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

[Heel n Toe]

I love it. I've been to a lot of different graduation ceremonies, and have enjoyed it when people yell out for their kids, friends, etc. even when there is a note in the bulletin and an announcement made from the stage.

But I guess things have gotten tiresome and who knows... sometimes the venue is booked later in the day for something else, and rules have to be made in order to get the thing over in a reasonable amount of time.

And sometimes groups yell so long that families can't hear their kid's name called when they're going across the stage right after the kid with the family making noise.

So for the common good, people should be able to contain themselves.

Lady, of course you can tell your kid that you're proud of her.

Just not during the ceremony.


South Carolina Mom Arrested for Cheering at Daughter’s Graduation
By Sarah B. Weir

A Myrtle Beach teen's high school graduation on Saturday was ruined when her excited mom, Shannon Cooper, was arrested for cheering.

Although parents were reportedly warned that they would be asked to leave the auditorium where the ceremony was held if they applauded for individual students receiving their diplomas, Cooper disagreed with the policy. She told WPDE NewsChannel 15 that she decided, "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?'"

When her daughter Iesha crossed the stage, Cooper claims that, "I got up and I said: 'Yay, my baby made it! Just a regular cheer.'" That's when police handcuffed her, escorted her to a van outside of the venue, and charged her with disorderly conduct. After the ceremony, her daughter broke down in tears when she spotted her mom being held in the van. "Are ya'll serious? Are ya'll for real? I mean, that's what I'm thinking in my mind," says Cooper. "I didn't say anything. I was just like okay, I can't fight the law." She challenges the validity of the disorderly conduct charge since she says she fully cooperated with police. She and her daughter also assert that others were cheering and avoided arrest.

More: South Carolina Mom Arrested for Cheering at Daughter’s Graduation | Parenting - Yahoo! Shine

[Nostril Cheese]

Are ya'll serious? Are ya'll for real?

[widgeon13]

Iesha, great name.

It's all pretty silly.

[A930Rocket]

We just went through graduation ceremonies (765 graduates in my daughters class) here in Charleston. A short yell was ok, while prolonged cheering was discouraged.

Of course, several people like above couldn't contain themselves. They also seemed to have their own cheering section of 20-30 people.

[tharbert]

I wonder if anyone has posted this on youtube yet?

[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.

[genrex]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

We just went through graduation ceremonies (765 graduates in my daughters class) here in Charleston.

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.

_

[widgeon13]

"dignified tradition and ceremony", that's been gone a long time and unfortunately will probably never reappear.

[PorscheGAL]

It's not uncommon, here in South Carolina to have class sizes like that. Our local high school has a student body of 3500 students 9-12 grades. I have often wondered how long a graduation like that lasts? My graduating class was far from that with only 80 people and that took several hour when you throw in speeches from everyone.

[pete3799]

My youngest daughter is graduating HS this year.....along with her 10 classmates.

[Z-man]

While I don't think a prolongued cheer is appropriate, what's wrong with being proud of your daughter? Maybe she was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. We don't know what her family went through, or what she went through to get there.

Telling parents to not cheer at their child's graduation is akin to telling football fans not to cheer when their team scores a winning touchdown.

That school's admin needs to chill out. Charging that lady for disorderly conduct is over the top. Heck - even having her leave the ceremony is uncalled for. What kinda school is this? "You will graduate - but you will NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT IT! This is serious stuff. No laughing, no happiness -- no emotional feelings allowed." It's 1984 all over again...

-Z-man.

[ben parrish]

If that was all she said..there should not have been a problem...but...if there was more commotion, she was warned.

[scottmandue]

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

Should I leave the air horn at home?

[Head416]

Imagine you're at your child's graduation. It's been a struggle, you've questioned if they're even going to make it. But somehow you persevere, your child overcomes the challenge and finally graduates high school. Then, as your child walks across the stage you can't even hear the name as it's read into the microphone because the family of the previous student can't just give a little yell, but is standing up and yelling whole sentences across the auditorium. I say drag that inconsiderate trash out.

[slakjaw]

well, I think this is ****en stupid. ****en asshat cops dont have better things to do?

[biosurfer1]

That's nothing, my dad's graduating class, not whole school but graduating, was over 3500 students. He went to one of the largest highschools down in LA. That was 40 years ago now so who knows if its still that way.

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

It's not uncommon, here in South Carolina to have class sizes like that. Our local high school has a student body of 3500 students 9-12 grades. I have often wondered how long a graduation like that lasts? My graduating class was far from that with only 80 people and that took several hour when you throw in speeches from everyone.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Telling parents to not cheer at their child's graduation is akin to telling football fans not to cheer when their team scores a winning touchdown

Z, that's just a silly comparison.

Can ya'll agree there's probably a LOT more to the story? There's always more to these scenarios.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Head416

Imagine you're at your child's graduation. It's been a struggle, you've questioned if they're even going to make it. But somehow you persevere, your child overcomes the challenge and finally graduates high school. Then, as your child walks across the stage you can't even hear the name as it's read into the microphone because the family of the previous student can't just give a little yell, but is standing up and yelling whole sentences across the auditorium. I say drag that inconsiderate trash out.

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.

[notmytarga]

College graduations with 2500 happen. With minimal disruption and all names being read. I'll describe my 1984 College of Letters and Science graduation from UC Davis. The floor of the arena is filled with graduates. Family and friends in the nosebleed seats can't identify their kids. Impossible to alphabetize graduates by name, program lists graduates by program alphabetically. Graduates sit with those receiving similar degrees. Some use masking tape to mark up the mortarboard. A good proportion chose not to attend too. Two readers (local voice talents usually) take several minute long turns reading the phonetically written names from cards handed to them by the graduates. If it says "Ima Jerk" it doesn't get read. The pace is fast, flowing across the dias. Some shout, clap etc as the name is read and diploma is passed - but all realize that the names can get drowned out and are fairly respectful. I guess this would be a pipedream at a large 2012 high school graduation.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Head416

Imagine you're at your child's graduation. It's been a struggle, you've questioned if they're even going to make it. But somehow you persevere, your child overcomes the challenge and finally graduates high school. Then, as your child walks across the stage you can't even hear the name as it's read into the microphone because the family of the previous student can't just give a little yell, but is standing up and yelling whole sentences across the auditorium. I say drag that inconsiderate trash out.

I agree.