I'm special, so the rules don't apply to me.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by Z-man

You'd think the announcer would have paused until the cheering subsided...

And I agree -- there is a lot more to the story than we know...

-Z-man.

350 students x 10 sec pause adds an hour to the event. They need to shut up, be quiet and celebrate as loudly as they like AFTER it's over. If some yay-hoos were cheering and I missed the announcement of my kids name, I'd be ticked.

[dennis in se pa]

Graduation ceremonies are stupid. I would not have gone to mine if I wasn't forced to. Who are they for anyway? The "pay attention to me" people. A boring waste of time and money.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

Graduation ceremonies are stupid. I would not have gone to mine if I wasn't forced to. Who are they for anyway? The "pay attention to me" people. A boring waste of time and money.

^This.

For a lot of these people, this is it - this will be the highest point of their lives. I think that is why high school themed TV shows are so popular.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

"I'm going to cheer, because…I've gone through too much to get her to this point." She added incredulously, "I can't let her know 'I'm so proud of you?'"

Feel free to do so. Privately.

Why were the police there? The article makes it sound like they were ready for something like this incident.

[dienstuhr]

This is what happens when people treat graduating HS as some sort of major life accomplishment.

I know that for some people it is, and that is the problem.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

Graduation ceremonies are stupid.
Who are they for anyway?

I can't speak for everyone, but regarding my HS graduation, it was for my parents. They made sure I attended school, got help for me when I was struggling, and kept me out of jail long enough to graduate. The ceremony was for them; an acknowledgment not only of my achievement, but also of their efforts to ensure it.




And I personally think graduating HS should be seen as a major life accomplishment.
Nationally, 28% of all students will not graduate. In SC, 41% will not graduate.*


The parents (guardians) of those who graduate have spent 12 or more years taking an interest in the childs development and future; making sure that the child has the necessary educational foundation to advance onward in life, out from under their wings. When a child graduates HS, he/she is usually within one year of majority, one year from enlistment age for our armed forces, and one year from voting age.

Statistically, adults who graduated HS are less likely to end up in jail by a factor of 8. For that reason alone, society should see graduation as a major accomplishment.

Source: Southern Regional Education Board

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Look at me, look at me! That's my daughter! LOOK AT MEEEEE!!!!!!


I hate attention whores, and wish graduation was still a time of dignified tradition and ceremony.

I like your expression "attention whores". I just have to find a slightly less offensive term for the offenders than that. How about "drama queen" irrespective of sex? No, attention whore is better.

[Joe Bob]

Mom looks like she wouldn't shut her yap at a funeral......when they tell ya to STFU and there are cops around to enforce....STFU.....just sayin'......

[Z-man]

Who is worse, a proud parent to takes here celebration a bit too far, or the parent who doesn't give a crap about their child since they are either doped out on drugs, too involved in an ilicit affair, are too self-infatuated, never wanted their child to be born, or 100 other reasons why they don't take their parenting seriously.

If the police want to arrest someone, they should arrest the parents who fall into the latter category.

-Z

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by widebody911

^This.

For a lot of these people, this is it - this will be the highest point of their lives. I think that is why high school themed TV shows are so popular.

This has been a problem here as well, and as pointed out, it does add a lot of time and if multiple schools have Graduations in the same venue, it can screw all the other schools. I know some here will say that it is racist, but most of the time (actually I can't think of another instances) the people causing the disruption are Black, but as widebody911 points out, it just may be the high point, and like Z said, they care enough to be there and are very proud.. I think more consideration needs to go into scheduling these events and allow time for people to celebrate, when it may only be the only positive thing in their lives.. Even the ones here with the least still have much more than others out there..

This is what happens when people treat graduating HS as some sort of major life accomplishment.

I know that for some people it is, and that is the problem.

I don't see that as a problem, I see it as a stepping stone, heading up..

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Going to nieces HS grad tomorrow and step daughters Tuesday...

Should I leave the air horn at home?

Nah, just a quick tap.

Fiddy dollar fine and a trip to Good Morning America. What's not to like here?

I mean the woman, Scott, not you. You'll get sued for the clean up of the seats after everyone around you shats their pants.

[tharbert]

I watched the video... And, I've been to S.C. My dad lived in Charleston before he passed away. The lady in the video didn't slur her speech or use slang. She didn't flash any signs. She actually sounded well spoken, i.e. didn't say "axe" instead of "ask." She sounded reasonable. She said she didn't resist the police at all and sat quietly in the patrol car. I agree, there has to be more to the story but if there isn't, shame on the school admin and shame on the police and they deserve the civil suit that's likely to follow.

[widgeon13]

Pretty disappointing if HS graduation is the high point of their lives, may as well just throw in the towel and take that job at McD's. Holy S---! Do they just stop trying at 18 YO?

If that is their viewpoint everyone has failed, schools, home, society. EVERYONE!

Of course that is not the case with Indian, Korean, Chinese etc. who are the first to graduate from HS but we let that one group off the hook and don't hold them to a higher standard. Guess we are counting on affirmative action to get the job done.

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by genrex

765 graduates?... are you sure?

The largest high schools in Washington State have 350 - 400 graduates each year. The graduation ceremonies seem to take forever.

I can't imagine 765 graduates... you must have people fainting from heat stroke.

_

really???? where did you get your numbers?
what happened in 26yrs?
Redmond class of 1986 we had 640 graduate and we were only 3A at the time. there are lots of 4A schools in the state now

oh and we really ruined graduation for my sister the following year. i guess the key note speaker didnt like getting hit in the back of the head with a beach ball.

[DanielDudley]

Roseanne Roseannadanna - Smoking - YouTube

[genrex]

Ted, the largest high schools in this state (the 4A schools) have 1500 - 1600 students, and they graduate 350 - 400 students every year.

If your high school had more students than that, please provide a link to that statistic, because those students are a bunch of anomalies.

_

[Zeke]

1200 started in my class G10 and 900 graduated G12 in '63. Now in LB we graduate 1200 per high school and there are several. They are now G9-12 and literally have 1000's in attendance every day.

[Jim Bremner]

Lakewood High 1984 Class of 980

[A930Rocket]

Yes, it was 765. I thought it was going to be over 800 kids.

Really didn't take that long. Started at 3:30 PM and I think we were done in 2-3 hours. It was also held at the convention center, so no problem with the heat.

Originally Posted by genrex

765 graduates?... are you sure?

The largest high schools in Washington State have 350 - 400 graduates each year. The graduation ceremonies seem to take forever.

I can't imagine 765 graduates... you must have people fainting from heat stroke.

_

[Jim727]

Arresting the mom is a bit over the top - not sure what the alternative would be, but....

Everyone that graduated has reached a milestone in their life. Some worked hard, some maybe not at all, but they all are graduates. Having a cheering section or a parent with a big mouth does not gild the degree one bit. It's a graduation, not a football game, and cheering sections are inappropriate. Mom should stfu and show some respect to all the graduates.