Speaking of graduations... I went to one last night and it was something to see.

 

There were direct orders several times for parents/the audience to be silent while the kids names were announced and to hold applause til the end. Well you began to notice that the families of the students graduating with C laude, S laude, M laude etc... were all very respectful and followed the rules and watched in silence as their child went across the stage.

 

The rules went out the window when the students graduating without honors came across the stage. It felt like we were at a concert at points... it was embarrassing honestly. The people wondering why the younger generations are the way that they are probably need to take a look in the mirror at who raised them. The most simple directions and adults cannot even follow them. The only excuse I could come up with is that this is the only person in their entire extended family that had an education so they felt the need to scream like wild hillbillies.

 

Another example, end of the ceremony the principal asks that everyone stay seated until the students have exited the arena. As soon as he finished his sentence 3 different families in front of us stood up and walked out of the arena. It was unbelievable.

 

There was a thread similar to this topic either last year or maybe before that. I agree with you 100%. It amazes me that some parents defy the rules and hoot and holler when their child gets his/her diploma. This has happened at every graduation ceremony I have ever been to.

 

Not many people want to sit through an entire graduation, but it is part of life. Too bad some parents cannot teach the importance of being respectful while sitting through something that may have become boring.

I see nothing wrong with overzealous excitement when your child receives their diploma. Yes, it should be in good taste and respectful. And it should be respectful to those around you. I have been to all levels of graduation. I'm going to applaud, perhaps stand up as long as I'm not encroaching on anyone else, and I'm going to cheer. Of course, if the ceremony takes place in a church, as many 8th grade ceremonies do, I will respond per the tone/protocol set by the ceremony. I cheered at Thomas Moore for the high school ceremonies. I cheered at Rupp arena for the college ceremony. Just recently, the whole family cheered at a middle school gym for an 8th grade ceremony. We held up a sign for him when they called his name. The look of joy when we saw all of us with our sign was priceless. I would do it again. No regrets.

I see nothing wrong with overzealous excitement when your child receives their diploma. Yes, it should be in good taste and respectful. And it should be respectful to those around you. I have been to all levels of graduation. I'm going to applaud, perhaps stand up as long as I'm not encroaching on anyone else, and I'm going to cheer. Of course, if the ceremony takes place in a church, as many 8th grade ceremonies do, I will respond per the tone/protocol set by the ceremony. I cheered at Thomas Moore for the high school ceremonies. I cheered at Rupp arena for the college ceremony. Just recently, the whole family cheered at a middle school gym for an 8th grade ceremony. We held up a sign for him when they called his name. The look of joy when we saw all of us with our sign was priceless. I would do it again. No regrets.

 

That's all fine, as long as you were politely asked in advance not to. Everyone is proud of their graduate. Whooping it up, when asked not to is rude IMO. Only exception might be a student who overcame some exceptional hardship (illness, accident) in order to graduate.

 

After one of his children graduated from high school, my brother once said, "Some people thought their kid cured cancer. Any idiot can graduate high school!" One of my favorite lines.

Only exception might be a student who overcame some exceptional hardship (illness, accident) in order to graduate.

 

After one of his children graduated from high school, my brother once said, "Some people thought their kid cured cancer. Any idiot can graduate high school!" One of my favorite lines.

 

First: I clap for EVERYONE.

Second: Nobody really knows what a child had to overcome to cross the finish line. Hardships, medical conditions, and disabilities are not always worn on one's sleeve. Only the family, parents, and those precious and patient teachers know the significance of the accomplishment.

Third: Let's also add that some of those kids were not great at anything---sports included, during their school years. Those kids never got the overwhelming applause and kudos from being amazing. Why not let them have that moment at graduation?

 

I am a mom of your words, "Any idiot can graduate high school!". I am also a mom of kids who may cure cancer. Those super smart kids cheered the loudest for their sibling. It was beautiful.

