Officials in Galesburg, Illinois said the get-tough policy followed a 2005 high school commencement where hoots, hollers and even air horns drowned out much of the ceremony and nearly touched off fights in the audience when the unruly were asked to quiet down."Lots of parents complained that they could not hear their own child's name called," said assistant superintendent Joel Estes. "And I think that led us to saying we have to do something about this to restore some dignity and honor to the ceremony so that everyone can appreciate it and enjoy it."
Just to bring the point home, students AND parents were told that the consequences could include not receiving your diploma. Violators were also warned that students could be barred from the after-graduation party. Period!
About a month before the May 27 ceremony, Galesburg High grads and their parents had to actually sign a contract promising to act in dignified way. Period!
So why is Caisha Gayles still waiting for her diploma after graduating with honors with a 3.4 GPA? Because the impressive young ladies' family decided to blow-off the requirements and hollered with enthusiasm and whoops of joy anyway when she crossed the stage.
Now Caisha, along with four other students, have a beef with the school. "It was like one of the worst days of my life," said Gayles, who does not have the keepsake diploma to hang on her wall. "You walk across the stage and then you can't get your diploma because of other people cheering for you. It was devastating, actually."
And the young sistah shouldn't get it -- at least not right now. If you're gonna be ghetto, you gotta deal with the consequences.
Yeah, that's right I said it.
The lesson here folks is we have to stop co-signing on bad behaviour. The family signed a contract and agreed to behave. Our young people must learn that your word is your bond. Period!
In Indianapolis, public school officials this year started kicking out parents and relatives who cheer. At one school, the superintendent interrupted last month's graduation to order police to remove a woman from the gymnasium.
Back in Galesburg, the good news is Caisha will now get her diploma per CNN... after performing eight hours of community service.