On March 10, Madison Carriger, Kate Sanders, and Chelsey Waterman, seniors, spoke out at the board meeting to get senior cords approved for the class of 2025 to wear at commencement. The morning prior to the meeting, Frank Bell, principal, called the students planning to speak, down to the office one by one, where they were brought into a conference room with multiple administrators.
Aubrie Fuchs, senior, was one of the students called to the office and she was asked if she was planning on speaking at the board meeting. She told administrators that she was unsure if she would be able to due to scheduling conflicts and in return administration told her that if she convinced the others planning to speak not to, that they would be rewarded with a Culver’s coupon.
“During this whole meeting I felt not valued and very much pressured. Being bribed to not speak on a topic affecting him felt wrong and like he knows what he is doing is not the correct way to handle things,” Fuchs said. “This meeting overall made me feel like my voice is not heard or cared about at GEHS by our admin.”
Madison Carriger, among other students, attempted to reach out to administration and the senior class sponsor.
“Throughout the entirety of my attempted communication with admin I received responses from only one person, being our principal. Further, when Kate and I went to meet with our principal we were given immense misinformation and misdirection,” Carriger said.
Unhappy with the administration’s response, Carriger, Sanders, and Waterman went through with speaking to the school board despite the immense amount of pressure from administration.
“When students voice concerns especially about something as meaningful as graduation recognition they should be met with transparency, honesty, and willingness to engage not silence, misinformation, or coercion,” Carriger said.
Carriger felt that this issue was more deep rooted than just surface level.
“The lack of communication and the attempts to suppress students’ voices in this matter highlight a deeper issue with our district. A disconnect between leadership and the students and faculty they are meant to serve,” Carriger said.
Many of the seniors who spoke out do not understand the administration’s response to their questions.
“When questioned by myself and other students upon why the selection of cords is so restrictive our principal replied with aesthetics, quoting ‘there is something to be said about a plain blue robe,” Sanders said. “In term we’ve decided that yes there is something about all 500 students wearing a plain robe, the utter lack of individuality and the engagement in our school.”
The seniors understand the importance of getting to wear the cords they have earned at graduation because not only does it represent that the district applauds the work they have put in, but also shows the students respect. The seniors understand that the cords represent achievement in many different areas, not just academics.
“If we are truly committed as a district to fostering a school environment that values achievement in all its forms then we must also be committed to listening to and respecting the students who make these achievements possible,” Carriger said.
The school needs more students like these willing to call attention to fundamental issues in the high school and the district. The class of 2025 will not back down. They will put up a fight to ensure their voices can be heard.