I see nothing wrong with overzealous excitement when your child receives their diploma. Yes, it should be in good taste and respectful. And it should be respectful to those around you. I have been to all levels of graduation. I'm going to applaud, perhaps stand up as long as I'm not encroaching on anyone else, and I'm going to cheer. Of course, if the ceremony takes place in a church, as many 8th grade ceremonies do, I will respond per the tone/protocol set by the ceremony. I cheered at Thomas Moore for the high school ceremonies. I cheered at Rupp arena for the college ceremony. Just recently, the whole family cheered at a middle school gym for an 8th grade ceremony. We held up a sign for him when they called his name. The look of joy when we saw all of us with our sign was priceless. I would do it again. No regrets.

 

Was it a look of joy or a look of embarrassment? Personally I would've been embarrassed as an 8th grader.

Was it a look of joy or a look of embarrassment? Personally I would've been embarrassed as an 8th grader.

Rightfully so for a typical 8th grader who perhaps has not overcome that challenges of some of his classmates. I know my guy. He was bursting with happiness.

First: I clap for EVERYONE.

Second: Nobody really knows what a child had to overcome to cross the finish line. Hardships, medical conditions, and disabilities are not always worn on one's sleeve. Only the family, parents, and those precious and patient teachers know the significance of the accomplishment.

Third: Let's also add that some of those kids were not great at anything---sports included, during their school years. Those kids never got the overwhelming applause and kudos from being amazing. Why not let them have that moment at graduation?

 

I am a mom of your words, "Any idiot can graduate high school!". I am also a mom of kids who may cure cancer. Those super smart kids cheered the loudest for their sibling. It was beautiful.

 

I stand by my comments. Unless it is a child, that the community has watched go through something exceptionally difficult and succeed, if you are asked to hold you applause, then you respect it. We had a Down's syndrome child that got a standing ovation by all. He was so loved and tried so hard. He was the exception, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

 

My kids were not superstars. I have seen my kids bullied, get average grades, sit the bench, but be blessedly normal. I was proud of them everyday and they knew it. They didn't need to hear me scream like a hillbilly at graduation. If every parent acted like a loud cheering idiot, graduations would be chaos. It would dissolve into air horns, shakers, and God knows what else. No one loves their kid anymore than than any other parent. We have all seen our kids suffer at some point. Yelling doesn't make people think you love your child more, nor does it make them think you are more proud. Your child should already know it, so he/she doesn't need to hear it. What gives you the right that YOU should be the exception?

 

Again, it is fine to cheer if that is the status quo. It is great to applaud other children, but if you are asked not to do it, you are rude and disrespectful if you do.

I stand by my comments. Unless it is a child, that the community has watched go through something exceptionally difficult and succeed, if you are asked to hold you applause, then you respect it. We had a Down's syndrome child that got a standing ovation by all. He was so loved and tried so hard. He was the exception, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

 

My kids were not superstars. I have seen my kids bullied, get average grades, sit the bench, but be blessedly normal. I was proud of them everyday and they knew it. They didn't need to hear me scream like a hillbilly at graduation. If every parent acted like a loud cheering idiot, graduations would be chaos. It would dissolve into air horns, shakers, and God knows what else. No one loves their kid anymore than than any other parent. We have all seen our kids suffer at some point. Yelling doesn't make people think you love your child more, nor does it make them think you are more proud. Your child should already know it, so he/she doesn't need to hear it. What gives you the right that YOU should be the exception?

 

Again, it is fine to cheer if that is the status quo. It is great to applaud other children, but if you are asked not to do it, you are rude and disrespectful if you do.

I am a rule follower. If they told me not to make noise, I will not.

 

Great post! Also one of those " Walk in my shoes" kind of moments. I have the utmost respect for all that you contribute to BGP. THANK YOU!

 

I will continue to be "redneck loud and proud (even though I'm from Wisconsin?)" with respect to all, but most especially those kids overcoming challenges---obvious or not so obvious. And I'm sending a huge BGP hug to the teachers and staff who go above and beyond to make all kids feel like they are successful and difference makers.

