Pomp & Circumstance 2011

Sunset released new members to the adult herd yesterday afternoon. I recognized many faces; I had taught many of them in 10th grade. Ironically, though not surprisingly, I didn't see the faces of the students who had caused chaos in 10th grade ... One dropped out after summer school; another couldn't pass the math TAKS; a third played the "numbers game" and didn't get all of his credits ... still, SHS had the largest graduating class from a comprehensive high school this year in DISD. Family and friends filled the upper decks while graduates and teachers filled the floor.

Graduation is a ceremony that marks the official end of adolescence; although many students need more time to mature, graduation acknowledges that they've reached a new stage in life. I fear some will meet some nasty surprises since the state (and school and teachers) no longer extends the protection of "They're just kids" and "It's the ---'s fault if they didn't learn the concept (or chose to skip class). For many, the safety nets are gone -- if indeed the nets were there at all. I have one student who's pregnant and whose foster mother tossed her out of the house the minute she turned 18. The girl is a pain sometimes, but turning kids onto the streets is not a Christian act ... but that foster family has had issues ever since I first met them 2-3 years ago. It turns out that her mother was my student over at my old school ... and when her mentor asked for money so the student would look good for graduation, I forked over $5. I suspect that other teachers contributed to the gown fund.

We arrived at Moody Collisseum around 2:30 -- the ceremony began at 5:30, but we wanted everyone in place by 5, so we sent out the word ... I hoped to sit out the ceremony; instead, I was tagged as a line leader. The line-up was much simpler this year: alphabetical order down one side then the other. The old-fashioned criss-cross is out since it requires a longer rehearsal. Quite frankly, its success also depends on knowing who's graduating more than 48 hours in advance. With all the grade changes and credit checks, the line-up can change after the class practices ... so why take any chances?

The ceremony hasn't changed much since your high school graduation, although I don't recall the school board representative speaking to our class. It definitely hasn't changed since I began working graduations in 2001 ... The posting of the colors, the song dedicated to the seniors, the interminable calling of names (I almost always drift off during this part.), the certification of the graduates ... and the processional and recessional to Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance." At Roosevelt, we used "March of the War Priests" from Verdi's Aida. Still, we had the same order of ceremony -- and pretty much the same layout for our program. I'll bet its a DISD thing.

I'll finish with a wish for good luck and Godspeed to the Class of 2011. They have many challenges waiting for them, as well as surprises both good and bad. Sunset HS had a hand in forming them ... Here's hoping that they prepared for the real world beyond the red brick and white granite walls.