Students refuse to give in....

**crusty** · 05-29-2008, 05:54 PM

Chardon Students refuse to trade dress blues for robes

(Chardon) - A high school east of Cleveland is saying “no” to two teens who want to wear their military uniforms on stage at their high school graduation.

Will McDonnell, an active duty marine, and Tony Workman, an Army National Guardsman, are graduating from Chardon High School in Geauga County.

McDonnell took extra classes and met his graduation requirements last fall so he could attend a 13-week Marine Boot Camp in February. Workman went through the Army's 10-week basic training last summer.

Link

**CLibertarian** · 05-29-2008, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by crusty

Chardon Students refuse to trade dress blues for robes

(Chardon) - A high school east of Cleveland is saying “no” to two teens who want to wear their military uniforms on stage at their high school graduation.

Will McDonnell, an active duty marine, and Tony Workman, an Army National Guardsman, are graduating from Chardon High School in Geauga County.

McDonnell took extra classes and met his graduation requirements last fall so he could attend a 13-week Marine Boot Camp in February. Workman went through the Army's 10-week basic training last summer.

Link

I dare them to show up in uniform anyway with some Conservative press.

noonwitch · 06-02-2008, 11:27 AM

I've never been in the military, but my dad was in the Army. I was told that if one is a member of the service, on leave to attend a formal ceremony of any sort, that he or she was required to wear the dress uniform for that occasion-like the way those in the service wear the uniform when they appear on game shows (which is why we asked dad about it to begin with).

Why would the school have a problem with this? Shouldn't they be proud that some of their grads are already pursuing their career goals?

**enslaved1** · 06-03-2008, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by noonwitch

Why would the school have a problem with this? Shouldn't they be proud that some of their grads are already pursuing their career goals?

No because it may damage the self-esteem of all the students who have no clue as to what they will do with the rest of their lives and haven't been taught the skills to find out by the school they are graduating from.

Rules against costumes and decorations on gowns and caps are common and common sense. But these guys are wanting to wear their recognized, worthy of respect, and hard earned official uniforms. They deserve that honor. The school needs to shove it.

**Odysseus** · 06-04-2008, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by enslaved1

No because it may damage the self-esteem of all the students who have no clue as to what they will do with the rest of their lives and haven't been taught the skills to find out by the school they are graduating from.
Rules against costumes and decorations on gowns and caps are common and common sense. But these guys are wanting to wear their recognized, worthy of respect, and hard earned official uniforms. They deserve that honor. The school needs to shove it.

If the rule is that everyone wears the same robe, that's the rule. If other students were allowed to personalize their outfits, they'd have a case. On the other hand, there is no rule about what you have to wear under the robe, and I see no reason why they can't wear their uniforms. Once the ceremony is over, the robes come off, anyway.

**enslaved1** · 06-05-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Odysseus

If the rule is that everyone wears the same robe, that's the rule. If other students were allowed to personalize their outfits, they'd have a case. On the other hand, there is no rule about what you have to wear under the robe, and I see no reason why they can't wear their uniforms. Once the ceremony is over, the robes come off, anyway.

By the rules you are correct. I'm arguing the stupidity of the rule in it's application to this particular case. The school should have the common sense and respect to say "you guys busted your butts, you gained a position of respect, and we give you the right to display that position in a dignified manner i.e. wearing dress uniforms at during the graduation."

And my high school said no shorts on graduation day, because it looks like you ain't got nothing on underneath your robe.

**biccat** · 06-05-2008, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by enslaved1

And my high school said no shorts on graduation day, because it looks like you ain't got nothing on underneath your robe.

My wife graduated with a guy who cut the bottoms off of a pair of pants and sewed them into his robe so that it looked like he was wearing something underneath.

**LibraryLady** · 06-05-2008, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Odysseus

If the rule is that everyone wears the same robe, that's the rule. If other students were allowed to personalize their outfits, they'd have a case. On the other hand, there is no rule about what you have to wear under the robe, and I see no reason why they can't wear their uniforms. Once the ceremony is over, the robes come off, anyway.

My daughter just graduated and they had very stringent rules about what was worn under the gowns. Girls had to wear a white dress, boys black slacks, white shirt and dark tie.

This is a very conservative town - we had a class prayer and a benediction but I have no idea what would happen if someone had requested to wear a uniform.

**newshutr** · 06-05-2008, 11:19 AM

I live six miles south of Chardon. The boys decided to appear in the honor guard, go to commencement with their classmates in Uniform but not walk across the stage.

I applaud them for their stance.

**enslaved1** · 06-05-2008, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by biccat

My wife graduated with a guy who cut the bottoms off of a pair of pants and sewed them into his robe so that it looked like he was wearing something underneath.

One of my friends did that, but he didn't sew them on to the robe. May in Kansas is too bloody hot to sit there in a black robe, outside, all zooted up underneath the robe.