as they are, because she apparently doesn't have anything productive that she needs to do.

I believe it was the family who mad it a big deal and brought the press into it. The superintendant is simply defending the school's position. That's her job.

For the record, if you watch the video, you'll see that the cheering and individual outbursts actually went on, not for five or six seconds, but a total of 23 seconds. They were still going on when the next kid got his diploma.