The last big lesson

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: June 6, 2008

Americans don’t like to be told what to do. Rugged individualism is a part of our national character.

But when rugged individualism mixes with bad manners, some people believe they have an unalienable right to behave badly.

This weekend, Pittsylvania County Schools will actively encourage proper behavior at its high school commencement exercises.

“We want to restore pomp and circumstance to our graduation ceremonies,” Superintendent James McDaniel said. “… There should be an air of respectability. … at some high schools … there’s a great deal of less dignified behavior.”

That’s putting it mildly. How many school events have been interrupted by ringing cell phones? How many people carry on loud conversations during school programs? What kind of a person brings food — or even a cooler — to a high school graduation? Why should anyone ready to walk out when their friend or loved one graduates be allowed in the door in the first place?

There is a time to make a lot of noise — such as when it’s fourth and goal with 5 seconds left — and time to applaud politely. Cell phones have their place, but not during commencement. Food and drinks are great to have at a picnic.

But a high school commencement isn’t like a race, concert, festival or party. It’s an important ceremony that deserves to be treated as such.

McDaniel talks about “establishing an expectation of behavior.” To do that, graduates and their parents have been given a behavioral contract. Students who are not dressed appropriately or do not act correctly will have to wait to get their actual diploma.

“We have to give them the diploma, but it doesn’t say when we have to give them the diploma,” McDaniel said. When he was principal of Chatham High School, that diploma presentation could take place the Monday after commencement — in his office.

This year, no one will be allowed into graduation without a ticket. Those tickets, the programs and announcements during the ceremony will remind the families and friends of graduates what’s expected of them.

The reason for this is obvious. Some people don’t have what McDaniel described as “the ability to discern the circumstances you are in and decide the proper behavior.”

Instead of allowing the worst public behavior to set the standard at commencement, Pittsylvania County Schools has taken a stand for a standard.

To those who say it should have never come to this, they’re right. People should have known how to act — and acted that way — all along.