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Cheering ban costs five students their H.S. diplomas
Reminds me of my son's College graduation ceremonies.
Quote:
Cheering ban costs five students their H.S. diplomas
POSTED: 3:38 p.m. EDT, June 1, 2007
• 5 Students are still awaiting receipt of their high school diplomas
• Students and their parents had to sign a contract promising to act dignified
• Violators of the contract were warned they could be denied their diplomas
GALESBURG, Illinois (AP) -- Caisha Gayles graduated with honors last month, but she is still waiting for her diploma. The reason: the whoops of joy from the audience as she crossed the stage.
Gayles was one of five students denied diplomas from the lone public high school in Galesburg after enthusiastic friends or family members cheered for them during commencement.
About a month before the May 27 ceremony, Galesburg High students and their parents had to sign a contract promising to act in dignified way. Violators were warned they could be denied their diplomas and barred from the after-graduation party.
Many schools across the country ask spectators to hold applause and cheers until the end of graduation. But few of them enforce the policy with what some in Galesburg say are strong-arm tactics.
"It was like one of the worst days of my life," said Gayles, who had a 3.4 grade-point average and officially graduated, but does not have the keepsake diploma to hang on her wall. "You walk across the stage and then you can't get your diploma because of other people cheering for you. It was devastating, actually."
School officials in Galesburg, a working-class town of 34,000 that is still reeling from the 2004 shutdown of a 1,600-employee refrigerator factory, said the get-tough policy followed a 2005 commencement where hoots, hollers and even air horns drowned out much of the ceremony and nearly touched off fights in the audience when the unruly were asked to quiet down.
"Lots of parents complained that they could not hear their own child's name called," said Joel Estes, Galesburg's assistant superintendent. "And I think that led us to saying we have to do something about this to restore some dignity and honor to the ceremony so that everyone can appreciate it and enjoy it."
In Indianapolis, public school officials this year started kicking out parents and relatives who cheer. At one school, the superintendent interrupted last month's graduation to order police to remove a woman from the gymnasium.
"It's an important, solemn occasion. There's plenty of time for celebration before and after," said Clarke Campbell, president of the Indianapolis school board.
In Galesburg, the issue has taken on added controversy with accusations that the students were targeted because of their race: four are black and one is Hispanic. Parents say cheers also erupted for white students, and none of them was denied a diploma.
Principal Tom Chiles said administrators who monitored the more than 2,000-seat auditorium reported only disruptions they considered "significant," and all turned in the same five names.
"Race had absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever," Chiles said. "It is the amount of disruption at the time of the incident."
School officials said they will hear students and parents out if they appeal. Meanwhile, the school said the five students can still get their diplomas by completing eight hours of public service work, answering phones, sorting books or doing other chores for the district, situated about 150 miles southwest of Chicago.
Gayles' mother said she plans to fight the school board -- in court if necessary -- to get her daughter's diploma. The noise "was like three seconds. It was like, 'Yay,' and that was it," Carolyn Gayles said.
American Civil Liberties Union spokesman Edward Yohnka said Galesburg's policy raises no red flags as long as it is enforced equitably. "It's probably well within the school's ability to control the decorum at an event like this," he said.
Another student who was denied her diploma, Nadia Trent, said she will probably let the school keep it if her appeals fail.
"It's not fair. Somebody could not like me and just decide to yell to get me in trouble. I can't control everyone, just the ones I gave tickets to," Trent said.
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__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The moment you think you got it figured...you're wrong." Mr. Rate
Graduating high school can be a defining moment in someone's life, or even their families life. Everything you have worked towards your entire life up to this point.
Graduating high school can be a defining moment in someone's life, or even their families life. Everything you have worked towards your entire life up to this point.
Don't be happy about that.
Then you haven't experienced a " Jerry Springer Graduation ceremony". It ain't happy, it is a total freaking out of control riot scene and very common.
Some day, if you have a child who graduates , you might have a better semse of this BS. BTW it is cultural.
Shame on the majority of people who find it to be an important and somewhat proud moment in their child's life only to have it dragged down into a freaking shout out. It is staged and contrived and only takes away from a parent's respect and pride for what their grad has accomplished.
Quite amazing that respect is fairly one sided.
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The moment you think you got it figured...you're wrong." Mr. Rate
Then you haven't experienced a " Jerry Springer Graduation ceremony". It ain't happy, it is a total freaking out of control riot scene and very common.
Some day, if you have a child who graduates , you might have a better semse of this BS. BTW it is cultural.
Shame on the majority of people who find it to be an important and somewhat proud moment in their child's life only to have it dragged down into a freaking shout out. It is staged and contrived and only takes away from a parent's respect and pride for what their grad has accomplished.
Quite amazing that respect is fairly one sided.
Are you kidding me? That is like suspending every student in the school, for one of them bringing a weapon.
Yes, these ceremonies should be safe, (almost every one have police in attendance) but THEY SHOULD be allowed to cheer for their families.
Do you tell people to sit down when they cheer on the Suns at Suns games too, out of "respect"?
Are you kidding me? That is like suspending every student in the school, for one of them bringing a weapon.
Yes, these ceremonies should be safe, (almost every one have police in attendance) but THEY SHOULD be allowed to cheer for their families.
Do you tell people to sit down when they cheer on the Suns at Suns games too, out of "respect"?
I am not going to get into an argument with you over this? You are quite adept at mixing apples and oranges. We disagree, as always. I am speaking as a proud parent and I don't know where you are coming from, but I suspect
it is from somewhere other than where I am at. I ain't about to equate my son's college graduation ceremony or anyone else's graduation to a Suns game. I am quite proud of my son's accomplishments and was disappointed by the performance of a disturbing element in "the crowd " at his ceremony. I am imagining this disturbance to be like many other badexperiences. If their cheering supporters really gave a rat's ass about their graduating relative they would respect the code of decent behavior and ensure the completion of their diploma presentation. Why would they jeopardize that possibility. Sanctions and rewards.
