At the graduation ceremonies for the U.S. military academies, all the graduates cheer and throw their hats in the air. It’s a good thing they aren’t in Farrell because the “rowdy police” might be cracking down.

OK, we’re being facetious. But an edict issued this week by the Farrell Area School Board against rowdiness at this year’s high school graduation is, to cite William Shakespeare, “Much Ado About Nothing.”

The school board is warning graduating seniors that horseplay won’t be permitted at this year’s commencement ceremony. Wait, maybe “ceremony” isn’t the proper term for Farrell, because that actually would indicate some form of celebration.

Let’s call it commencement boot camp!

The board is concerned that in recent years there has been excessive yelling and even embarrassing outbursts at times from the audience when some students receive their diplomas. Naturally, there should be a meeting with all the students and messages could be delivered to their families ahead of time to discourage improper behavior.

But to try to completely end any kind of excitement or curb all enthusiasm is ridiculous. Are you even allowed to clap when your kid gets a diploma?

Why not just do away with graduation and mail out the diplomas?

What was really disturbing was Assistant Principal Victoria Phillips-Latzoo saying that extra police will be on hand throughout the event. She said that outbursts such as hooting and hollering will stop the ceremony and offenders will be removed.

And – Shakespeare again – “there’s the rub.”

Who’s going to determine what is an excessive outburst and what isn’t? And if you remove a person for yelling, is it violation of their First Amendment rights? Or even their civil rights?

The school board could face lawsuits for which taxpayers would have to foot the bill, win or lose. Then you might really see some excessive outbursts – at school board meetings!

And if police would try to remove someone, you can bet the situation would turn ugly.

We are all for civility at public events and we realize that occasionally some idiots get out of hand. But letters to families asking for their cooperation or even a story in The Herald requesting that graduation attendees conduct themselves with some decorum would have been the way to go.

To threaten police action at a public ceremony is not the way to go. And it makes outsiders seriously question the overall philosophy of education in the Farrell Area School District.