Give me a break

June 5, 2007

cbs2chicago.com – Grads Lose Diplomas Because Of Fans At Ceremony

GALESBURG, Ill. Five downstate high school seniors walked across the stage during graduation, but were denied that important slip of paper: the diploma. The reason was that fans cheered too loud for them during the ceremony.

Galesburg High School bans shouting during the graduation ceremony to ensure that every name can be heard. 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 the students could be denied their diplomas and barred from the after-graduation party.

The students argue that they should not be held responsible for rowdy grown-ups that can’t follow the rules.

“I told everybody, but it doesn’t mean that they’re going to listen, you know,” said Nadia Trent, who was denied her diploma. “I’m a kid, they’re grown people. I can’t control them.”

Galesburg School Supt. Dr. Gene Denisar regarded the loud cheering differently. “It’s a mystery to me why a family wouldn’t want to support their child with honor, respect and dignity,” he said.

School officials said they will hear students and parents out if they appeal. Meanwhile, the students have the opportunity to get their diplomas, but only if they work eight hours of community service, answering phones, sorting books or doing other chores for the district, according to the school.

However, the students are not ready to forgive and forget. The five teenagers rejected the offer, demanding their certificates and an apology.

Good for the grads to reject for rejecting the 8 hours of service the school wants from them to get their diplomas. I watched Dr. Denisar on video and it just surprises me to no end what people can talk themselves into believing. I think he really believes withholding their diplomas (a physical representation of 4 years of academic accomplishment) because people clapped is an appropriate action. Wow, the idiocy of some people will never cease to amaze me.

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2 Responses to “Give me a break”

L. Green said:

June 6th, 2007 at 9:42 pm

Something has to be done to stop the ill-mannered behavior of these people. What makes their desire to shower their kid with such exaggerated and inappropriate cheers, supercede the desire and ability of other parents to hear the name of their child called following one of these students.

There used to be societal rules that include the idea that you can do as you wish as long as it does not adversely affect another. When these baboons act like animals at graduation when “cheering” for their graduate, they are denying other parents, friends and families the right to hear the name of thier own graduate called out.

It’s selfish, boorish, and obnoxious. The principal shouldn’t have caved. Next year’s graduation is going to be like a circus of hooting monkeys.
Dig ad veritas said:

June 6th, 2007 at 10:00 pm

And you somehow feel that withholding the diploma of the child not punishing the people who cheered is actually the appropriate response? Seriously?