Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Bay View High School Graduation

Bay View High School's graduation ceremony was an out of control mess, with people fearing for others' safety.

The ceremony, held at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, had to be cut short due to the disturbance.

What an absolute disgrace!

From TMJ4:

Bay View High School's graduation was held at the U.S. Cellular Arena on Monday night. The graduation ceremony got so out of control that school officials are now changing the way graduation will be held in the future.

"I've never experienced anything like this," Ms. Katie Simon said.

Simon was one of hundreds of family members and loved ones who attended Bay View's graduation. She said things got out of control fast.

'It was such a feeling of nervousness and anxiety and tension and people wondering was there going to be violence over this?" she said.

The disturbance started when several students made hand gestures and danced across the stage to get their diplomas. That's not allowed, so the principal tried to make them start over or get off the stage.

"It was so unruly that people were booing, jeering, and some people actually feared for the safety of the principal," Simon said.

School officials tried, but couldn't get the crowd under control. Valedictorian Lourdes Gil stepped in to help.

"I just asked the parents if they could please be respectful because there were others who were trying to graduate," Gil said.

I can't imagine Lourdes Gil, the valedictorian, asking PARENTS to be respectful and allow the ceremony to proceed.

This poor girl was compelled to call on the PARENTS to behave?

She deserved so much better than to be struggling to get thug PARENTS to act properly. Her achievement as valedictorian, and the achievements of the other graduates, should have been recognized during a ceremony that was worthy of their academic efforts.

Instead, the commencement was ruined by thugs and their thug PARENTS. Despicable.

It is truly sickening.


The ceremony was cut short. Three students didn't get their diplomas, and won't until they meet with the principal.

"We're supporting the decision of the principal and her staff to end the ceremony," MPS spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said.

I would hope MPS would support the principal and not side with the thugs.

It's such a shame that the good kids and their family members had to suffer because of the thugs and their PARENTS.


MPS officials now say they will change the graduation policy for Bay View because of the problems at Monday night's graduation ceremony. Starting next year the ceremony will be held in the school auditorium and each student will only be allowed to bring two family members.

It's horrible that Bay View's graduation ceremony has to be altered because some participants and attendees won't control themselves.

Disgusting.

Bay View High School was established in 1914.

In its nearly 100 years of history, I wonder how many Bay View High School graduation ceremonies had to be cut short because of unruly behavior.

I'll guess NONE.

This incident is awful. It's just awful.

This is one of those moments when things in Milwaukee seem hopeless.

__________________

Watch TMJ4 Video.

4 comments:

Jay Bullock said...

Please note my response to the story.

Mary said...

The TMJ4 story certainly gives a different impression than your account.

I've been to many graduations. I completely understand the emotional impact of receiving a diploma against the odds.

However, expressions of joy don't have to include expressions of disrespect.

I think policies and expectations regarding acceptable behavior at the ceremony should be clear to all -- graduates and parents and guests.

It's not too much to expect people to behave accordingly. If people don't like the rules, they should work to change them PRIOR to the graduation.

Dan said...

Mary is right. People knew before hand what the rules were and if the students and family didn't like them, they just should have stayed home.

Stephanie said...

I've been attending MPS graduations since the mid 90's. I have yet to attend one that isn't wrought with chaos, rude parents, and a basic lack of respect for the ceremony.

Each and every time I have left the auditorium shaking my head in embarrassment for Milwaukee.