Dress code being considered for Milton graduation commencement
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Michael S. Garrow
MILTON — After school officials allowed two students to wear military uniforms to Milton High School's commencement last spring, the Milton School District is considering setting a dress code for graduation ceremonies.
Superintendent Mike Garrow said Milton High School Principal Jeremy Bilhorn plans to poll other school districts to learn whether they have policies on graduation attire.
The Milton district has no dress code for graduation, although administrators advise students on guidelines for attire at commencement.
District administrators would take any recommendation from Bilhorn to the board's policy committee.
Last spring, the district allowed two students, both of whom had graduated early and had just finished boot camp for the Marines, to wear military uniforms instead of traditional caps and gowns. The students' parents had sought permission from the district.
If district administrators propose a graduation dress code, it wouldn't target students with military ties, Garrow said.
"The intent isn't to say are we allowing military (attire) or we aren't allowing military (attire). It's a broader context for us," he said.
Garrow said the district's ultimate goal is to keep the focus on graduation.
"It's a school formal occasion. They're here to celebrate a landmark event in education," he said. "You want it to be a smooth event."
Garrow was not superintendent last spring, but he said he's learned that district administrators already were discussing an "overarching graduation policy" including a dress code at the same time that the students asked to wear Marine uniforms.
School officials initially barred the two students from wearing their uniforms, but a group of local parents with military ties pressured the district to reconsider.
Meanwhile, the district received a barrage of emails from people outside the district, some accusing school officials of being unpatriotic and anti-military.
In the end, the district relented.
"It was darned if you do, darned if you don't. You tried to stop it, and you're anti-military. Although that was certainly not the case," Garrow said.
The decision to let students wear military regalia instead of a cap and gown could have opened a can of worms for future graduation ceremonies, he said.
"Any time you set a precedent, it does become a line of, ‘You set this, and now where does it end?'" Garrow said. "It enters into equity issues."
By the same token, students who graduate early and start work on a special trade degree might want to wear their professional work uniforms to commencement.
"You said yes to the military, so who do you say no to? Once you go down the slippery slope, where does it stop?" he said.
The Gazette asked several area school districts if they had a policy on graduation dress code. Two districts responded, both indicating they had no set policy.
Janesville School District spokesman Brett Berg and Whitewater High School Principal Doug Parker said their districts have no written rules, but they discourage jeans, sandals and other "casual" items of clothing at graduation.
Oct 10, 2011 at 6:29 a.m.
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Robot_Lord_of_Tokyo
The point is they have gone through basic training, and they have earned the right to wear the colors of our country. they have worked hard to graduate high school early, then gone through bootcamp. all before the high school graduation. they were not just issued a uniform. they have earned the right to wear Dress Blues. I think our community should be proud of the accomplishments these early graduates .Once you graduate from bbot camp, You have earned the right to wear the colors of our country
Oct 7, 2011 at 2 p.m.
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Some kids actually complete boot camp before they graduate high school.
Oct 7, 2011 at 1:28 p.m.
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Wear what the school says. If they are graduating from H.S., they are not quite military yet..... They have to earn it. They might have gotten issued a uniform, but they are not done yet. They'll be done when they have completed their training. THEN they can wear it.
Oct 7, 2011 at 12:50 p.m.
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Don't they wear cap and gown?? Why would you wear miltary instead of cap and gown. It isn't a military school graduation. IF you want to wear in under cap and gown fine.
Oct 6, 2011 at 11:14 p.m.
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same rules for everyone...no special treatment
Oct 6, 2011 at 10:48 p.m.
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ya.. they are graduating.. they did their time, they earned their diploma, everyone is there BECAUSE OF THEM. So its not a big deal to respect the students in letting them wear what they want.
Oct 6, 2011 at 7:21 p.m.
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fromjanesville2waukesha and sigma40, I agree with you completely. Let the kids wear what they want to wear...burlap sacks, high fashion, uniforms, pajamas, caps and gowns. People get so hung up on this stuff. Does anyone really think caps and gowns worn for two hours are going to in some way improve a graduate's chances of a successful life?
Oct 6, 2011 at 5:16 p.m.
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I think these kids should be VERY proud of their accomplishments and they should attend any ceremonies held in honor. But HS graduation, is celebrating the accomplishment of finnishing high school. Not boot camp, (where I am sure there was a ceremony) Its not anti- anything, It's a HS graduation ceremony, where you are there to celebrate just that. Like they said...where does it end? who do they say "no" to? I think a policy is in order...
Oct 6, 2011 at 4:13 p.m.
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partarican1: Why shouldn't they have special treatment? They are in the military which mean that they may put their lives on the line for "our" freedom! They should be able to proudly wear their uniforms for commencement if they so desire, it's the least the school districts can do!
Oct 6, 2011 at 4:03 p.m.
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I would only require that the uniform be dress uniform. But there is no way that you can consider a UPS delivery uniform to military attire. These people are serving our country and putting up their lives as collateral.
