Posted on 06/03/2015 2:03:18 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
SENATOBIA, Mississippi —
Several people who cheered for family members at a recent high school graduation ceremony are now facing charges for “disturbing the peace.”
Police at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where Senatobia High School’s graduation ceremony was held, said the superintendent asked the crowd not to scream and to hold their applause until the end. Linda Walker, Ursula Miller and two other people were asked to leave the ceremony because they were screaming and cheering.
“When she went across the stage I just called her name out. ‘Lakaydra’. Just like that,” Ursula Miller told WREG.
Miller said she was then asked to leave the graduation. A few weeks later, she was served papers.
Senatobia Municipal School District Superintendent Jay Foster filed “disturbing the peace” charges against the four people who were asked to leave graduation. Officers issued warrants for their arrests with a possible $500 bond.
“It’s crazy,” Henry Walker said. “The fact that I might have to bond out of jail, pay court costs, or a $500 fine for expressing my love, it’s ridiculous man. It’s ridiculous.”
Superintendent Foster declined an on-camera interview but told WREG he’s determined to have order at graduation ceremonies.
“I can understand they can escort me out of the graduation, but to say they are going to put me in jail for it,” Miller said. “What else are they allowed to do?”
The four people facing charges are expected in court Monday, June 9.
Arrest is going too far, but have any of those here defending cheering and shouting for “their” graduate considered how those of us who missed hearing the name of the student we are proud of? All the students have accomplished something special by working for their diploma as well? It was very disappointed. It was very disheartening. Are the students whose family follows the requests of the school to hold applause less valued by the family? Spoiling others efforts to enjoy a graduation is self-centered and simply rude. Freedom of speech isn’t taken away by asking for respect and cheering at the conclusion of graduation shows pride in the student too.
Even worse this was in 1989!
At our graduation last Friday, we soon learned when to expect an outrageous outburst from what soon came to be called, "the Howler Monkey Section"...
At both of my daughters’ graduations, it was primarily the black families that reacted this way. The rest of us respected the call to keep it quiet. Wasn’t a big deal, just annoying.
We had programs with the names of all graduates listed. We knew when she was coming up.
I was on another site and someone said there is a petition to fire Foster. I think he went overboard.
Queers at graduation. The horror!
He should be fired.
Asking the parents to leave is one thing. Filing charges? Foster has control issues.
Even with program and knowing when the student was coming up, we should have been allowed the same privilege that others had of having the auditorium and family actually getting to hear his name. He worked hard for that honor.
“. . . like to stop in the Middle of an aisle or hall, for no apparent reason , just to see if they can make me walk around them.”
_________________________
Don’t forget slowing down and going into a pimp walk in the crosswalk.
Sorry about the spit take.
The volume of the graduate’s supporting attendee’s celebration is inversely proportional to the supporter’s expectation that the graduate would actually successfully complete their education.
(The louder your family claps and shouts, the less they expected you to graduate)
You WILL respect mah authoritah!
There is a line between applause and obnoxious. We cheered for my niece, but we were not obnoxious. No one was obnoxious, rude or crude.
One problem is the speed in which names are called. By the time they were halfway through the A’s we did not know if the name belonged to the person walking on the stage or the one receiving the diploma or the one (or 2) in the middle. Almost like herding cattle.
As it was even if everyone remained quiet, the names and diplomas were so out if sync we would have missed her had we not had the program. It seems to be the rule, not the exception.
Call a name
Graduate walks & receives diploma
Graduate leaves stage
Call another name
I understand it might take more time, but it sets the tone.
I agree with a slower calling of names. I still maintain every student deserves to have their name heard.
“Is it too much to ask that Graduation Ceremonies be held with dignity and decency? “
Is it too much at ask to keep the State from arresting people for cheering?
Now we have the Graduation Gestapo.
Ummm...it’s high school. If you are going on to college, it’s just a mere formality.
If your kid’s path after high school is to jack a liquor store or go on SNAP, it’s a cause to get excited.
We always get thrown out.One time we took up a whole pew in church and were sitting in the wrong section.Father told us we had to move but by then the whole church was filled and we got there an hour early.My husband said No.Father let it go.We always get on TV too cause we have the most people and are the loudest.
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