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GoogleThat was the general feeling from Bedford County Board of Education members at their meeting Thursday night after Superintendent Ed Gray announced commencement dates and times.
"We ask the community to give the ceremony the respect and dignity it deserves," she said. Neeley, who has a child graduating this year, said the air horns blared at last year's graduation were disruptive and rude.
"Please respect what these children have done," she said.
"It was very disturbing, the lack of respect by some in the audience," said member Glenn Forsee.
Gray said he has been to other graduations where the issue was addressed abruptly.
"If someone did that, the sheriff's deputies escorted them out," he said.
"Let's do that," said board member Amy Martin.
Some of the board members said they felt the move to Calsonic Arena for the graduation exercises may have contributed to the rise in disrespectful actions.
"There's almost a rodeo atmosphere," said one.
Board member Mary Jo Johnson said the graduates themselves need to pitch in, telling their guests to save the loud celebrating until afterward.
"The kids need to convey that to those who are coming," she said. "There's a time for that afterward. Every graduate is important, not just your own ... We don't have to have these ceremonies if they're going to turn into rodeos."
Gray stressed the importance of the graduation ceremony to acknowledge the 13 years of hard work the students have done, and said "It has to be a dignified ceremony."
Cascade graduates May 17 at Calsonic at 4 p.m. Shelbyville Central also graduates May 17 at Calsonic, but its exercises begin at 10 a.m. Community's graduation will be May 16 at 7 p.m. at Community School.
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I never understand Bedford County's reasoning for treating graduation like a funeral instead of more of a celebration and joyous occasion.
I remember when I graduated from SCHS . . . it lacked any enthusiasm because the principal at the time (Bone) told us to tell our parents not to cheer for us during the ceremony and that were to following a strict routine that must be finished under one hour. During rehearsals he actually timed us and even threatened to not give us our diplomas if we didn't do it correctly. I don't understand that stupidity . . . the ceremony is all about the students and not to glorify the Board of Education or the principal. It should be festive and fun and an event to remember . . . all I remember about mine is how stuffy and formal it was and how I was ready for it to be over because I wasn't able to enjoy the moment. I have to admit, the college graduations I have attended were less formal than the one at SCHS.
What is worse, I transferred from another school to Central and so I went to the other school's graduation the year I graduated. They were allow to cheer and yell for the students and it was a very festive mood and the students graduating seem to enjoy their ceremony and were able to enjoy the moment and have freedom to express themselves and it didn't seem scripted. And yes, it did last longer than an hour but I didn't hear anyone complain because they were totally enjoying the moment.
Maybe Ed Gray and others should ask the students what they want since they are the ones who put in the hard work in and made the achievement to graduate. Just to have a somber and dignified ceremony for the sake to glorify the Board of Education doesn't do the students any justice. I want to celebrate my achievements . . . not attend a ceremony as somber as a funeral.
I agree with jaxspike. I understand it should be respectful and the need to be able to hear everyone name's when it is called. I don't think air horns are a good idea, but it should also be fun. I don't see anything wrong with letting the class have a little fun at the end of it. Last year they didn't get the actual diploma until after the ceremony, they just received the cover. They still use those same scare tactics. However I don't see it changing, they want them that way every day, all dressed alike, no talking, all in a line like robots.
I am thankful for a school board that understands class. The ceremony itself is not the time for screaming but a time of reflection on the past, present, and the future of the graduating class. The graduation ceremony at SCHS is the most continuous tradition that we have. Mr. Bone and the men that have followed him (Mr. Boyd and Mr. Embry) have always tried to give each student their time and respect on this very special day. No one tries to limit anyone's joy but there has to be a standard or the next thing we know beach balls, water guns, and air horns will be the tradition. Please leave graduation as it is, simple and dignified.
I say escort the Board of Education out of their job . . . evidently they care more about their own agenda than the actual children involved.
I also love the mentality of Mary Jo Johnson who basically said that if people don't do it their way then they won't have a ceremony period. How juvenile is that attitude? Just goes to show the sad pathetic state of the people we have on the Board of Education.
