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June 7th, 2012
10:02 PM ET

RidicuList: Punished for cheering at graduations

Some high school graduations are cracking down on - wait for it - cheering. Yep, apparently it’s not dignified. Welcome to the RidicuList, all you enthusiasm haters.

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Filed under: The RidicuList
soundoff (11 Responses)
  1. Jimmy

    Ok that was just stupid. I mean some parents can be overly excited, but to punish celebration is just too much.

    June 11, 2012 at 12:28 pm |
  2. L. Brewer

    These families typically show up with 20-30 people and they bring loud noise makers, dance in their seats, yell and scream whooping and hollering which keeps someone else s parent from seeing and / or hearing their own child's name called. They sometimes carry on for more than 5 min. If the school halted for every family to cheer as these families often do then we would never get through the hundreds of graduates. I think the graduate should not be punished but if the parent causes enough disruption that the police feel its disorderly conduct then they should be arrested just like anyone would be when causing a public disturbance.

    June 9, 2012 at 2:01 pm |
  3. AOakley

    The issue with this school in SC is that the parents are loud cheering and stomping drowns out the next graduate name. Some parents have bought bull horns and other noise makers. Each parent was asked to hold the applause, but some don't think rules apply to them. The parents were asked to leave and the reason why some were arrested was based on their actions after being asked to leave. This is example of a parent making a graduation about one student instead of entire class. Every student has worked hard for the pass 12 years, and not just her daughter. She taking to the media is another way the parent is taking the spotlight off the whole class and putting it on her daughter and self. The district has three high school of 200 plus students graduating on the stay day, and each school has a time limit. Its impossible to stop the ceremony every time. I graduated from the same district and the noise level is extremely loud. Several students names have been drowned out by the actions of others. Each parent needs to have respect for each other because everyone wants to hear the graduate name. Why can't everyone hold the cheering to end of the ceremonies? Personally, I am glad that the district has put this policy into place. My son will be walking the stage in four years, and its been a struggle just getting him to high school. I am sure the next four years won't be in different, but I will be able control myself and follows rules to hold the applause to the end of the ceremony!

    June 8, 2012 at 11:24 pm |
  4. Naline

    I thought I heard it all. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I hope the parents fight this and make a point on their rights.

    June 8, 2012 at 12:07 pm |
    • Don

      @Naline I think they are correct in punishing those getting excessive cheering. I've been to graduations that were absolutely ruined for some kids unfortunate enough to be following a kid who's friends and family go crazy screaming and yelling for several minutes.

      June 8, 2012 at 10:12 pm |
    • KGarry

      Would you feel the same if you missed hearing your child's name called because some people would not be quiet and sit down? The parties are for afterwards. it is no more appropriate to make a scene at a graduation ceremony than it would be in a theatre or a church. Respect for others and good manners DO matter.

      June 9, 2012 at 5:47 pm |
  5. Joot

    The problem lies with the kids and families that want to bring attention to themselves. When the graduation has to stop for more than five seconds, a line has been crossed. The public high school in my hometown had to "crack down" because some families (with 20+ members in attendance) would stand up, yell, scream, sing, and put on their own little demonstration for 30 seconds to a full minute. Some other, families, not to be outdone, would stage their own celebration...mid-ceremony. With 250-350 students parading across the stage, ... do the math. It would have taken "forever" to hand out the diplomas. These celebrations were so raucous, that some families couldn't even hear their child's name announced over the PA system due to the extended celebrations (by the families of the preceding graduates).

    Graduation ceremonies are a rite, not a right. If you want to have a party for your graduate where you can sing, clap, dance, yell, etc,, do it after the ceremony at a private location.

    June 8, 2012 at 10:20 am |
    • Saheed

      That's a circus, not a simple cheer as this video talks about.

      June 9, 2012 at 6:02 pm |
  6. rainyinmichigan

    A kid and his family have to complete community service just for cheering?! That's too extreme! When did cheering at a graduation become a criminal act?! This school district owes this kid and his family an apology!

    Does this punishment only apply to black families? They're the only ones I've seen (in different reports) get this kind of extreme punishment!

    June 8, 2012 at 6:58 am |
    • Jo Olson

      No, the family owes the school and the other graduates an apology. Maybe community service will help these people understand that they are not the only people on earth.

      June 11, 2012 at 11:29 am |
  7. M.black

    Anderson, please show a shot of what a high school graduation in Hawai'i...please . Mahalo aka thank you.

    June 8, 2012 at 5:05 am |
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