Graduation stories are all over the news. I’ve just pulled a couple of headlines here to illustrate. One of the interesting issues is whether individuals with disabilities who have not completed requirements should participate.
Tardy senior owed chance to march
Policy wrongly excludes grads from high school commencement
High school graduation is an important milestone. Commencement is a rite of passage - for the graduating student and his or her family. As such, more, not fewer, provisions ought to be taken to ensure graduating students get to march.
White House supports Hanover Park student
Bush aide: Allow teen with Down syndrome to walk at graduation
BY LAURA BRUNO DAILY RECORD EAST HANOVER –
The White House has jumped into the debate over whether Alicia Vitiello, a Hanover Park High School student with Down syndrome, should be allowed to walk with the Class of 2007 when it graduates next spring.
I know that these are only two of the several of these I’ve seen. I can’t chase them right now, so I welcome comments identifying other examples of how disability, graduation requirements, and equal treatment interact.
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I actually did catch that Hanover Park story and did extend and expand on that case at my own blog. It isn’t as cut-and-dried as people would believe by reading the media accounts. In that students case, it is not a matter of IF she should walk, but WHEN. What sort of provisions do schools make for post-graduate work study? Not many, unfortunately.
dick
Dick, good point, and I was glad to see your coverage in The Life that Chose Me. If there is a standard for getting to “walk,” then we shoudl apply it sensibly and reasonably; the standard should have thoughtful and conceptually consistent bases.
Your note about “cut and dried” analysis is on the $$. Too many news stories are shallow, predicated almost exclusively on human interest wins and losses. It’s good to have thoughtful, deeper reflections such as yours.
Cheers (as they seem to say if they are from down under).