Sorry, they’re not sorry.
Lowery Elementary School, located in Houston, Texas, denied parents entry to their kindergartener’s graduation ceremony simply because they had brought the student’s siblings to celebrate the milestone.
In the viral clip posted by @emmairakoze, now with 13.4 million views on TikTok, a mother from behind the camera is seen being greeted by a faculty member who tells her she can’t enter the building.
“I’m so sorry, but your baby can’t come in,” a school faculty member tells the parent, without regard for the recording smartphone lens.
The staffer disengages and points to another upset parent saying, “She’s mad at me too,” then tried to soften the blow by telling the tiny unwelcomed guest, “You are beautiful!”
But the mother was already irate, asking “why” and demanding to check her child out of school.
The faculty member responds, “You have to wait.”
Later the clip shows as denied parents huddle outside, expressing their frustrations and calling it “petty.”
The Post reached out to Lowery Elementary School for comment.
Another parent seen holding her toddler begins ranting, “It’s ridiculous. All year they’re allowed to come play on the playground; they’re allowed to come in the classroom.”
Bystanders chimed in, clarifying the school sent an email letting parents know children were not allowed at the graduation.
But the rejected mother claimed she received approval from her child’s teacher. “We even put her name on, and I even asked my teacher, and she said it was fine,” she quarreled.
However, three moms appear to be the only ones who missed the memo as the camera pans, showing other parents heading inside for the graduation.
Allegedly the graduation ceremony was the first time the school had implemented a no-children policy, according to the upset mother.
“They let [siblings] in any other time, and you’re going to give us an issue on a day like this when it’s so confusing,” she argues.
Soon, the Principal steps in, suggesting the mother can swap out with the father, who is already seated inside for the ceremony.
Enraged, the mother fires back, “That’s the problem. We should be able to sit there as a family and watch our kids graduate.”
“All year, you ask us for money. You ask us for fundraisers. You ask us for everything. You ask us to volunteer our time and effort. But yet, y’all won’t let us bring our daughter in here to watch her big brother graduate,” she yells.
In a follow-up video, the mother shows her emotional child, who is upset that her parent could not attend.
The faculty member, who initially denied the parents entry, begins apologizing to the graduate on camera.
“I am so sorry you’re upset. I don’t want any child to be upset,” but proceeds to condescendingly remind the child and the parent of the rules that were sent home regarding the celebration.
Texas parents who called out of work for their child’s big day claim the elementary school “ruined” the memorable moment.
Many parents flocked to TikTok video comments, sharing their vexation over the school’s policy.
“So single parents have to miss their kid’s graduation?” commented one person. “This is sad, a lot of parents don’t have an option.”
“Whattttttt. The family can’t watch other family members’ graduation??? That’s insane,” added another.
“Imagine their kids looking out in the crowd and not seeing them 🥺🥺😭😭, wrote one watcher.
