Tim Wildmon

AFA president

July/August 2014 – My lovely and talented wife Alison and I went to a high school graduation recently here in north Mississippi. We attended to see a friend’s daughter get her diploma. And if this particular graduation exercise was any indication of how things are at other high schools, the rules of etiquette regarding behavior at graduations have changed radically since my year, 1981. 

Now, there are no rules. From the hollering, screaming, yelling and dancing I saw, there wasn’t much difference between graduation and a basketball game. There was a part of me that was really surprised how things have changed. Kind of shocked in a way. And then there was a part of me that couldn’t help but laugh at some of the behavior I witnessed. It was one of those situations where you say to yourself: I shouldn’t be laughing at these people, but I can’t help myself.

We got there late, but I was told there was no admonishment or warning given against loud or obnoxious behavior as each graduate’s name was ceremonially announced. 

I’m told some schools are “old-school” and still warn those attending that if you yell out, you will be escorted from the ceremony by security. But I guess some school administrators have given up because there would be too many people to escort out if they actually did it.

Anyway, at this particular graduation ceremony, it was a full-on yell-fest. At one point a young man made his away across the stage to receive his diploma, and a woman in front of me yelled out at the top her lungs: “Peter Rabbit is in the house! Peter Rabbit is in the house! Peter Rabbit is in the house!” Just like that, three times. This was obviously the graduate’s nickname, and she wanted “Peter Rabbit” to hear it as he hopped on down the diploma trail.  And I can assure you “Peter Rabbit” heard the call of affection from the stands because this woman had a strong voice. Wow, I thought. They don’t do these things like they used to.

Back in 1981, we didn’t have this challenge. No, we assumed graduation ceremonies were a time for quiet and respect. No one yelled out anything. Those attending were asked to “please hold your applause” until all graduates had been recognized. And guess what? They did! 

It was considered a dignified ceremony, and yelling out the names (or nicknames) of the students was undignified. I’m not sure when all this began to change because it had been several years since I attended a high school graduation.

But I guess, technically, if you are not asked to refrain from yelling out, then you are not violating the rules of the event, even if you make a spectacle of yourself. The days of “some things being understood” are over. 

There are more and more graduation services, I’m told, at which the announcement is made to hold your applause (noise) until the end, and many of the people who hear the announcement just completely and rudely disregard it. I don’t know about you, but personally, I don’t think it’s a good example for young people to see adults intentionally disobeying the rules – or making fools of themselves at a public event.

I suppose we’re not too far away from air horns during graduation. Seriously. Maybe in a few years another community columnist in the paper will write something like this: “I went to a high school graduation ceremony the other day, and one student did a backflip across the stage to receive his diploma. Another did a Michael Jackson tribute with a moonwalk. One family all rang cowbells for their graduate, and yet another family ran through a banner like cheerleaders before a football game to honor theirs. It was quite a change from my day. Back in 2014 all you could do was scream, holler and shake your groove thing. Now artificial noisemakers are the norm.” 

“Pomp and Circumstance” is a traditional march for seniors to enter the ceremony that marks this major milestone in their lives. The pomp is still intact – cap and gown, formal speeches, special awards. But the circumstances have grown bizarre.

Is respect for others – and for oneself – a lost or dying art? Today’s graduation circumstances would seem to say “Yes!” If that’s true, we’re losing one of the time-tested hallmarks of civility and culture. And that will be a tragic loss. 

Hope makes sense, so let’s get to work.  

* Internet slang for in my humble opinion