At Galesburg High, Kids Are Kids and School Officials Are Out of Control

Kids will be kids and this time of year, graduation ceremonies will be...well, graduation ceremonies.

Full of tears, anticipation, silliness, some pomp and circumstance, and yes, a few outbursts of obnoxious cheers. All part of the graduation game...but apparently not at Galesburg High School in Illinois.

Five students were initially denied diplomas after cheers erupted when their names were called at the grad ceremony and emerged empty-handed Tuesday from a meeting with school administrators.

The students and their families met briefly with Galesburg High School officials at an administration building, but they were again denied the diplomas because no one apologized to school officials for the cheers at the May 27 ceremony.

Just yesterday, Galesburg High School officials reversed their decision and said they would review a get-tough decorum policy.

The diplomas were withheld because the school said cheering violated a school policy aimed at restoring graduation decorum. The students still were considered graduates on paper, but they didn't have a diploma.

Initially officials had said they would not hand over the keepsake diplomas unless they received apologies. But the stalemate over the diplomas and the media attention (by now that must mean blogging as well) it attracted have taken valuable time and energy, they said.

"It is time for the good of the community, the school district, the families and the students involved to move on," Superintendent Gene Denisar said in a written statement.

Nyeaaaaaaaa-aaaaaah! (buzzer sound)

Not good enough! You, yes you...school officials at Galesburg High receive the Last Week's Top Scrooge award.

Reports are that there were no apologies to the students, who were unreasonably tagged for their friends' and families' actions and that the diplomas were unceremoniously given by a school staffer...not the principal.

I'm all for decorum...but rules that include stupid punishments don't sit well with me. And rules that attempt to squelch random acts of silliness are even more ridiculous.