Students denied diplomas because of cheering relatives

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yes, you read this correctly.

What the hell kind of nazi police state are we creating when students' parents or friends can't even applaud or cheer their accomplishment and an event INTENDED to celebrate their graduation?!?! I almost can't believe this is for real.

I swear if this is what it's coming to, should I ever actually have kids they'll either go to private school or we'll skip the graduation and hold our own. They can mail the piece of paper. Ridiculousness at its bureaucratic finest.



http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/06/01/graduation.decorum.ap/index.html



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.

[masraum]

That's a tough one. I understand both sides. It's hard to say, without having been there how "wrong" this really is. Maybe they family(ies) that had a problem were REALLY over the top and inconsiderate to the extreme. It's really easy to assume the worst of "the man" when occasionally it's not.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

The Heartland is getting wackier than San Francisco.

[air-cool-me]

who gives a flying F...

its a "keepsake" i didnt even pick up mine...

[RallyJon]

Air horns? Who do they think they are, Germans?

[1967 R50/2]

An individual shouldn't be punished for the action of others.

For all the school admins know, it could've been some malicious jacka$$es hooting for the very purpose of keeping her from getting the diploma.

[azasadny]

I'm glad I don't live in that town!

[TerryH]

The noisemakers aren't being punished, only the kids who are having the biggest day of their lives to this point. Tried, found guilty, and sentenced to 8 hour community service? Not to mention the embarrassment. Gastapo tactics. I hope those administrators are fired.

[nostatic]

To echo Shaun...I'd like to point out that this did NOT happen in CA

[Aurel]

If it were at Rutgers, I can assure you that the nappy headed hos would have gotten their diplomas

Aurel

[widgeon13]

Pretty funny in my book.

I, along with eight of my friends (seniors), did not receive diplomas and could not attend the Senior prom as we pulled a class prank and got caught. Had to do 40 hours of community service at the school as well. It ruined me, I've been haunted by the event for 40 years.

[gprsh924]

i thought my graduation ceremony was a massive waste of time

[johnco]

couldn't walk with my class and receive my diploma because my hair was too long. 2nd highest ACT score, straight A's, one of 6 graduating midterm first year allowed... and my hair was too long to walk with the class. it was almost to the bottom of my ears. waited until the principle had a large group of parents standing with him, walked up and demanded my diploma. red faced principle had a lot of explaining to do to all the parents asking him why. got the thing, lost it for 25-30 yrs, found it a few years ago. just a piece of fancy paper but embarrassing the principle in front of a crowd of parents was priceless.

[CurtEgerer]

I have 2 teens daughters, one who graduated this year. So I've been to NUMEROUS functions over the years where this undignified trailer-trash behavior occurs. Applause is one thing, screaming at the top of your lungs "Go Shenequa, you beotch!!!!!!!" as she walks across the stage is, unfortunately, where our society has devolved. In many cases, the trailer trash parents are leading the chants- probably the same parents who can't seem to control themselves at sporting events. Unfortunately, I have to attend a dance recital for both daughters tomorrow evening and will be subjected to an entire evening of this rude, look-at-me look-at-me Jerry Springer-like behavior. I can't wait .... If it is OK for them to exercise their freedom of screech, is it OK for me to turn around and tell them to Shut the F_ck Up tomorrow night?

[widgeon13]

Originally posted by CurtEgerer
I have 2 teens daughters, one who graduated this year. So I've been to NUMEROUS functions over the years where this undignified trailer-trash behavior occurs. Applause is one thing, screaming at the top of your lungs "Go Shenequa, you beotch!!!!!!!" as she walks across the stage is, unfortunately, where our society has devolved. In many cases, the trailer trash parents are leading the chants- probably the same parents who can't seem to control themselves at sporting events. Unfortunately, I have to attend a dance recital for both daughters tomorrow evening and will be subjected to an entire evening of this rude, look-at-me look-at-me Jerry Springer-like behavior. I can't wait .... If it is OK for them to exercise their freedom of screech, is it OK for me to turn around and tell them to Shut the F_ck Up tomorrow night?

You go girl!!!!

[Racerbvd]

What if your kid followed the kid with the parents with the air horns?? This has been a problem in FL. for many years, unfortunately, it seems that the biggest offenders are typically black, at least in this area. Remember, sometimes there are multiple graduations in the same location, these are timed to the minute, so when undignified trailer-trash stalls one, it can affect many others. BTW, families are notified of what will happen if they behave this way. FYI, at my graduation, I was told that if my gown came open (I was wearing Quicksilver baggies and had pants legs tied on below the knees) my diploma would be fed to a dog Of course I was wearing Checker board Vans too

[competentone]

Originally posted by CurtEgerer
I have 2 teens daughters, one who graduated this year. So I've been to NUMEROUS functions over the years where this undignified trailer-trash behavior occurs. Applause is one thing, screaming at the top of your lungs "Go Shenequa, you beotch!!!!!!!" as she walks across the stage is, unfortunately, where our society has devolved. In many cases, the trailer trash parents are leading the chants- probably the same parents who can't seem to control themselves at sporting events. Unfortunately, I have to attend a dance recital for both daughters tomorrow evening and will be subjected to an entire evening of this rude, look-at-me look-at-me Jerry Springer-like behavior. I can't wait .... If it is OK for them to exercise their freedom of screech, is it OK for me to turn around and tell them to Shut the F_ck Up tomorrow night?

I'm surprised more here aren't expressing your opinion and are actually "outraged" by this school's action. (I applaud the school's action.)

Maybe they haven't been to a graduation ceremony recently and do not know how disgusting the outbursts are -- or maybe we have a lot of trailer park trash lurking on this board?

[sammyg2]

They were warned. They were warned again. But these trash couldn't behave and act like civilized human beings. Now they are trying to bring up the race card. Maybe race had something to do with it, as in a certain few people of certain races were unable to follow instructions and act like they have a clue.

The kids can get their piece of paper after they do 8 hours of volunteer work. They already graduated, this is all over the piece of paper.
I agree with the shool (did I say that?)

[speeder]

Well, it's a cultural thing. My Mom once told me that Mexicans and Blacks have more fun at a single wedding reception than most white people have in their entire lives.


Seriously, manners have taken a schit in modern society and it is not just one or two groups to blame. Their are loudmouthed, dumbass people distributed pretty evenly across the various ethnic groups these days...

[911pcars]

It wasn't the students that disrupted the ceremony. Why punish them? Instead, give the perp family the option of performing community service, or they can let their graduating senior take the rap.

Sherwood