Posted on 05/19/2005 7:52:10 AM PDT by Cagey
SAN DIEGO — Steven Kiernan, 17, has two dreams: One is to become a Marine, and the other is to wear his Marine dress-blue uniform to his high school graduation.
Kiernan is close to achieving the first. He has finished all but the final days of the grueling 12-week boot camp in San Diego.
But his goal of wearing his uniform to Petaluma High School's graduation on June 11 appears thwarted.
The principal of the Northern California school notified Kiernan's parents that school rules require that all graduates wear the traditional cap and gown.
Jim Kiernan, Steven's father, plans to appeal the decision to the Petaluma school board at its meeting Tuesday.
"The Marine Corps has traditions, but I guess the school district has traditions too, and the different traditions have collided," he said in a telephone interview.
Jim Kiernan, who works for a vineyard management company, said he was not so much angered by the decision as he was puzzled. Other graduates, he said, will be honored for their achievements, by wearing adornments on their caps or having their names read aloud.
"Finishing boot camp is my son's achievement, and I think he deserves to be honored too," Jim Kiernan said. He's a member of another school board in Sonoma County and says he knows that school boards can overrule principals.
In similar cases this spring involving young Marines returning to their high school graduations in Illinois and Wisconsin, school officials lifted the no-uniforms rule.
Steven finished his course work early at Petaluma High so he could start boot camp. His parents, somewhat reluctantly, signed his enlistment papers.
Principal Mike Simpson said he sympathized with Steven and respects his decision to enlist. Simpson's father was a Marine who saw combat in World War II.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I'm not going to flame.....I didn't know the rules on wearing the uniform and I don't really have a problem myself...with him wearing it at graduation. It's hard to believe that this issue has not come up before with other schools.
I suspected this was possible, as some kids fulfill graduation requirements the first semester of Senior year. Thanks for confirming!
"Steven finished his course work early at Petaluma High so he could start boot camp."
Lots of people that I know finished high school in the first semester of their last year by taking extra classes during the summer or (in my case) being promoted on to college instead of finishing the last year of high school. Since graduations typically happen only once/year for any given school, you've technically graduated, but have to wait to walk.
Sounds like he finished his schooling in December and promptly signed up (with his parents consent, since he is under 18).
Thx.
If he were a muslim asking to wear a burqua then that would be alright. I would also wager the principal would probably kiss the muzlimb's ass on prime time T.V.at the graduation. The liberals/commies/muzlums all hate American Patriots. NSNR
And .. what's to stop him from wearing his uniform UNDER the gown ..?? As soon as graduation is over - he can remove the gown and VOILA! he's in uniform.
I don't see the issue .. really. I applaud the young man's choice of the Marines, but this is a high school graduation - not a Marines graduation.
see Post 21.
But .. the robe isn't an addition to the uniform .. is it ..?? just because it's worn over the uniform ..?? Hmmmm?? Interesting.
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