thedrifter
05-04-05, 02:32 PM
Principal defends decision to bar military uniforms from graduation
By Tim Robertson
The Pilot News
May 4, 2005
PLYMOUTH - According to Plymouth High School Principal Richard Tobias, the school corporation's decision to disallow students to wear military uniforms instead of caps and gowns to graduation is a matter of unity.
Ted and Suzanne Grubbs, parents of PHS graduate and Marines PFC David Walker, approached Tobias last month requesting that her son be allowed to wear his Marines dress blues to graduation. As the military does not allow soldiers to cover their dress uniforms, wearing the dress blues under a graduation gown is not an option. In a letter to the Pilot News, Grubbs claimed her son "earned the right to graduate in his Marine dress blues."
Tobias said, Tuesday, the caps and gowns worn at the graduation ceremony signify belonging to an accomplished group of graduates. "We don't like to single out individuals at commencement," Tobias said. "We want to honor them as a group; we want them to be represented as a class."
Tobias said for at least the past 30 years, the senior class has selected which color gowns they would like to wear as a class at commencement and attending graduates have been required to wear the gowns.
In her letter, Suzanne Grubbs said, since her son has entered the Marines, he should be able to represent the Marines at graduation instead of the Class of 2005. "He's no longer a civilian, he's a Marine," said Ted Grubbs, reached by phone Tuesday.
Tobias said "The military requires soldiers to wear certain uniforms to military events," said Tobias. "It's the same for us at graduation. To me, the request to wear something different is more an indication of wanting to be singled out for recognition instead of being recognized as part of the group."
Grubbs said she doesn't feel her son is asking for special recognition. "He is asking for something he has earned, the right to graduate in his Marines dress blues," she said.
Tobias said the school's decision is not unpatriotic. He said it was with the school's cooperation that Walker was able to graduate early and enter the Marines. "For this particular student we worked out a special schedule where he could take class on a basis where he could graduate on time to get into the Marines," Tobias said. "I have also arranged for graduates who are in the armed services to be given red, white and blue cords to wear with their graduation gowns that will identify them as a member of the armed service."
Ted Grubbs said it is uncertain whether his son will be able to get leave to attend graduation, but he said he still feels it's an important issue. "This isn't just about David, this is for anyone," he said. "Even if David doesn't get to do this, we want to be sure that if someone else comes up with this request, that it'll be honored."
Ellie
By Tim Robertson
The Pilot News
May 4, 2005
PLYMOUTH - According to Plymouth High School Principal Richard Tobias, the school corporation's decision to disallow students to wear military uniforms instead of caps and gowns to graduation is a matter of unity.
Ted and Suzanne Grubbs, parents of PHS graduate and Marines PFC David Walker, approached Tobias last month requesting that her son be allowed to wear his Marines dress blues to graduation. As the military does not allow soldiers to cover their dress uniforms, wearing the dress blues under a graduation gown is not an option. In a letter to the Pilot News, Grubbs claimed her son "earned the right to graduate in his Marine dress blues."
Tobias said, Tuesday, the caps and gowns worn at the graduation ceremony signify belonging to an accomplished group of graduates. "We don't like to single out individuals at commencement," Tobias said. "We want to honor them as a group; we want them to be represented as a class."
Tobias said for at least the past 30 years, the senior class has selected which color gowns they would like to wear as a class at commencement and attending graduates have been required to wear the gowns.
In her letter, Suzanne Grubbs said, since her son has entered the Marines, he should be able to represent the Marines at graduation instead of the Class of 2005. "He's no longer a civilian, he's a Marine," said Ted Grubbs, reached by phone Tuesday.
Tobias said "The military requires soldiers to wear certain uniforms to military events," said Tobias. "It's the same for us at graduation. To me, the request to wear something different is more an indication of wanting to be singled out for recognition instead of being recognized as part of the group."
Grubbs said she doesn't feel her son is asking for special recognition. "He is asking for something he has earned, the right to graduate in his Marines dress blues," she said.
Tobias said the school's decision is not unpatriotic. He said it was with the school's cooperation that Walker was able to graduate early and enter the Marines. "For this particular student we worked out a special schedule where he could take class on a basis where he could graduate on time to get into the Marines," Tobias said. "I have also arranged for graduates who are in the armed services to be given red, white and blue cords to wear with their graduation gowns that will identify them as a member of the armed service."
Ted Grubbs said it is uncertain whether his son will be able to get leave to attend graduation, but he said he still feels it's an important issue. "This isn't just about David, this is for anyone," he said. "Even if David doesn't get to do this, we want to be sure that if someone else comes up with this request, that it'll be honored."
Ellie