Glad to see some things never change in this one horse town.
It is time for celebration but air horns are a little too much. One thing that is lacking in our society now is respect for each other, but that is a different subject. After all the years of hard work these kids should be able to loosen up at during this ceremony but some will go over board. Hey they are kids, we keep such a type grip on them nowadays it's no wonder they go nuts after graduating. I can remember pranks and such during school that would get a good butt busting and that was all. Nowadays if a kid steps outta line they are subject to getting nailed with a sledgehammer. So they are so uptight and ready to explode it's a wonder things are not worse then they are. Let em be kids.
To hhmmmm
What is wrong with being a senior citizen?
I want to be a lot more senior than I am now , don't you.
I agree that graduation should be as dignified as past Central High School graduations. It was orderly,classy, and had a scholarly mood(even though it was just high school), but most importantly everyone's name was heard. College graduation was very different and I felt it had all the dignity of a cattle auction.
There is really no need for the audience to act like a bunch of rednecks.
it's a formal occasion. i know everyone is proud of the person or persons graduating but come on act like you have a little class.
I agree with both sides; I do not think it should be as a funeral- (Or it will become a dull event students will not look forward to, and it will not feel as rewarding to each individual student). Also it should not be alot of wild yelling of: "Way to Go son" and Loud whistling stuff, where it drowns out the names of the next student called.
But I do feel it should be OK for parents or families to do a brief hand clap after the mention of their childs name (4-6 claps). Children like to here positive reinforcement of their families supporting them. I don't think a quick, brief hand clap by the childs family after the call of the childs name is rude, loud or disrespectful. And then everyone can clap again for the entire qraduating class at the end. This way it will still be formal, decent, and supportive by each childs family.
At least let the graduates toss their mortarboards in celebration. I graduated in Franklin County, and tossing the caps was an "if you want to" option. I think that's a traditional way for the students to show their celebration. SCHS is the first school I've ever seen that prohibits tossing of the mortarboards.
I was at last years graduation and it was VERY disrespectful. I agree with the school board yet again.
I agree with Momof3&3step&1gran but unfortunately SCHS wants to remove you from the ceremony even if you sneeze. It is ridiculous how strict the ceremony is. The parents should be allowed to clap for their child when their name is mentioned and the students should be allowed to throw their caps in the air. There is nothing wrong with that at all. I agree though that you definitely do not need air horns but at least allow the students to breath and enjoy the moment.
Shelbyville has to be backwards as usual though . . . and the scare tactics they implore to get their desire results are just uncalled for. How dare someone threaten to deny a diploma that someone has worked hard for 13 years!
I agree that graduation should be a dignified ceremony. This is not a ballgame and these are not children anymore. They are adults. Save the airhorns and yelling for when you get home at the celebration party.
Don't be a redneck, show some class. If someone had yelled like that at my graduation (which was 42 students and lasted 2 hours) we would have thought they were drunk. We were each given time to walk across the stage, have a picture made accepting our diploma (not just a cover) and exit before the next student approached. We weren't herded like cattle.
To be respectful to others, I'll say this... Central High School's Graduation Ceremony is repectfully formal, not uptight. We take great pride in our achievements and the students do not appreciate "moronic" activities. And to correct a few: we can breath at graduation, it is not at all linked to a rodeo atmosphere (try fitting over 900 people in a gymnasium without complaints), if the students desire AFTER the ceremony they CAN toss their caps (not sure what it proves), clapping right after a person's name is called takes away from the person behind him or her (rude), hootin and hollerin is just distasteful, and it's not your graduation. The board of education as well as our head administrators (Mr.Embry, Mrs.Wilson,Mrs.Reed, Mr.Taylor) and teachers do a wonderful job in making sure we have the best (thank you). So for those of you who think central's graduation is not up to par...please suck it up and hush. The student body is happy and it's OUR graduation, let us enjoy it.
