The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Graduation gowns will change to all cherry red
School board President Greg Elek said a process was followed before the decision was made.
Elyria High School graduates walked for generations with boys wearing cherry red gowns and girls wearing white.
But this year, however, the color scheme will change to all red gowns with white sashes embroidered with the school emblem, said Principal Tim Brown.
Parents upset over the December decision by Brown and Superintendent Dr. Tom Jama alerted school board members, who spoke at a Jan. 25 meeting at the district administration building on Griswold Road in Elyria.
“I hate to micromanage,” said school board member Michael Gebhardt. “I have concerns about graduation, about the robes we’re changing to. I’ve talked to a lot of people and not one wants to do this. I kind of agree with them.”
School board President Greg Elek said a process was followed before the decision was made.
Brown and Jama brought the situation to the school board.
“My views: One of the greatest things about Elyria City Schools is the way we express diversity,” Elek said. “We do want to honor tradition.
“I’m not sure about the details. But this is a procedure I feel confident with Dr. Jama and Mr. Brown. Did we make sure we had enough input from all of the kids?”
Board vice president Kevin Brubaker said parents
were concerned because they understood students could choose if they wore red or white, but now it is not that way.
Board member Jim Backs said the majority of people said they like the two colors. But since he is accustomed to one color at commencement, he does not mind the change.
Some people suggested the graduating class should
decide.
But board member Annie Carstarphen said the students were very open to change.
“When I graduated, it was all one color; you didn’t have an option,” Carstarphen said. “Some students had a concern for other students.”
Jama said the decision wasn’t easy.
“But from my position as a superintendent, it was the right thing to do,” he said.
Brown said he was asked by students at a cultural festival in September to attend their meeting on diversity.
Then students approached him on behalf of a student who was thinking about not walking at graduation because of the robe colors denoting gender, Brown said.
The student has a 4.0 grade point average; met all requirements for graduation already but takes classes in College Credit Plus; and never has been involved in any disciplinary incidents, Brown said.
“As nice as it is, as cute as it looks, it signifies female in a white robe and male in a red robe,” Brown said, adding the purpose of the robe is to show what a graduate looks like.
“We didn’t put it to a vote,” he said. “We didn’t think it should be a popularity contest. If you ask the kids, they want to decorate their caps. I don’t agree with that.”
Jama said the issue is about who Elyria Schools students have become as a district identity.
“We are so open and accepting of all students,” he said. “It’s just that open belief we are all special and we’re all Pioneers.”