For Clover Park High School seniors Diane Veness and Shadae Ingram, graduation is only days away. But instead of a celebration, it’s become a point of contention between the high school and these soon-to-be graduates.
In years past, students all wore identical golden stoles over their graduation gowns, but this year the school allowed students to choose. See the complete story at KIRO7.com.
Wednesday morning, a day before Clover Park’s graduation, the principal told Ingram and Veness that they would be meeting with Banner and the vice principal about their stoles. According to Ingram, Banner made it clear that no one was in trouble and everyone clicked quickly. At the end of the meeting, after the seniors explained why their stoles were meaningful to them, Banner agreed with their position.
“He said he is willing to talk to his school board and get them to understand even if they’re not necessarily on board,” Veness said.
I see nothing wrong with the seniors wanting to wear their stoles. Graduation is a time to celebrate, the beginning of a new chapter in the graduates’ lives. I applaud these about to be grads for speaking their beliefs. I also applaud Supt. Banner for taking the time to hear them. Way back when I graduated (’62) the “district” thought the controlled us as soon as we left our homes to go to school. (They said that my older brother could not smoke while driving his car to school, an issue my mother took up with Mr. Finbow.) I became a teacher because I wanted my students to love learning and not feel as many of us did back then…
Congratulations to all who made it this year!