Five students didn't receive their diplomas because of cheers from the crowd as they walked across the stage in Galesburg, Illinois. Rules are rules, I guess, but this seems a bit excessive to me.
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.
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.
This seems like an impossible situation to me. How do you control others? Did Grandpa Ted or Aunt Susie have to sign a contract too?
Maybe spectators could be placed in one of those sound proof rooms like they have in some churches so you don't hear crying babies. Virtual graduations might take over where everyone is calmly sitting around watching a computer screen and no one can hear other people yell. Maybe there could be two ceremonies. Those parents wanting a solemn occasion could sign up for the serious one, and the families wanting to let out with hoops and hollers could sign up for the relaxed occasion. Perhaps the names of the graduating students could also appear on a large screen to make it more acceptable if the family doesn't hear their graduate's name due to excessive noise from the crowd. This sounds like a good problem solving activity that surely could lead to something other than depriving five students of their diplomas.
It's not easy to be quiet!