Graduation ceremonies for two Tennessee high schools have drawn widespread backlash from parents and social media after being held outdoors in the midst of a torrential rainstorm. Educators at Centennial High School and Franklin High School decided to proceed with outdoor ceremonies on Thursday, despite heavy rain that soaked graduates and their families.
Rain-Soaked Ceremonies Go Viral
Clips of the rainy ceremonies went viral on X, showing students seated on a football field as rain pelts down onto their caps and gowns, while their families sat drenched in the stands. Victoria Burls, a parent of a Centennial graduate, told WSMV: "As soon as they started speaking, it started pouring. My daughter is already planning to redo photos. Like, she wants to go back and do photos on the football field and get all done-up again."
Other students echoed the desire for a redo, including Britney Garner's daughter Akyla, who had spent hours preparing for the big day. Garner ran to the field with an umbrella for her daughter when the weather suddenly worsened. "My child who had put so much into this day to make it special, and was so excited, I could just not stand to sit there and see her get drowned like that," Garner said.
Safety Concerns and Missed Traditions
Students and parents questioned why the district chose an outdoor venue. Brooklyn Broadnax told WTVF: "I was wearing my prom shoes. My shoes were like puddles." Her family noted that the school's plans were set before the rain began, with an email stating the ceremony would proceed "rain or shine." Michelle Wyatt, Broadnax's godmother, expressed safety concerns: "You had an elderly who, number one, were now put in danger because of the weather. There are puddles of water they can't see. You run the risk of people falling."
Additionally, planned parts of the ceremony, including a moment of silence for a classmate who died last year, were skipped. "Penelope was going to graduate with us. We could at least do a moment of silence," Broadnax said.
National Attention and Criticism
Viral videos caught the attention of former Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who criticized the decision on X: "This is ridiculous. The school should have organized graduation indoors. The graduates and their families deserved a nice ceremony. By the way, their parents are tax payers that fund the school and administrators' salaries. Being treated this way should not be tolerated."
Other X users reacted strongly: "This looks like the most miserable graduation ever...welcome to adulthood," one wrote. Another joked: "The school is just preparing them for their future." A third commiserated: "As a 2020 graduate. y'all should be grateful. We got a virtual ceremony."
School District Responds
Williamson County School Superintendent Jason Golden acknowledged the difficulties but defended the decision, saying the football field allows more loved ones to attend. "Based on forecasts and radar, we expected to complete last night's ceremonies at Centennial and Franklin before the next wave of rain began, but unfortunately, changing conditions brought rain during the events. While the rain impacted those two ceremonies, it could not diminish our pride in our Centennial and Franklin graduates," Golden said.
