Parents locked out of graduation ceremony
Categories: Teens & tweens, Education
When my daughter graduated high school, I watched her walk across the stage from my seat near the top of the bleachers in the school's gymnasium. At the time, I was a little disappointed to be sitting so far away from the action, but I realize now that it could have been much worse. At least I was in the same room as she accepted her diploma. Some parents in Brooksville, Florida had to watch the biggest day of their child's life on a television screen.
According to Rick Stone, he and other parents were refused entry when they arrived at the gym for the Hernando High School graduation last week. Claiming that the room was full to capacity, law enforcement officers blocked the doors to the gym 45 minutes before the ceremony was to begin. Those who didn't get in were sent to overflow seating in the auditorium where the event was being broadcast on a large screen television.
"You put your kid through school for 13 years looking forward to the day when they graduate and then you're told you have to watch it on television?" Stone asked. "That's just not right."
Incredibly, assistant principal Dianne Saltsman says she didn't even know that some parents were barred from the ceremony. "At five until 7 Mr. (Mark) Griffith, one of our other assistant principals, was over in the area and parents were still going in and out," she said.
Then how do they explain the footage Stone captured on his video camera, which shows more than a dozen families pleading to be let into the gym? Principal Betty Harper seems to suggest that perhaps these parents didn't have tickets. "We can't determine who the parents are, but everyone who comes in has to have a ticket," she said. "At a certain time, we do close the doors as the procession has to come in. That's how it's been for the five years I've been here and probably the five years before that."
The good news is that next year, the ceremony will be held in the larger-capacity football stadium. I imagine that is little consolation for those parents who missed their kid's big day.
According to Rick Stone, he and other parents were refused entry when they arrived at the gym for the Hernando High School graduation last week. Claiming that the room was full to capacity, law enforcement officers blocked the doors to the gym 45 minutes before the ceremony was to begin. Those who didn't get in were sent to overflow seating in the auditorium where the event was being broadcast on a large screen television.
"You put your kid through school for 13 years looking forward to the day when they graduate and then you're told you have to watch it on television?" Stone asked. "That's just not right."
Incredibly, assistant principal Dianne Saltsman says she didn't even know that some parents were barred from the ceremony. "At five until 7 Mr. (Mark) Griffith, one of our other assistant principals, was over in the area and parents were still going in and out," she said.
Then how do they explain the footage Stone captured on his video camera, which shows more than a dozen families pleading to be let into the gym? Principal Betty Harper seems to suggest that perhaps these parents didn't have tickets. "We can't determine who the parents are, but everyone who comes in has to have a ticket," she said. "At a certain time, we do close the doors as the procession has to come in. That's how it's been for the five years I've been here and probably the five years before that."
The good news is that next year, the ceremony will be held in the larger-capacity football stadium. I imagine that is little consolation for those parents who missed their kid's big day.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jenni 6-16-2008 @ 11:58AM
The school should have only given the number of tickets out that they could accomidate. I have known schools to say that because of capacity only so many tickets per student were allowed and then there was an overflow room where people would watch on screen. Honostly, these people probably have a better view as they get a close up of the stage. Not saying that I would want to watch my child from a teleision screen.
It doesn't sound like the parents knew this could be a possibility, but it does sound like they gave too many tickets per graduate. The school also probaby should have looked for a bigger venue, maybe they did and couldn't get one I don't know. But it does seem to me that they should have limited the number of tickets per child and then informed families that there would be an overflow room for any additional people.
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Tommy Estlund 6-16-2008 @ 1:13PM
That's NOTHING! My school district? If you're not "dressed up" you are refused entry, and there are police officers present to escort out of the facility anyone who is "caught" cheering or clapping during the dispersal of diplomas.
Sheesh!!!
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Jenni 6-16-2008 @ 3:09PM
We were require to dress appropriatly, it is a graduation afterall and needs to be treated as an important event and formerly. However, I have heard about the cheering not allowed rule and think it's absurd. After talking to a few school officials, the consensus seems to be they don't want students to feel bad because one gets cheered more than another. How sad that my very supportive family wouldn't be able to let the world know they are proud of me.
Laura - DashinFashion.com 6-16-2008 @ 4:38PM
I agree with Jenni - the school should determine how many seats to provide per family. To be turned down on your way to see your child's graduation is quite harsh. Plus the families that had ot watch on TV couldn't cheer on their kid and no photo opps.
Laura
http://www.dashinfashion.com
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Heather 6-16-2008 @ 5:08PM
We had something like this happen close to us recently also, however parents were locked out after showing up late. They locked down the arena due to school policy. This graduation was held on a Wednesday!
Here is a link: http://www.wane.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=2564568&h1=Parents%20locked%20out%20of%20graduation%20ceremony&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=132166&LaunchPageAdTag=Search Results&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.wane.com/Global/SearchResults.asp%3Fvendor%3Dwss%26qu%3Dparents+locked+out&rnd=43471237
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sweetchuckd 6-16-2008 @ 7:09PM
This story made http://detentionslip.org! It's amazing some of the things that school try and get away with. I think this just about sums up the problems in our school systems.
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ninainindia 6-17-2008 @ 5:33AM
Our school allowed 2 guests for every student but there were no tickets or anything. So of course there were people that had to bring 4 or more people and there was not enough room for everyone.
The no cheering rule is riduculous by the way!
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