Beach Party Graduation

Exercises

To the Editor:

The Newtown Bee featured the Class of 2009 at graduation exercises “juggling beach balls” and “throwing balloons” during this year’s graduation ceremony at the WestConn O’Neill Center. In one photo, a security guard is seen with “evidence of the exuberance of the event.” In another, beach balls are airborne while “NHS Principal Charles Dumais speaks.”

One year ago I expressed a concern directly to Principal Dumais after similar beach toy behaviors occurred with the Class of 2008. He indicated a desire to diplomatically correct the impropriety because some people in the school community support the practice.

As a teacher at Newtown Middle School, I am proud to testify that students model appropriate decorum at their “Moving Up Ceremony” and do so year after year. With the format virtually the same as the graduation exercises at Newtown High School, it is a concern of mine that the level of decorum and respect actually decline with four more years of maturation. It is also important to note that graduation exercises at Pomperaug High School in Region 15 Southbury/Middlebury do not contain distractions such as those found at the Newtown High School exercises. The two districts are very similar in socio-economic profile and Connecticut Mastery Test achievement ranking. It is also important to note that beach ball and silly string cleanup require extra charges for rental of the O’Neill Center at WestConn.

There are three items I need to suggest in the public forum. The first is that students always rise to the level of expectations and Newtown students are among the best in the nation. The second is that graduation is the culmination of 13 years of schooling and that “exercises” show reverence to graduates, parents, educators, and the community that participated along the way. The third is that the time for celebration is after the tassels are turned to the other side of the cap.

Donald H. Ramsey

3 Prospect Drive, Newtown                                                 July 7, 2009