Bloomer sticking with caps, gowns for graduation
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By MARK GUNDERMAN
mark.gunderman@lee.net
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:41 AM CDT
Graduates attending the commencement ceremony at Bloomer High School May 31 will be required to wear caps and gowns, according to a policy set by the Bloomer School Board Monday night.
Setting that policy appears to be in direct response to a request by one graduate, Daniel Lingen, to wear his Marine Corps dress blue uniform.
''My son's wishes were simple: Daniel simply wanted to walk across the stage in his Marine dress blues to accept his diploma,'' said his father, Charles Lingen, who added after the meeting in an e-mail to supporters that he was ''astonished'' at the board's decision.
''I think there's going to be a lot of people angry over this,'' said Lingen, predicting reaction from both veterans and parents of Bloomer graduates, who will be affected by the new policy in other ways.
The policy requires caps and gowns at the ceremony, bans the writing of slogans or messages on the caps, and addresses proper clothing under the gowns and footwear, according to School Board President Joe Zeman.
Also, parents and family members attending will be asked not to bring cowbells and other noisemakers to the ceremony.
''We want to make it more of a proud ceremony than a sporting event,'' Zeman said.
Daniel Lingen completed his high school program by January, and so was allowed to go directly to the Marine Corps. According to his father, Daniel graduated from the basic training program in a ceremony.
Daniel is still part of the BHS graduating class, though, and when it came time to order his cap and gown, said he didn't want to do so because he wanted to wear his Marine dress blue uniform.
The military code forbids wearing of another garment over the top of the Marine dress uniform.
Charles Lingen supported his son, but Bloomer High School Principal Brent Ashland denied the request. Charles Lingen took the matter to the school board.
Lingen has been critical of what he sees as contradictory statements from the school on why Daniel's request shouldn't be honored, saying it was a question of what deserved special recognition at the ceremony, and saying at another point it was a matter of singling out certain students. But Bloomer does list the names of students going into the military in the program, and singles out students for honors, Lingen said.
Lingen said veterans have come to Daniel's support, and petitions were being circulated asking the board to allow the exception.
However, up until Monday night's meeting, Bloomer had no written policy on graduation attire. Lingen said a supporter of Daniel threatened to seek a court injunction on Daniel's behalf if a policy weren't in place by May 15.
On Friday, the board called a meeting for Monday to address the issue.
''We really felt this was a school issue,'' Zeman said Tuesday morning. He added that the issue has been on board members' minds for weeks, and they had been speaking with members of the public about it. ''So it's not as if we made a snap decision.''
Zeman said one of the concerns was granting an exception for military uniforms would open the door for other exceptions for the dress of other occupations, moving away from the traditional cap-and-gown ceremony.
''We had to make a decision based on what we felt was best for the majority of the kids and not just a few or one individual,'' Zeman said.
Zeman said the board's research included discussions with local veterans and active Marine Corps officers.
''We talked to many veterans and the response we got from more of them was they felt the uniformity issue was important - that this is a school ceremony. If it was a military ceremony then they should wear a military uniform.''
Zeman said Marine Corps officers contacted had no objection to the school requiring caps and gowns.
Zeman acknowledged not everyone will agree, but said, ''It seems to be a very small group. I did receive a number of phone calls, but after i brought up some of our points. . . they felt better about it.''
At Monday's meeting, Korean War veteran Harold Goetz spoke in favor of allowing the Marine uniform, as did parent Chad Fleming, according to Charles Lingen. Lingen addressed the board and asked for the exception for military uniforms, but supported the board addressing issues such as messages on caps.
Board member Ralph Bruxvoort wanted to make the exception, but could not get a second for his motion.
The written policy was presented by Superintendent Doug Martin and spoke of why military uniforms should not be made an exception to the cap and gown rule.
''It appeared to me that Superintendent Martin bullied the board into adopting his 'administrative policy,''' Charles Lingen said.
He also predicted a negative reaction by the public to the noisemakers policy.
''I question the ability of the school to make that policy,'' Lingen said. ''It appears Superintendent Martin and the school board are telling the parents how to act, too.''
Lingen said he has avoided national publicity on this story, but has been encouraged by some to take it further. He said he has no plans to do so, but others may be seeking wider attention on the issue, noting that one person said to him that Bloomer could have a lot of television satellite trucks outside its ceremony.
Lingen will be heading to San Diego next week to see his son and attend his Marine graduation ceremony. It will be up to Daniel to decide whether to attend the Bloomer ceremony on the school's terms.
School statement
The School District of Bloomer released the following statement Tuesday morning on the board's decision:
It is the position of the School District of Bloomer that high school graduation, although it may hold different personal meaning for each individual, is a ceremony to recognize and honor students for their academic achievement in earning a Bloomer High School diploma.
Based on this, the Board of Education has determined that the appropriate attire for the Bloomer High School graduation ceremony will be the traditional cap and gown as selected by the Class of 2008.
In weighing this decision, the School Board and administration received input from individuals and groups on both sides of the issue, within and outside the community, including a representative of the U.S. Military. The military representative we talked with informed us that he understood our position because the military is all about uniformity; and if the uniform of a high school graduate is the cap and gown, all graduates should wear the cap and gown.
Unfortunately, there are some that will claim that by requiring graduates to wear the cap and gown, rather than their respective military uniform, that the district is somehow unpatriotic or unsupportive of those that serve our country. Drawing this conclusion is not an accurate assessment of the genuine appreciation felt by the individuals that comprise the School Board and administrative team.
The School Board and administration of the School District of Bloomer hold in highest regard the men and women who join and serve in our country's military. We both respect and admire the sacrifices these individuals make to defend our national and individual freedom.
We are extremely grateful to our graduating students who choose to take this honorable path and, in recognition of that, there is time set aside during the Bloomer High School graduation program to acknowledge their commitment.
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