For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 20, 2023

If I recall, my fellow high school graduates didn’t receive their diplomas alphabetically. Thank goodness I was near the start of the alphabet though. As for two classmates with the same first name, middle initial (different name) and surname, I think we did their full times like in the yearbooks: Don Cecil Gordon and Don Cedric Gordon (not their real names, but rather protecting their privacy).

In many schools, they just give the grads empty diplomas. The real things are later mailed to them at their home addresses.

What happened to the principle’s glasses in panel 4?

We would normally have graduation rehearsals before the big event.

Well, keep it simple, Prof. Like your student asked. Not to be too verbose.

Whatever happened to “There’s no such thing as a stupid question”? He said exit to the left but he didn’t actually say to sit down again. How were they supposed to know if they were supposed to return to their seats or leave the auditorium?

Thank goodness there was only 32 that graduated in my class of 1957.

The ones who desire to leave their parents’ homes, anyway.

And somehow sit quietly through five hundred others doing the same thing.

There’s one in every crowd.

Not when I graduated High School and Univeersity. The Real thing each time. What gets me are “graduation Cereemonies” for kindergarten and middle schools. Those are cash grabs.

that’s not very encouraging… :}

I remember my high school graduation back in 1966. The principal had us practice lining up, marching in, sitting down, and getting up and going on the stage one row at a time every day for a week. It was hot; no air conditioning. We were ordered to wear dressy clothes under our heavy black gowns [many of us didn’t — we knew he couldn’t peak]. Graduation day was 90 degrees with about 90% humidity. The auditorium was packed with parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc.

We lined up just as we had all week long and then the principal came out and yelled at us to reline up as he called our names — yep, somehow he had reversed the order so we were lining up backwards. We tried to explain, but the band started playing “Pomp and Circumstance” [missing its trumpet section, a drummer, 2 clarinets, a saxophone, the flute and the trombone who were all graduating]. So we marched in and sat down in order in the wrong rows.

The president of the school board was on stage with the diplomas nicely placed in stacks, one for each row. The junior class [now the senior class] president stood beside the ‘first’ row and escorted them onto the stage. Then, mad shuffle as the school board president realized he was holding the wrong diplomas. Luckily, his son was graduating so he knew everyone in the class but by then all the diplomas had been mushed into a pile and he, the superintendent and the principal ended up standing there and pawing through diplomas as each of us walked on the stage.

A somewhat fitting end to the high school experience.

I’ve thought about it a few times and for the life of me, I can’t remember my actual graduation ceremony. I remember walking into the gym but I don’t remember sitting down or anything after that until there was bunch of parents and graduates in regular clothes talking and leaving. Funny thing to block out.

We got the actual diploma at graduation, but it wasn’t signed. The reason being that the we had not yet taken our Senior trip. They wanted to make sure we behaved ourselves. Had to go back later to have them signed. This was in 59.

Re: the last panel; nothing changes. Well, check that; times change, people don’t!

The only thing worse than a boring graduation ceremony was having to go clothes shopping with your mom before the start of the school year.

I graduated in 1977. We received blank pieces of rolled up paper tied with a ribbon during the ceremony. This was a good thing, because it rained through out the entire program. After all the formal ritual was done, we, went back to our home rooms where we picked up our actual diplomas.

How did that kid manage to graduate???

I failed government by two points. I got to walk across the stage and get a blank piece of paper. I had to take government during the summer and finally got my diploma.

What use will the world have for Michael? His basement-flooding abilities? :P

At our school some got a diploma, others (that goofed off) got a certificate of attendance.

Now to look forward to a future lying on the sofa in their parent’s garage

I got about seventy-five percent on that.

Michael learned there is more to school than grades. Remember when he participated in the protest led by Wesley D. Bates? Michael learned what is important from Master Bates.

The kid in the third panel set up the punch line. He is not going to last long in the private sector.

My PhD dissertation got approved a little late, so I didn’t get my doctoral diploma at graduation. It was mailed to me a few months later, and the dean of the school where I was then teaching had me bring it in to be photocopied to prove I really had my doctorate. I entertained myself by having an artist friend decorate a copy of it in psychedelic designs and hanged that up in my office, just for fun.

And by the time Mr.Zybysko gets his diploma,we will all be fast asleep.

Class of 65. Received my diploma, turned in my cap and gown, then Uncle Sam sent me to Viet Nam for my senior trip

When y ou hear a ceremony is going to be THAT regimented, your first thought is to start throwing tomatoes.

Another fine case of a teacher using 25 words when 10 would do, and the student nails him for it!

The professor failed to give them the “handshake” speech. Disaster looms ahead.

Hey, at least he’s learned to ask questions if you’re not sure! It might seem like a stupid question, but when it seems like a stupid question and there’s a crowd this size, I guarantee there’s someone else there who’s relieved not to have to look stupid and ask the same question!

I just had a flashback to my HS graduation practice!

Try not to puke on the “Dean” and pass out…“Grant J. 1962….

I wish schools would begin with Z and go backwards every other year with handing out diplomas. Only seems fair.