Deflate The Graduation

Inflatables Craze

To the Editor:

This is an open letter to Newtown High School’s graduating seniors:

I’ve attended graduation ceremonies at NHS for nearly 20 years. The first beach ball was tossed, as I recall, at the conclusion of the ceremony the year the theme for the senior prom was “Life’s a Beach.” The beach balls have continued, but without any meaningful connection to the senior experience. One beach ball became half a dozen and every year the number increased for no reason except that it had been done the year before. Since graduation was moved to the huge, anonymous O’Neill Center, the number and variety of items tossed during the ceremony has crossed the line between an annoying distraction and a crass disregard for the purpose of the gathering. NHS was fined last year because of the extra cost of cleanup and we are in jeopardy of being denied use of the facility in the future.

 As I’m sure other faculty members have explained, graduation is a ceremony not a celebration. The senior dinner dance, the senior trip, and parties at private residences provide times and places to celebrate. A year ago I attended my younger son’s graduation from American University and appreciated the dignity of the ceremony in contrast to graduation at NHS. I have considered not attending graduation this year because I don’t want my last memory of students I respect as individuals to be mass disregard for the work we have done together. That work has shown me that you place a high value on doing your own thinking and acting on your own beliefs. If you believe that making “inflatables” the focus of NHS’s graduation ceremony is a good idea, please let me know so I can stay home. If you don’t, I hope you are taking the lead in restoring dignity to NHS’s graduation ceremony. Privately deciding that you will not participate is not enough. If you believe the “inflatables” detract from the graduation ceremony, you need to have the courage to say so. This is not about tradition or solidarity; it’s about respect for your colleagues, your teachers, and yourself.

Jeanetta Miller

146 Taunton Hill Road, Newtown                                 June 14, 2010