Today my little Butterfly graduated from Kindergarten. It was a lovely ceremony, especially since this was the first time the school has done it. The children recited a poem together, sang a song, then each child was called up by their teacher to receive a small certificate, then a final song. Each child wore a "mortarboard" in the school colors. It was wonderfully orchestrated, and the children seemed to sense the solemnity of the ceremony and conducted themselves properly.
I wish I could say the same about the parents.
Parents were pushing and shoving to try to get just the right picture, not paying any attention to the OTHER parents who were attempting to do likewise. Some parents were paying more attention to taking pictures than when it was time to stand and recite the National Anthem. A number of them, in their zeal to get the perfect shot, even blocked the aisle where the little scholars were supposed to march down. We had gotten there early so that we would have a good seat; however, the very second our little one's name was called and she went up to get her certificate, someone quite literally plowed in front of us. We got a lovely shot of the woman's back...but none of our daughter receiving her certificate.
The absolute worse was near the end. The parents of the first two classes figured that, since their little ones were already called up, they can talk and make all of the noise they want. Sitting right in the front, I could barely hear the last teacher call the names.
I know that this was only a Kindergarten graduation, but I have found similar behavior at the high school and college graduation ceremonies I have been to. People take all leave of their senses, of any decorum or...well...common courtesy at these ceremonies. Between the pushing, blocking, cat-calls, hollers and screams, it has become a rather unpleasant experience.
Save the hoopla for the after-graduation party, and kindly remember that there are OTHER parents there, as well.
