Okay, here's your diploma

So..what the parents and friends did in celebrating is not anything bad... However, the rule was "no celebrating during the ceremony"  Rules are rules, and no one should be above them.  I would not have given in and issued the diplomas. No wonder so many of this nations youth have no respect for rules.

I agree. Graduations have gotten to be so loud and disorespectfull that you can no longer even here your names being called . These inconsiderate people are the same type that carry on in movie theaters disturbing all the othe patrons . I dont go to movies any more either.

I want to commend the Principal, staff and school district.  Respect should be given to every student and their family during the Graduation Ceremony.  I am tired of a bunch of loud mouths who disrespect the rules of the school as well as the other familes and students there that are following the rules.  You are not at some sporting event.  Show a little class in the future.  And to the lawyer who offered to take their case - Shame on you.  You and lawyers like you are the reason we have so many silly and improper lawsuits.  To the students who want an apology from the administration....grow up and learn to follow rules....oh, that's right...you don't know how to follow rules because you don't have good role models!!!

So you are saying that everyone should keep there mouths shut!! I don't think so.  For some families graduating from High School is a GREAT accomplishment.  Asking them to keep quiet is impossible and stupid.  

You people must dont have families that care about you.  Obviously these students made great accomplishments and their families were very proud. And what does cheering for your family have to do with NOT GIVING YOU YOUR DIPLOMA.  These student can't control the actions of their family.  This school seems like its still living in the era of Jim Crow Laws!

You people must dont have families that care about you.  Obviously these students made great accomplishments and their families were very proud. And what does cheering for your family have to do with NOT GIVING YOU YOUR DIPLOMA.  These student can't control the actions of their family.  This school seems like its still living in the era of Jim Crow Laws!

I have very mixed feelings about this.  For some of these families it may have been the first time someone in the family graduated.  It also may be as far as they go in the education arena.  However, from our district, you can tell that many people no longer have manners at home or anywhere.  They talk and visit during awards ceremonies, plays, (where their own children are performing!) and during school presentations.  Our principal often has to stop and wait for the PARENTS to stop talking.  It is really rude behavior.  I noticed it beginning about 20 years ago and it is getting worse and worse.  How do we teach children manners when the parents are the worst examples?  I truly think we need lessons for families in how to behave in public.  I think it is one of the reasons students talk to each other instead of listening to a lesson.  We are now trying to become edutainers instead of educators.  Something needs to be done.

I want to be a Principal and about $100,000.00 per year.  This Principal of a public school should be fired.

I am an assistant principal in a high school and this was absurd.  The students should never have been held responsible for their parents'/relatives' behavior. It was a "knee jerk" reaction by the administration.

The students deserve an apology.  

The school district needs to meet with folks to see what can be done about disruptions to graduations if it is that out of hand.  The venue where our graduations are held has rules that are enforced by their security (ie:  no air horns, etc.) Just as rules would be enforced at a concert or any other public event. You wouldn't arrest the performers...

Students and parents SIGNED they would not be disruptive and didn't live up to their word. Is that a good example? Are those parents better than me if I live up to my promise. I guess someone's word means nothing "Do what you want you are they only one who matters!". My solution is ban all parents from graduation and put them in another room were they cannot disrupt the ceremony.  

    My children attend High School in Kansas City, and I can tell you from experience that the parents show as little if not less self-control than the kids do at school functions.  I go to games and assemblies and awards ceremonies where adults are talking to each other, laughing and carrying on.  Using cell phones...you name it.  They comein late and don't even attempt to be discrete about it.  Its ridiculous to say the least.  

   The one common denominator at school events is the presence of the school security officers.  Around here, these people are actual police officers, assigned to each public school.  Seems to me the answer to the problem of idiotic, ill mannered adults disrupting group events is to establish a policy of removing them if they behave this way.  We all cheer when our kids do well.  There's nothing more wonderful than seeing your child accomplish a goal, but this idea that it warrants some huge over the top "see-me" production number by the spectators is just stupid.  Cheear for a couple seconds and then shut up.  Allow the other kids to enjoy their day too.  

    They should announce from the beginning that cheering and clapping needs to be kept at a minimum, to allow for the ceremony to take place in something of an orderly fashion, and then remove those who act like its their personal moment in the spotlight. I almost always find that the people putting on the biggest shows are really just trrying to get noticed anyway.  They aren't only cheering for their kid.  They are the ones on the cell phones the whole time, talking loudly so anyone around them can't hear what's going on.  I say...put them out.  People will behave with as much or as little self-control as their surrounding permit.  Its human nature.  So...let them know they have to control themselves.

I hate to say this...but I agree with the "No Celebrating Rule"!  And my agreement with the schools stance has nothing to do with racism.  I am an African-American that has gotten FED UP with folks that cannot bring themselves to act appropriately at such a dignified event.  Unfortunatly the kids in the picture are African-American...but I'm sure that Caucasian kids somewhere may face this problem as well for thier families lack of class and self-control.

It's not just the noise.  Folks show up dressed inappropriately...like they are going to the movies or a football game.  And the Mystery Teacher above is right.  This has been brewing over the last 20 years.

It's not just about race.  Our values have gone down the toilet.  There was a time that graduations, especially for Black Folk, MEANT something.  Back in the day, regardless of our education or socio-economic status; family and friends put on our "Sunday Best" for such occasions and carried ourselves in a dignfied manner.

Mabey the rule seems over-the-top, but I must admit that it has had a positive impact on restoring the formality back in our commencement ceremonies.

How can one be responsible for the actions of others?

The policy was unenforcable and threatening to those that cannot be held responsible for actions of their elders less alone their peers.  As John Stossell would say "GIVE ME A BREAK!".

I'm surprised by some of the comments.  A few of them are really racist.  A few of them are very rational.  I think the ruling was a bad idea.  I don't by into the philosophy that "rules are rules."  There needs to be an underlying ethical component.  The most reasonable enforcement would have been to escort the family who cheered during the ceremony and bar them from further public functions.  That way, they wouldn't get in the way of the ceremony, but the graduates would still earn their diplomas.

having just gone to an 8th grade graduation and having experienced nothing but chit-chat during the entire ceremony--student and adult speakers alike were ignored by the crowd--i sympathize w/the need for some kind of accountability, but holding the diplomas from the students doesn't make sense. escorting out the family members who disturb does. but then, how do you escort 80% of the crowd away from the event(since our metricualtion ceremony is held on the field)? and a veteran teacher of 20+ years also mentioned how it always seems to be the jerks who get the loudest cheers. apples don't fall very far from trees.

That's it in a nut shell, the morals of our society have gone down the toilet. People no longer have manners, morals, principles, or values. The only think of themselves in these and all situations.  

That's it in a nut shell, the morals of our society have gone down the toilet. People no longer have manners, morals, principles, or values. The only think of themselves in these and all situations.  

I re-read everything and I did not feel anything said was racist.  Why are we putting labels on this?  Racist was the fact the the children whose families were penalized were all minority!  Where were the white parents from that graduation?  They probably were cheering too.  Why weren't they "caught?"