On the front page of today's
Daily News is a story which shows how much things have changed. At 240 seniors in the 2008 class,
Cardinal Dougherty graduates significantly less students than the 750 or so I graduated with, several years ago. Catholic High Schools in the city aren't as popular as they were with earlier generations.
The article explains how graduation ceremonies have turned into "shout-out" contests. As some students receive a diploma, parents feel obligated to ruin the moment by acting like they are at a homecoming game. Per the Daily News article, blow horns are sometimes used to celebrate some graduates' achievement.
It might be understandable if the ceremony were held at the old Convention Center where I graduated or Villanova'a basketball stadium as in years past. But recent graduations were held at the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul - a place where blow horns should never be used.
As usual these days, the parents have lost their minds. One parent thought about a class-action lawsuit against the school because they considered changing the graduation ceremony to only recognize honor students on stage. I can't imagine my mother thinking of legal action because her son couldn't walk on stage. Besides, at 750, we didn't even get the honor of hearing our names called - it just would have taken forever.
But in an American Idol age, this story shouldn't come as a surprise. The spoiled brats today's parents are raising (excluding my own of course) just aren't satisfied unless they get their own 15 minutes of fame.
Thanks to the Daily News, they surely have it now. Although not exactly as they had hoped.