My philosophy is if you don't like the rules of the game, find a new game.
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The moment you think you got it figured...you're wrong." Mr. Rate
I am not going to get into an argument with you over this? You are quite adept at mixing apples and oranges. We disagree, as always. I am speaking as a proud parent and I don't know where you are coming from, but I suspect
it is from somewhere other than where I am at. I ain't about to equate my son's college graduation ceremony or anyone else's graduation to a Suns game. I am quite proud of my son's accomplishments and was disappointed by the performance of a disturbing element in "the crowd " at his ceremony. I am imagining this disturbance to be like many other badexperiences. If their cheering supporters really gave a rat's ass about their graduating relative they would respect the code of decent behavior and ensure the completion of their diploma presentation. Why would they jeopardize that possibility. Sanctions and rewards.
My philosophy is if you don't like the rules of the game, find a new game.
YOU are the one equating apples and oranges. You had a "disturbing element" at your son's ceremony, (which sucks, btw) and equating it to this article which says that they were only cheering. They were cheering for god sakes. That is not a "disturbing element" and shouldn't be to you, or anyone else.
Have you ever heard of the punishment fitting the crime?
YOU are the one equating apples and oranges. You had a "disturbing element" at your son's ceremony, (which sucks, btw) and equating it to this article which says that they were only cheering. They were cheering for god sakes. That is not a "disturbing element" and shouldn't be to you, or anyone else.
Have you ever heard of the punishment fitting the crime?
I would bet the mortgage that it was one helluva lot more than " just cheering " , but that makes it a moot point. I have been to a few of these events and it has always been a whole lot more than " just cheering ".
When the subject has come up with friends and acquaintances it has always been proven to be a whole lot more, but you are right in assuming this one " just might be different". I don't know what you base that on, but I will reserve judgement for the sake of not starting an argument.
BTW how does a graduation " Ceremony " equate to a Suns Game?
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The moment you think you got it figured...you're wrong." Mr. Rate
I would bet the mortgage that it was one helluva lot more than " just cheering " , but that makes it a moot point. I have been to a few of these events and it has always been a whole lot more than " just cheering ".
When the subject has come up with friends and acquaintances it has always been proven to be a whole lot more, but you are right in assuming this one " just might be different". I don't know what you base that on, but I will reserve judgement for the sake of not starting an argument.
BTW how does a graduation " Ceremony " equate to a Suns Game?
You are right that it "could be" a whole lot more than just cheering, but what proof do we have? If we are to use that article as proof, it doesn't state anything but cheering.
There are many in the lower bowl area of the Suns game that do not want you to stand up and cheer for your team. They believe you should sit there quietly and just watch the game.
btw, I wasn't comparing the two, just asking a question about how you feel in that situation (being at a Suns game)
How is it cultural wally?? I just think it's a matter of no home training. Culture has nothing to do with it in my eyes.
The article pointed out that the punished claimed it was culturally biased. I would rather not go there since it was only my experience. I would rather be socially correct by not thrashing that issue around.
BTW, it was the " audience " that caused the disturbance, not the walking students.
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The moment you think you got it figured...you're wrong." Mr. Rate
It is one of the momentoes a parent gets for funding a $125,000 education. Pity the parent who is a no show for their child's graduation ceremony.
High school graduation ceremonies are celebrations of mediocrity. There were 1,300 students in my graduating class. I think 900 or so graduated. Maybe 600 were college bound, but probably only 200 of those were 4-year schools. Of those, maybe 50 were headed to colleges that merited some kind of acknowledgment.
The ceremony was 5 hours long. I've never been so happy to miss something in my life. I made sure my parents knew they could go to hear my name, but I would not be there to collect my diploma.
The article pointed out that the punished claimed it was culturally biased. I would rather not go there since it was only my experience. I would rather be socially correct by not thrashing that issue around.
Hey wally, it's all good here bro. I know you to be a good person who has interesting opinions. No PC is needed with me. I actually laugh at the memory of some graduations I've been to, and I have even put some of the things I've seen in my comedy routines. Lemme guess, a black/hispanic family wilded the hell out when their kid's name was called? I can damn near picture the scene in my head right now. I can tell you this wally. I'm from the bricks myself. I don't find the need to scream it from the hills, but I have a lot of family and friends, many of whom were the first to graduate HS or college in their families, so some times it can get out of hand. I don't like it and don't think it's right, and despite growing up in that environment never felt the need to do it, nor has it been done to anyone in my family. It is wrong, plain and simple and I agree with you that it is uncalled for. A simple cheer will suffice. I just wanted to give that angle because as I was reading the story I thought the same thing. I don't think it's cultural, but more economic, because you can go into nearly any poor area of Philly where there are a cross segment of people and find the same to be true.
I can damn near picture the scene in my head right now. I can tell you this wally. I'm from the bricks myself. I don't find the need to scream it from the hills, but I have a lot of family and friends, many of whom were the first to graduate HS or college in their families, so some times it can get out of hand. I don't like it and don't think it's right, and despite growing up in that environment never felt the need to do it, nor has it been done to anyone in my family. It is wrong, plain and simple and I agree with you that it is uncalled for. A simple cheer will suffice. I just wanted to give that angle because as I was reading the story I thought the same thing. I don't think it's cultural, but more economic, because you can go into nearly any poor area of Philly where there are a cross segment of people and find the same to be true.
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