When Graduation Speeches Become Graduation Prayers

Written by Don Byrd
By now, you have probably seen or heard about video of the ripped-up graduation speech in South Carolina. There, a student speaker defied the rules and led a prayer instead of giving his approved remarks. I’ve already reached my yearly quota of graduation prayer rants. But please indulge me just a couple of thoughts to sum up my reaction.

Graduation is a time of celebration for students, families, teachers and school officials. Every student who earns a diploma deserves that moment of recognition for the hard work it represents. At public school commencements, we gather as a community across economic, racial, ethnic and religious divides to celebrate together. Each student and family brings their own story of accomplishment leading to that ceremony. A great triumph of American public education is that regardless of a student’s background, a diploma is achievable.