Graduation policy likely to be reversed

by Dylan Librande

The graduation ceremony procedure for MHS seniors will likely be changed back from alphabetical to teachers reading names, according to Principal Kenneth Schlaff. The change is a result of student action, Schlaff said.

Seniors Mariel Soriano, David Nakonechnyy, Irum Sattar, Bryan La, and Mary Kay De Guzman formed a group and met with Schlaff multiple times about the policy, according to Schlaff. Problems with the graduation and possible solutions were discussed, Schlaff said.

“Partnership is the way to go,” Schlaff said. “The students, the teachers, and the administration all have to work together if we want to go back.”

Schlaff stated that he wanted the experience to be traditional, memorable, and consistent, as well as to have timelines and deadlines that the students would have to follow. He also said that he hopes to find a middle ground with the students.
“It doesn’t really matter to me,” Schlaff said. “But the personnel are overburdened, and the ceremony has been something other than what was intended. We want to support Ms. Rivera. We want to reach some amenable solution.”

The logistics and subpar tenure of the ceremony as well as the fact that it was more of a party than a ceremony were problems with the previous procedure, noted Schlaff. A teacher component and a timeliness component will need to be implemented to fix these problems, Schlaff said.

“At this point, it looks like [the ceremony] will revert back to the original,” Schlaff said. “We want to create a ceremony that the students will be happy with.”
The group of senior will continue meeting with Schlaff until a final solution is achieved, according to De Guzman. She also stated that this is the last chance for the policy to be reversed.

“More student involvement was needed, so we’re getting involved,” De Guzman said. “We, as students, would get the word out. It’s Ms. Rivera’s job, but we’re helping out instead of idly participating.”

One possible change in the ceremony would be the introduction of a student and a teacher pledge, De Guzman said. Turning in cards with teachers’ names, as done in previous years, would also be a more serious and controlled affair, according to De Guzman.

“Seniors need to understand why it’s important for them to behave properly,” De Guzman said. “This is our last chance to go back.”

Vice Principal Brian McGarry agreed with Schlaff on the policy. He also noted that all points of view need to be taken into account. "What people need to realize,” McGarry said, “is that the whole graduation experience is what is important, not the actual name reading itself.”

Senior Victor Hernandez stated that he likes the possibility of policy regression, and would be willing to follow any rules the administration laid down in order to revert the policy. He also expressed dislike for the alphabetical policy.

“I can see that it’s easier for the staff, but I don’t like having to sit by last name.” Hernandez said. “I don’t know anyone, and I’d rather be with my ‘bros’. I can see the point [in changing the ceremony], but it’s our last day at high school! We should be allowed to have some fun.”