Graduation ceremonies

My family and I attended the North Kansas City graduation ceremonies at Municipal Auditorium. Our experience was similar to Hue Ella Miles’ (6/12, Letters). At least three times, one of the officials on the dais asked the audience to remain quiet as speeches were given or as graduates’ names were called.
We almost missed our grandson’s name because the noise was so loud, not only behind us, but from all over the auditorium. People were using air horns, screaming and shouting.
What a terrible display of disrespect to the speakers, as well as to those trying to hear what was being said.
I have more grandchildren who will graduate in the next several years and I am already trying to decide if I will attend. It was bad enough to have to negotiate the terrible traffic mess downtown, but to have to sit through that ridiculous display of bad manners was the ultimate insult.
Jeanette Hartke
Gladstone

When you are old and get an invitation to a graduation, you wonder if can climb the steps in the auditorium and what type of disruption will take place.
The Oak Park graduation ceremony was the best and a tribute to the administration, teachers and graduating students. Near the end, the inevitable disruption began. A group in a taunting voice began mocking the names of the graduates. This marred the entire proceeding.
It appears that graduation ceremonies as a custom will soon cease to be due to our segmented, confrontational society. The thought of police being hired to monitor a graduation is like having police in a church for the same purpose. We are no longer civil to one another in public places.
Diplomas will soon be mailed to all graduating students. Why should families and the school put up with the hassle of rude people along with providing them a venue for their conduct?
Joe Logan
Gladstone

Comments

[locomotivebreath1901]

To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. - Theodore Roosevelt

Public rudeness is nothing new, but I believe we are witnessing a new public phenomena born during the previous 20 years - industrial strength hyper public rudeness.

This has been greatly aided by an addiction to technological gadgets, plus instantaneous creature comforts to all but destroy common courtesy & public accomodation of our neighbors.

And all but lost on most of the Western world is the answer to the age old question, "Who is my neighbor?"