Do you people act appropriate at your graduations?

My daughter graduated last weekend in a class of about 150. The ceremony was held in a large auditorium. There were 2 songs sung by the choir and 3 short speeches. The ceremony took one hour. There was some cheering when kids names were called, but nothing that kept another kid's name from being heard. The whole thing was quite nice - a very happy, positive event.

I just attended my nephew's graduation last weekend and there were 450+ kids graduating. His last name starts with F so there were still lots of people there but by the M's, people were dwindling. I admit to leaving in the W's but we had a 9 month old who had had all she could take and was being very disruptive. She made it almost 3 hours though. I felt sorry for the last few people. There were a few air horns but overall, a classy event. It was held in an arena so it wasn't loud when people were leaving.

On a different subject, the school principal said "theirselves" 3 different times. Really, lady? Really?

When my daughter graduated from college last year I was disgusted by the people who would get up shortly after their child was announced. It's like hello. Be respectful to everyone. Like others said, you still have to wait for them so what's the big deal to sit in the shade of a tent? Pull your phone out like you would do anywhere else and amuse yourself!

I agree!

We graduate 700-800 each year. That is a lot of names.

In recent years, when the noise level rises, they stop reading names until it quiets down again. People catch on quickly.

At my sons graduation from Junior College you would have thought you were at a football game instead of a graduation ceremony. There were air horns, which I personally don't think belong at a graduation, people wandering around or talking loudly. Lets not get into how people dress for these kind of things anymore. It was ridiculous.

For the most part. Our school district has 5 large high schools. 500-1300 kids in a class. 3 of them are held in a large college auditorium, each within 2 hour period on the same day. So they get the kids in and out of there in about an hour. A prayer, speech by the superintendent, speech by the principal, speech by one of the students, the reading of the names/presentation of diplomas and we're done. The names are read by the homeroom teachers. So it doesn't go in alphabetical order. There is some hooting and hollering when names are read, but the teachers stop so all names can be heard. Kids are also shown up on the jumbotron getting their diplomas.

I think it is really rude to leave right after your kids name is called.

In recent years I've only been to one graduation and the thing that bothered me the most was people walking around. SIT DOWN! At our school fundraising auction some front row seats were offered. They were alongside the graduates and lots of people came and stood in front of the auction winners to take pictures. I thought that was really rude too.

My oldest DD graduated HS several years ago. All the high schools(8) here hold individual ceremonies at a local arena so there is plenty of seating. The HS principal and superintendent made it very clear no one was to applaud or make any kind of noise until ALL the names were called. It was a very nice ceremony and lasted just over an hour for about 500 graduates.

I have hear horror stories about some of the other ceremonies outside of our district. I'm glad it is not that way here.

I attended the high school graduation at my son's school last year, because so many of my 'kids' were graduating. The whole thing was ridiculous! A large part of the graduates behaved horribly during the ceremony. Beach balls. Silly string. The principal kept taking away the beach balls only to have another appear.

In the stands, there were the air horns and families cheering loudly, etc... They were asked not to do so, in order for everyone to hear their students name called. Guess the apples didn't fall far from the tree.

This year, I attended college grad. for my sister and high school grad. for my son.

There was a number of people who left after hearing their students name called at the college grad. Some wolf whistled and yelled, despite being instructed not to. But, it wasn't overly terrible. The worst was having a little kid behind us throw up. The idiot parents fed him to keep him quiet. Then decided it was a good idea to jostle him back and forth. My son ended up getting it splashed on his pants. It could have been so much worse. But, still...

The high school graduation is held in the football stadium. I thought maybe that was part of the problem last year. But, this year's graduates were wonderful. Every last one of them was respectful. The spectators were well behaved too. I can only remember 1 outburst and it really wasn't all that bad.

When the ceremony was over, the graduates broke out the beach balls and silly string. LOL! The principal laughed and gave them props for treating their graduation so respectfully and to have fun.

My daughter's graduation is next week.  They have a class of 740.  It's going to be held at an outdoor concert pavilion.  I will be doing shots before the ceremony so I don't get mad at the rude guests.

ETA:  My poor kids are "W" names.  I'm tired of being polite during all the names previously announced at their respective ceremonies of the past dozen years and then watching people leave before they are recognized...it's kind of rude.

I'm not sure what happened at my own graduation, I'm sure there was hollering but no air horns. When my brother graduated a couple years later and I was in the auditorium with our mom, it was really annoying how MANY people made a total ruckus when their kid was called up. I could tell my mom was very annoyed too. Both of us had graduating classes of over 600 people. My comment to my mom at my brother's was, "Maybe this is the only accomplishment some of these kids will ever have." Sad, but true. 

I read that yesterday also, and perfect timing since my ds' junior high graduation was last night.

Before they started reading the names, the announcer (one of the most liked teachers at the junior high) gave the usual "please hold your applauses until the end, no yelling or blowing of horns" speech. When he mentioned no blowing horns, it was also added if someone did that they might be asked to leave.

Of course not everyone listened, as as time went on, the yells and screaming out, got more frequent. After one family went really over the top with the yelling, the announcer/teacher, again, reminded people to not do that, it takes away from other families hearing their kids' names called, etc. The auditorium started clapping for him! It was awesome, but the very next name called the family went over the top.

Interesting that most of the families that went nutso with their yelling, etc.--their kids are the ones in trouble, suspended, etc. Hmmmm...wonder where the kids learn that?

People can be selfish assholes that think their kid/family are the only ones that matter.

sacteach that's awful.
Makes my complaint sound lame. DS 8th grade ceremony was well managed. Except for one obnoxious girl with aisle seat. She posed with muscle arms and turned to audience with flex poses and duck faces, from processional throughout ceremony. I felt sorry for parents videoing, she couldn't be missed. Even kids around her told her to stop.

She had 4-6 adult family members egging her on, but rest of gym was silent. It was surprising an assistant principal didn't pull her aside. They usually don't allow nonsense.