Uncalled for: Incident of student shaming by authorities unacceptable

We have learned of an incident at a local public middle school in which several students who did not have the correct clothes for graduation were not allowed to participate but had to sit in a corner while their classmates were recognized.

That is shameful.

Wanting a graduation ceremony to be neat and orderly is a worthwhile goal. It is a solemn moment for many, one to remember always, and it is normal for organizers to want it to look as seamless as possible.  

But to carry the demands on students to such lengths as to exclude those who cannot afford the specific color garment called for is taking things too far.

The students were excluded from their rightful places because of the over-zealousness of teachers and administrators who placed style over substance. As a result, the students were shamed in front of their peers.

We should expect better from educators. When students graduate from high school they wear caps and gowns. But when they graduate from middle school they often are told to wear white shirts and dark pants or some similar formal looking attire. That seems like an easy thing but it is not for everyone. Some students simply do not have the resources to come up with the proper clothing.

In such circumstances, allowances should be made to accommodate the students. It is the authorities who ought to be ashamed here, not the students.

Published in Editorials on July 4, 2017 8:29 PM