Treat graduation with respect and decorum
Over the next few weeks, the various high schools will be having commencement services. My son will be graduating this year with honors and plans to attend UNCG in the fall.
I should be excited about watching him graduate along with my family and friends, but I am almost dreading it. Why? Because of the rude people who attend graduation ceremonies. Whenever their student's name is called out, they scream, jump out of their seats, and cause such a commotion that it is very distracting.
In addition, it delays the procession of the commencement service until these people can settle back down. I don't mean to play the race card, but basically it is the black community who behaves this way, and it's not fair to all the other people who are there to honor their students.
So, please, try to express your excitement outside of the ceremonies and allow everybody the privilege to enjoy this milestone in their child's life.
Sharon Davis
Gibsonville
Comments (8)
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oooooh anyone want to touch this one?
Posted on June 5, 2007 9:41 AM
Ms. Davis,
I've attended my fair share of graduation ceremonies. While your observation of rudeness from people who act in a boisterous manner is correct; pinning it down to one race isn't very accurate.
In all the ceremonies I've attended, and taken part there have always been people with skin colors ranging from alabaster to ebony who act out.
I can agree with your frustration of folks who ruin the experience for others, but saying that only Black folks can be loud and boisterous shows you're far from observant.
Posted on June 5, 2007 10:20 AM
You took a perfectly good point and ruined it by singling out a race of people. I agree that you should respect others and events, but to mentioned that it's primarily one race was unethical and unwarranted. I've been to several graduations and have witnessed everyone behave the same way. I think your issues are not with the behaviors witnessed but w/the race you mentioned. This is a happy moment and the person being celebrated could have reached this point w/adversity, so some emotion may be involoved. Put aside your personal issues and bask in the moment of your relatives accomplishments.
Posted on June 5, 2007 10:34 AM
This was pretty funny to read at 6 a.m. It was a good point (until the racial stuff, but that's why they printed the letter) and we just had the story about the girl who was denied her physical diploma because her family couldn't follow the rules they had agreed to in the first place.
How about we video the ceremonies with an audience-cam and zoom in on offenders? Then we could put it all up on YouTube and embarrass the heck out of them. Sounds like a tech solution to an ongoing problem. And a little shame is good for the soul.
Posted on June 5, 2007 11:20 AM
Sue,
Good comments. I'm in favor of tasers myself. I don't necessarily mind the celebration but unfortunately it often drowns out the name of another student and they are just as entitled to their moment of glory as the next person.
Arsenio Hall be damned for his popularizing of the 'woof woof'.
Posted on June 5, 2007 1:53 PM
Thank God I got to read this letter this morning. Now, I can go to celebrate the biggest accomplishment of my kid's 21 years on this planet by sitting quietly on my hands because to do otherwise wouldn't only be a huge faux pas, but it would reflect poorly on my entire race and, what's worse--much, much worse--is that it would disturb poor Sharon Davis of Gibsonville.
Apparently, if your kid graduates with honors, you get to decide how everybody else should behave. After all, with Ms. Davis' so eager to cast aspersions on another group, it doesn't look like she'll be ever be convinced that graduation is a day when everyone present can share in the joy of the accomplishments of the entire class--blacks included.
Posted on June 5, 2007 2:00 PM
I was fortunate enough to attend a Ph.D. graduation ceremony at George Washington University a few weeks ago. The university marshal told parents, spouses and children that they were welcome to clap, cheer, stomp their feet and blow horns--their candidates had earned it. The ceremony took a little longer as a result and probably lacked a little dignity, but that was what those families and students wanted. BTW, the families yelling included every race and ethnicity.
GW showed that there is a simple way to deal with this--just wait until the noise is over before calling out the next student's name.
If a yell, cheer or horn could get a few more of our kids to get through high school, it would be well worth it.
Posted on June 5, 2007 8:33 PM
Dave, I like the GW idea. However, most people should know as it is EXPLICITEDLY stated in information to the graduates and announced at EACH GCS High School graduation to NOT make these loud and boisterious commotions when a graduate receives her/his diploma. EACH GCS High School holds commencement at the GSO Coliseum. Therefore, there is a tight schedule which has to be adhered. Remember, GCS System has to pay rental on the coliseum! Therefore, I feel that any person who acts in the manner described by the the LTTE writer should be escorted from the event and fined and/or arrested for public nuisance.
Just my two cents!
Shalom
Posted on June 5, 2007 10:02 PM