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Thursday, June 7, 2012

2012 Graduation #3

Tonight's activities were already scheduled to be indoors and that's a good thing because rain began falling about 45 minutes before the commencement was to begin.

Approximately 190 students graduated.  There were six speeches including the valedictorian, the salutatorian, the class president, the board president, the principal and the superintendent.

While the students were very well behaved, the audience took on a life of their own.  Because of this, I posted on my facebook some basic commencent behaviors that I will now share with you.

Screaming way to go dumbass...not appropriate.


Holding a sign that says congratu F'in Lations ... not appropriate.


Wearing your pajamas...not appropriate

Blowing an airhorn indoors (or outdoors)...not appropriate.

Wearing your beard in a braid...not appropriate.

Wearing anything that shows off your ass crack...not appropriate.

And last but not least...referring to anyone with a doctorate in education as a fucking moron...not, at all, appropriate.

While I received my long awaited Dr. Seuss quote from the class president...

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” 

I left feeling deflated and disappointed in how such a monumental occassion could be turned into a carnival like atmosphere.
  

4 comments:

  1. Oh that is honestly so sad. It never ceases to amaze me how awful people can act in public. When my kids graduated from Middle School the principal started off by telling the audiance what was and was not appropriate. She was a wonderful principal and woman in general. Too bad she had to do this, but I'm glad she did. It shouldn't be necessary, but as you have said here, many people do many inappropriate things.
    But I do love the quote!

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  2. I despise commencements... they are long and boring and after all that time at a school, I would think most people would just want to "get away" instead of being required to sit for a few more hours. The tests are finished. The grades are turned in. It really is over.

    As time passes, I see graduations from preschool? kindergarten? middle school? Um... really???

    Many years ago (even before I was in school) perhaps there was a reason to celebrate moving from junior high school to senior high school... many kids never got the opportunity for a higher education. They had to go to work to help support the family. And even more of a celebration for completing high school would have been appropriate.

    But now... not so much. It is what you do. It is like brushing your teeth or wearing a coat when it is 15 degrees outside. Completing high school is what you do.

    When I graduated from Penn State I was expected to buy a cap and gown. Excuse me? Pay money and sit in a metal chair for a few hours... nope. I've given you all the time I needed to give you and now it is time to move on. Needless to say, I did not go to commencement even though I was supposed to carry my class banner or something like that...

    When I saw all the money spent on commencement at NESD a year ago and the gifts that were expected at numerous graduation parties, I thought to myself how much wiser it would have been to hold on to that money and use it for your own education because then you know it is being spent on something worthwhile. This thought was confirmed yesterday in line at Target when a young girl was obviously spending graduation money on a giant pile of junk.

    So ... now I am off my soapbox and am thinking I should walk up to see you at MWE. If I bring Otter along he would most likely love to help clean out the freezer.

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  3. Jeez … with an audience like that, it sounds like these kids were lucky to graduate.

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  4. Truly sad (and if those were the parents, even more sad). So sorry you had to experience that. I agree with everything but the beard in the braid. Not my taste, but at least it shows that he (I assume it was a he) gave some thought to his appearance.

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