Oct 6, 2011 at 3:38 p.m.
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I say if they are wearing their military dress uniforms they are fine. There is a reason we have the freedoms to complain about everything on these sites and its because the many brave men and women who were and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and way of life. You don't have to like the military but you better recongnize why we are free! If you can read this, thank a teacher! If you can read this in English, thank a soldier!
Oct 6, 2011 at 2:33 p.m.
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Sigma...it is about respect for the rules and not disregard for the military. It's great these kids want to serve, but why should they have special treatment in the graduation ceremony? We all serve our country in some way or another....
Oct 6, 2011 at 2:20 p.m.
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It's obvious Garrow was never in the military...no pride.
Oct 6, 2011 at 12:23 p.m.
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We have large numbers of HS kids admiting they drink alcohol, do drugs, and what not.. and we're concerned and focusing our efforts into the dress code of one event? They need to concentrate on the things that matter.
Oct 6, 2011 at 12:22 p.m.
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Who really cares? Why do we even waste time over stupid matters like this?? Beyond high school and the military every other sort of formality in this country has vanished. All formality does is represent a false sense of reality.
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I never even attended my graduation...It was bad enough I had to endure 4 yrs of garbage to get a diploma.
Oct 6, 2011 at 11:52 a.m.
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When you graduate from the military you wear your military dress uniform, when you graduate from high school you wear your high school uniform - I apploud those who have graduated early and are proud of their accomplishments, but you are at the high school celebrating a high school milestone, dress accordingly
Oct 6, 2011 at 11:50 a.m.
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This kind of reminds me of church. You would think that there are certain places that you go where people dress in a certain fashion but that's no longer the case in our society. Why the military garb is an issue is beyond me. I would think the district would be proud of these young people & hold them up as an example. As for the other students, they are wearing gowns so does it really matter what is underneath? It is usually hot at graduation time. What I think they should do is make a dress code for the teachers i.e. what the Milwaukee Journal just discussed the other day about Nicolet in Glendale. If you look at a teacher from the neck down & can't tell by their clothes if they are a student or a teacher there is a problem.
Oct 6, 2011 at 7:26 a.m.
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As long as it is not disruptive to the ceremony (flashing comes to mind) I see no problem with the graduates wearing what they want to under their cap & gown. If they choose to wear a military uniform then it should be the official"dress" ones not BDUs. Common sense and courtesy should be that a nicer dressy attire should be worn for the ceremony but if a young person for example wishes to wear shorts and a hawaiian shirt go for it, just make sure it is under the cap & gown. There should be some sense of pride and consideration for your fellow graduates
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Milton did have a rule that said that graduates were suppose to wear nice dress attire under the gowns at least in 1988 they did. I also remember them threatening to withhold the diplomas, but that was just a threat as a few parents had threatened a lawsuit saying it was not legal to do so. I believe that year we had at least one boy decide to wear shorts under his cap and gown...he was the coolest (temperature wise, as it was HOT that day out in the sun) one there :) BUT he did it in a tasteful manner...kakis, polo shirt and all UNDER the cap & gown.
Oct 6, 2011 at 1:44 a.m.
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School districts could use this issue to promote education. Hold these early graduates up as examples and drive home the point that to qualify for military or any other profession, it all starts with a high school diploma.
Oct 5, 2011 at 11:29 p.m.
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Why do any of us care what people wear the their graduation. If the soldiers want to wear their gear let them. If a guy wants to dress up like a girl let him. Take your picture and start your life. Live and let live.
Oct 5, 2011 at 11:03 p.m.
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not anti-military, but same rules for everyone
Oct 5, 2011 at 10:07 p.m.
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How about "Cap gown with formal attire underneath"? Seems simple and straight forward.
Oct 5, 2011 at 9:39 p.m.
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Many moons ago when M.H.S granted me a diploma, it was clearly stated beforehand that formal/semi formal attire was THE ONLY attire allowed at the ceremony for the graduates. IF this guideline was not followed, your diploma may be held back.
Oct 5, 2011 at 9:30 p.m.
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I think we could spend a lot of time and effort on this issue while never coming to a firm conclusion. Make mine Italian, on the side.
Oct 5, 2011 at 6:06 p.m.
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They're graduating from High School, not Kindergarten. They're adult enough to decide what they want to wear. Hopefully the parents have taught them what is and is not appropriate dress for their ceremony. Sounds to me like it's anti-military.
Oct 5, 2011 at 5:44 p.m.
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It most certainly is targeting the military.
No other work or professional uniform have the same regulations that the military demands.
You can wear a cap and gown over other professional garb but NOT military dress.
Oct 5, 2011 at 5:17 p.m.
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If it is a formal occasion then the military uniforms should also be of the formal type and not field attire and worn under the cap and gown like everyone else.
..and how about a no flip flops clause?
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