The president of the Student Government Association at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City wants the organization to be recognized during graduation for its good deeds by wearing stoles ? long scarves, usually made of embroidered silk, worn over a robe by clergy members or graduates.
But Howard County school administrators have declined the request, because the group is not an academic organization.
Jenna Frey, Mount Hebron?s SGA president, took issue with the ruling during a recent board meeting.
“As an academic organization, you would expect members to set an example for others, participate in group activities, participate in community and school service, and grow as both students and people,” she said.
“The Student Government Association does all of these things.”
For example, Frey said Mount Hebron?s SGA has participated in canned food and blood drives for local families and the Red Cross.
“Each school has their own projects, and members across the county put in endless hours to improve both the school and surrounding community,” said Frey.
Frey also said SGA?s parent organization, the National Association of Student Councils, is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which also sponsors the National Honor Society ? considered an academic organization within the school system
School Board Chairman Joshua Kaufman said the board supports the decision of school administrators on the matter.
“Staff studied this, and they determined that they wanted to limit the display of tassels and pins to academic organizations,” he said.
“There are so many clubs and organizations and sports teams, and in terms of fairness, staff decided to keep [the displays of recognition during graduation] to academic organizations.”
Patti Caplan, spokeswoman for the school system, said students can wear stoles and pins from other school clubs during award ceremonies at each school.
She also said administrators want “consistency” for all of the schools during graduation and want to keep the focus “purely on the students? academic accomplishments.”
Ceremony details
The Howard County Public School System will hold graduation ceremonies May 30 to June 1 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia. Cedar Lane School, a school for special-needs students, will hold its ceremony at its school
