High school warns parents against cheering at graduation or pay $1K fine

Clapping will not be tolerated.

Greenville High School in South Carolina recently warned students and parents that cheering on graduating seniors in any form at the ceremony will not be tolerated and could earn them a $1,030 fine, the Greenville News reported.

The ban was issued through a slideshow.

"Since graduation is a dignified and solemn occasion, graduating seniors and their guests should behave appropriately," the presentation read, according to the Greenville News. "Please ask your guests not to call out, cheer, whistle, or applaud during the reading of names and presentation of diplomas. The citation for family members yelling out is $1,030."

But the Greenville Police Department said it won't be handing out tickets to proud parents as liberally as the high school makes it seem. The convocation will be held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena and is therefore considered a "publicly sanctioned event" - enabling the possibility of fines.

Police Sgt. Johnathan Bragg told the local news outlet that families would not be penalized for "cheering, whistling or applauding."

"If someone starts yelling obscenities, that's a different story," Bragg said. "That would get into the 'disorderly' realm."