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I agree with Middleton, in that it was irresponsible for the directors and planners of this Head Start program to fail to make accommodations for such an event. If it were my child, and I had to miss it, I would have been IRATE, to say the least!

With that said… It HEAD START. Not even a “real” school. They’re, what, four? Five?
Why in the world would a “graduation” even need to take place??

Priorities nowadays are so off-base…

If the parents would continue to “mentor” the children through their teens, perhaps the crime statistics nowadays would improve greatly.  Continued interest in the children is badly needed.

Totally agree on this one vilou09. Venue should be changed. If the directors aren’t willing to change the venue, then strict enforcement on the number of guests each graduate can invite is needed.

People wonder why their kids act the way they do watching their parents??!! Yes, they need to keep the kids interest thru college and not just when they or toddlers!!!

Why? Because the way govt money works, if you don’t spend it, you loose it.

Do what?? Clarify, please.

How absurd is this, cap and gowns on 5 year olds, and the parents are acting fools outside.  B. 

I’ve gone to graduations for mine when they graduated preschool and those are some of the happiest memories. They wore caps and gown, but I had to pay for them. Why do you assume these parents didn’t? Majority black, is that why? It’s really sick how the assumptions just go on and on and on. The big fault, in my opinion, is in too many outside of immediate family attending. Usually, in my experience at least, we were limited to how many could come. That’s just a simple answer, no need for all the insults re: need for graduation or who paid for the caps. Such hateful people in the world.

Caps and gowns are a wonderful thing for these kids, some of these kids will not ever receive a chance to be awarded, recognized, and congratulated for their accomplishments. In my opinion you should start early in the childs life, what is wrong with a transitioning / graduation ceremony for these kids as they are entering a new chapter of their lives….”KINDERGATEN” and so far as who paid for the caps and gown is irrelevant, it is money going towards a good cause – celebrating the accomplishments of our future doctors, lawyers, teachers, social workers, etc….but if it may be known THE PARENTS PAID FOR THE CAP AND GOWNS THEMSELVES

Nowhere in this story did I see the number of children graduating. I too find it amusing to graduate any grade other than high school, but all of mine did the same thing. The point is not the kids, the point is who was in charge of getting the venue, making sure how many children were graduating, and doing some math. Either change the venue, or only allow parents, not extended friends or family. Someone goofed big time. The only other thing I have to say is, Chuck to the rescue again! The police chief could not be found?!?! A small statement on the detective mentioned in the article, from 1st have experience in dealing with him over a robbery we had, if they had become out of control, they would,’ve stayed that way because he isn’t going to put himself out!

Each student should  be given “x” number of tickets to give to family & friends.  If one student has left over tickets, they can be given to a student who has more guests than his/her “x” number of tickets.  I’ve seen high schools, colleges, and other programs uses this system with success.  Any empty seats can be given to the general public at the time of the event. 

Someone should have announced PARENTS were unable to be seated and asked for volunteers to give up their seats so parents could see their children graduate. 

The article stated that “Mayor Jake Middleton, who attended the graduation, said he would not reach Natchez Interim Chief Danny White Thursday, so he said he called Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfied to send deputies to the Natchez City Auditorium for crowd control.”  Unless something was left out of the article, graduation was Friday, not Thursday.  Did the Mayor call Sheriff Mayfied Thursday also and if not why didn’t he also call Interim Chief White Friday?  The article did not say so, but Interim Chief White was also at the graduation and so were some of the deputies.  From my understanding deputies were called after parents started to come and were turned away upon advice of the fire marshals.

You are saying the police chief attended the graduation? This was NEVER mentioned in the article! If this is true, I retract my statement about the chief, but not for anything else I said. Why, if this is true, Is Natchez always a comedy of errors waiting to happen at every single junction? Sounds like the right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing. I must also point out that the article did not give any accurate information. If you are going to writet this type of article, make sure you have all of your facts. How many children were involved, was there ever a head count done as to how many might be coming, would there be enough police staff available to help and on, and on, and on.This article was poorly written. No info given, if it was even gotten by the reporter.

My oldest child was part of the “Transition Ceremony” for the AJFC Head Start program Friday and I have to say that it was VERY crowded.  That being said, as a parent of a white child (which shouldn’t even be an issue but people are mentioning it a lot on here), and a parent that worked with their child EVERY DAY of their life so far with their work and getting them ready for Kindergarten, I will tell you that the Head Start program is excellent!  They work hard to make sure your child is ready for the K-5 grade and beyond.  And, as parents, we paid for EVERYTHING.  We paid for all their school pictures, their field trips, their caps and gowns, and the building itself.  We fund-raised for the building, if you’re curious.  My little girl was a beaming joy the entire week of her Transition (Graduation) because she was so proud of herself for everything she had learned and the friends she made.  Yeah, it was just a silly little thing to us adults, but it meant the world to her and to every other child that was there that day.  No one should be on here talking bad about the program or the children that were there.  I for one am proud to say my child went to Head Start, and I have another child that is going there that will be Transitioning next year.  Yeah, the accommodations were too small and they should move to a bigger venue next year, but seeing as people like you all that are not willing to let your tax-dollars pay for the venue like every other school does, I guess we will just have to make due with what we can afford.  Please let me know where you live so I can make sure my child doesn’t knock on your door with their fund-raising so we do not “bother you” vilou09 and everyone else who has something horrible to say about these adorable children!!

When these groups are given government money, if they don’t spend every penny they won’t get as much next year. Thus, feel good events like this that aren’t really needed must be held so all the money can be spent.

And people bring up consolidation when the Mayor here couldn’t even get the Chief of Police and call the Sheriff Mayfield and deputys for help now what does that tell you folks??!! Country folks say leave our sheriff  along for we have law and order that the city lacks so often!!

The police chief could not be found, that’s Bull…………….Chuck is not the only top gun in this town!

Natchez Police Officer were also there, but of course they weren’t mention. 

It doesn’t matter who footed the bill. This is a celebration, quit always looking for the worst in people and in situations!

OMG, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The parents paid for the caps and gowns! Along with the building itself.  The school (taxpayers) did not pay for any of it.  And it’s not “absurd” it’s a wonderful memory those children will carry for years to come! It will also help boost their self-esteem into trying harder when they get to the higher grades!