I have to agree with the above your graduation is a very special time in your life. I graduated from Cascade in 1977 and I can remember that Mr. WHitaker made it very special for us and our family. After each name was announced there was a brief pause so that all the family could cheer--tne he would read the next one. SO what if you run over on time---this is a once in a life time event----make it for the students not for the adults with other places to be.
1st I want to say Hello to seedsower...have not seen you in a while and it is great to have you back. Even if we do not see eye to eye about some things. But I do enjoy reading what you have to say..I also went to the graduation last year at Cascade. It was very nice and there were no air horns last year. But I do believe the students should beable to throw their caps into the air. I do believe that we should beable to clap when our child's name is called or any other child's name that we are close to.I feel I do have class and I am proud to say I am a redneck also..I believe the school board has no right saying our way or no way...They should have no right being able to say that they will not have a graduation if things are not done their way...They are not the ones that have worked hard for the 13 years to get to graduation..I will not let them tell me to act like a stuff shirt..My 8th child will be graduating next year and I have never been told at the other 7 to sit there like a stuffed shirt and they will not tell me this last time..I am not going to sit there and count how may times I have clapped my hands.. But I will not still be clapping when they next student name is called...I believe everyone there will show respect towards all the students there..Come on this is a Graduation ...a time to be Proud...A time to be Happy...I am going along with the school board telling me what my son has to wear to school and a few other things..But I will not let the School Board tell me how I am suppose to act when my son Graduates..Come we have to draw a line some place...It is a time for Mom's ...Dad's...Grandmothers ...Grandfathers..aunts and uncles and sister's and brothers to be proud and to be able to show that they are proud of who ever is Graduating. When my son's name is called next year I will stand and clap my hands...It is my right...
If you guys want to see a rodeo graduation go to Lincoln County. It is outside on the football field and you can't hear or understand any name that is called. People are passing beach balls around like at concerts and blowing air horns. It is a disgrace. When my niece graduated you couldn't hear her name because the kid three in front of her parent's were still holding down the air horn. I applaud BCBOE for holding graduation as a dignified event and allowing all children's names be heard. I also graduated from SCHS under Mr. Bone. If principals like him still existed our schools would be better.
Jacks4me....They are still children not adults....Even Adults like to show there Pride in their children...They are kid's that have done a great job the past 13 years and they should show it......I believe they should beable to throw their caps and laugh and hug each other...They have alot of time ahead of themself to act like adults...At their Graduation it is their time to be happy and and beable to show it...
Rebelrose-I never said they shouldn't throw their caps and hug. Most are 18, they're adults.
I think a big problem in society is that people are not expected to act like adults at 18. Thus, they expect to be coddled like a 12 year old and not accept responsibility for themselves.
Don't you understand? This is not about protocol, respect, decorum and all the other excuses being used. This is a polite way to say, let's hurry up and get this show on the road. It's Saturday morning and I have other things to do. The more celebrating, clapping, etc., the longer it takes to get all the kids through the line. The prayers, speeches, and a lot of the recognitions have already been eliminted and the program is almost down to a one hour show. To some I guess that seems like plenty of time to herd 300+ people through like cattle, give them a piece of paper, a quick handshake, and get them out the door.(After all they've been fooling with these kids for the last 4 years, it's time for them to go!) Florida and cruise lines are beckoning a few of them, some may be due to deliver their babies, reservations at their favorite restaurants are booked, mama has her barbecue in the oven, or some may have jobs awaiting them. The organizers probably have standing hair appointments or tee times. Whatever the occasion, it's got to be more important than recognizing 13 years of dedication, commitment and completion of probably the most important accomplishment a young person will ever make. I really do believe that "good taste" should always be displayed in any public arena; however, what is good taste for one, may not be the norm for another. These students have been taught for many years to be tolerant of each other and their differences. These differences include cultural and social norms. I personally would never use an air horn, whistle, or yell out my children's name, because it would embarass them to no end. My presence and support is all they would expect (or allow) from me. Others may feel that the more noise their family makes, the more it shows their support. For some, the loudest applause is displayed because of the relief and suprise that the student actually did make it through the line. Whatever the response, please let's not criminalize this occasion by calling in the deputies. If noisy disrespectful people start getting escorted out of the building, needless to say, if they can't sit quietly, they probably won't leave quietly either. All eyes will be on the attention getters and the focus will be removed from those who deserve it . This is the graduate's day. All the honor, focus, attention, and reward should be for them. It's also their last chance to be regarded as a kid. Wouldn't we all like to have just one more chance to let our hair down and really celebrate?