By nature, I'm a rule follower as well. I would go to graduations and hear the instructions to hold all applause until the end. My kids always were one of the first ones called and I held my applause; only to see and hear the rest of the 400+ students get ovations.

 

This always bothered me, but I still followed the rules - until this year. I had 3 different kids graduate Middle School, High School and College. This year, I respectfully clapped. I didn't hoot and holler but my kids could hear me for the first time applauding them while receiving their diplomas. I am glad that I finally came around to doing so because, as usual, there were 100's of other people doing the same.

 

I still think graduations are too darned long and schools of all levels exploit their graduates for self promoting purposes.

It has been the season of graduations for my family. Over the past 11 days, I've attended 3 of my children's graduation at each level - Middle School, High School and College.

 

Both the Middle School and the High School have 400+ students in their respective graduating classes. The college graduating class consisted of about 600 students.

 

In order, I attended the following ceremonies:

College - 1 hour 20 minutes

Middle School - 1 hour 45 minutes

High School - 2 hours

 

I found it weird that the shortest graduation time was the college ceremony, which got me thinking: Why?

 

I see no reason why a Middle/High School graduation should take close to 2 hours. At both of these ceremonies, almost 30 minutes was spent on just getting all students in their proper seats before we even started. I would think a College graduation should take the longest, as it is the more important educational accomplishment. For a Middle/High School graduation ceremony to run significantly long is absurd.

 

Agree or disagree?

 

I really don't see a point in middle school or elementary school graduations. Congrats on doing what all of your peers are doing and everyone expects you to do.....

 

With that said I'm also not a big fan of Hallmark holidays.

By nature, I'm a rule follower as well. I would go to graduations and hear the instructions to hold all applause until the end. My kids always were one of the first ones called and I held my applause; only to see and hear the rest of the 400+ students get ovations.

 

This always bothered me, but I still followed the rules - until this year. I had 3 different kids graduate Middle School, High School and College. This year, I respectfully clapped. I didn't hoot and holler but my kids could hear me for the first time applauding them while receiving their diplomas. I am glad that I finally came around to doing so because, as usual, there were 100's of other people doing the same.

 

I still think graduations are too darned long and schools of all levels exploit their graduates for self promoting purposes.

How do schools self promote at graduations? Aren't they the one that provided the educations, thus responsible for the graduations?

Don't and will never understand Middle School or elementary school graduation. Awards ceremony to recognize high achievers or significant accomplishments I get.

 

They have graduations for freaking pre-school. My Facebook was totally overrun with pictures of 5 year olds "graduating". Absurd.

 

"Participation trophy" mentality nowadays?

"Participation trophy" mentality nowadays?

 

I'm one of the few that don't buy into the thought that "participation trophy" mentality is new or is necessarily a huge problem. I remember participation trophies and awards from my youth in the 70's and 80's. But that's a topic for a different thread...

"Participation trophy" mentality nowadays?

 

I'd say "photo op" mentality.

I see nothing wrong with overzealous excitement when your child receives their diploma. Yes, it should be in good taste and respectful. And it should be respectful to those around you. I have been to all levels of graduation. I'm going to applaud, perhaps stand up as long as I'm not encroaching on anyone else, and I'm going to cheer. Of course, if the ceremony takes place in a church, as many 8th grade ceremonies do, I will respond per the tone/protocol set by the ceremony. I cheered at Thomas Moore for the high school ceremonies. I cheered at Rupp arena for the college ceremony. Just recently, the whole family cheered at a middle school gym for an 8th grade ceremony. We held up a sign for him when they called his name. The look of joy when we saw all of us with our sign was priceless. I would do it again. No regrets.

 

So, please tell me you did this AFTER every student was called up and crossed the stage. And if not, PLEASE tell me there was no prior announcement to hold applause/celebration until the end and that applause/celebration is ok at any time (and I have to say that personally I have never been to one of these that didn't direct the crowd to wait till the end). If either of these is the case, cool, celebrate and scream away, wave all kinds of signs when your guy(s) trot out. But if not the case, I'm sorry hoops but I would have to give that a big :no: