PCSD 25 considers graduation dress & conduct change
Fort Hall Business Council member Ladd Edmo speaks before the school board at the March 8 meeting.
By DANA HERNANDEZ
Sho-Ban News
POCATELLO — The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District #25 School Board on Tuesday, March 8 discussed the possibility of changing their school dress code policy 8504 - Graduation dress and conduct.
Susan Pettit, director of secondary education, introduced the topic to the school board, “The graduating students should be able to wear their eagle feather if they’ve been presented with one and to bead the outside of their mortar board caps. Both of those things are very important to their culture, so it’s the request to change the graduation dress code to include those Native American students who are from a federally recognized tribe to wear traditional, cultural, or religious items inclusive to an eagle feather or beaded items such as a necklace or medallion in the graduation ceremony.”
Pettit added that many of the school districts in the Northwest have changed their dress code policy to include the cultural relevance.
“This is being presented to you and we will be asking for you to adopt the policy change on first reading in next week’s meeting,” said Pettit.
Pocatello/Chubbuck School Superintendent, Dr. Douglas Howell asked for a timeline on the adoption of the policy and how to further the discussion at next week’s meeting on March 15.
Pettit said, “first reading would take place in March, second reading in April, with graduation taking place in May. Today is not a first reading because there is no action taking place. It was only information given for now to discuss and ask questions. Next week, it will be presented for action.”
One of the concerns school board members presented was, “what other groups are going to come forward? Why not other groups and why say no to other groups and not this one?”
Afterwards, the school board meeting was open for public comment and tribal member, Eneesa Teton spoke during public comment and gave a testimony for the significance of her being able to wear her beaded cap during last year’s graduation. Teton said, “No student should ever have to choose between representing their culture and expressing their spiritual beliefs in celebrating such an incredible academic achievement that they’ve been working towards for a majority of their lives.”
Also, FHBC member, Ladd Edmo said, “We’d like to thank you for the waiver that was granted last year and numerous parents were happy about the waiver being allowed for the wearing of eagle feather and beaded caps. We as a Shoshone-Bannock people hold the eagle feathers with the highest respect to our traditions and beliefs and how we use them. We also hold high school graduation as formal events and we give graduates eagle feathers and plumes to celebrate their accomplishments and to affirm who they are as Indian people. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the Bald and Gold Eagle Protection Act are laws that recognize the protection and preserve the traditional/cultural practices and religious rights of American Indians.”
FHBC member Edmo, said the existing Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 policy 5804 prohibits students from their rights to wear an eagle feather, beaded caps, and beaded items.
The school board will consider taking action at the March 15 meeting and if it gets adopted the school district will notify parents.