The only thing Mr. Bone did was incite racial tension when I was a student at SCHS. Fortunately I attended White County High School my first two years and saw a great example of a principal in Charles Dycus. He truly did a great job and respected the students while maintaining order and discipline.
jaxspike... I spent more time in Mike Bone's office than probably any other member of the student body during my tenure there. While I may not have been on his list of "favorite students", I never saw the man do anything to incite racial tension between anybody. I'm sure you would care to elaborate on said tensions... I'd be interested to hear the details of this grand conspiracy.
There is no grand conspiracy . . . just a simple comment from actual experiences.
When I was a senor, he held the senor class over one day after a pep rally and accused us of being racist because of the way we were sitting. He sad that the too many of us were sitting together by race and we weren't mixed even though I am white and I happen to be seated next to a black guy and so where many others so it seamed mixed to me. He held us over and made us get up and rearrange until he was satisfied with the seating arrangement and accused us of setting a bad example for the other classes. What was funny was the fact that all of us (black and white) didn't know where in the world he was getting this idea that we were being racist for the way we were seated. It just blew me away that he would create such an issue and embarrass us that way when we were doing nothing wrong.
To me, that is inciting racial tension when none existed.
I recall in either 1986 or 1987, during a "Pep Rally" their was an Altercation (Arguing - Not Fighting) between several black girls, and several white boys and girls in the hall ways. It began with someone accidently bumping into another person and the "N" words going out.
I remember coach Bone and another man, (don't remember his name) had told the white kids to go on to the pep rally, and made the black kids go into the office. He "PADDLED" each black child, except one I was told refused to be paddled and demanded to call their parent, don't know if she got to or not. That was totally wrong, if you punish one for (Arguing) you should punish them all, (Black & White). I believe more of the kids parents should have gotten involved.
Needless to say those children, and I heard some of the other black children veiwed him as being racially unfair. But I heard his wife was pretty nice, and his son was too.
Yeah, there was a racially motivated fight my junior year in 1992 and of course it was over something stupid as usual but I remember hearing several of the black students say they were singled out more just because of their race. I always felt the school was divided by class and race and it was encouraged by the administration at the school.
Every family who attends a graduation, be it college or hign school, has gone to great pains to be there. It is not too much to ask for the whole crowd to maintain a level of respectfor the occasion. After all, do you get all dressed up to behave like your in a square dance, folks!!
Anyone who ever attended a ceremony conducted by Mike Bone knows how nice it CAN and should be. Air horns, grow up already!!!!
As a graduating senior I am very appreciative of the administration of our school and the Bedford co. school board for asking this of the community that attends our graduating, for those who don't want to comply with what has been asked then I advise you not to come! It is a special day for us,as a class. Everyone who graduates that day should be cheered for equally as a class like we do at the end. If you disagree with the choices our school board makes I guess there are 94 other counties you can go and put your children in.I hope expessing my views that I like the way our graduation is held doesn't make me look to senior citizen-ish or dead. Like someone said respect is something that is lost these days!
I think, you sound like a very well educated young person. You make our education system sound successful.Kudos to you! Kudos to those who educated you,too!
I agree that respect is definitely a lost art form nowadays, just like the correct usage of grammar.
Right now this is still America, and I will clap if I want to!
Mike Bone, looking back on my school days, he was never anything but fair. If you ended up in his office, then thats where you needed to be. I was only there one time and a good talking to done the trick! now my husband...he was a frequent flyer...20 plus years later you can still not find a more just and fair man. Wish he was still there,or school sup. If he was headed things up trouble would be at a min. Alot of people in charge now, including the school board could learn alot from him!