Graduation Policy At Happy Valley Stirs Controversy

By: Bill Christian | TriCities.com
Published: May 20, 2009

Seniors at Happy Valley High School in Carter County will receive their diplomas during the graduation ceremony on Saturday. But those who break a new rule will not be allowed to participate.
Kim Burchfield and other parents are upset over a new policy at Happy Valley that bans students from writing anything on the top of their graduation caps.
"I don't think its right, I think the parents paid for them and I think they should put whatever they want on it as long as it's appropriate," Burchfield said.
Carter County school officials said the new policy was put in place after the school heard that some students were planning to put what some might consider racially offensive symbols and slogans on their caps.
"They went to school for 13 years to work for this day and now they are not going to be able to walk across the stage because they wrote 2009, their names, ETSU bound on their hats," said Janie Rice, parent.
School officials said students recently signed contracts which said they understood the new policy.

Graduation Policy At Happy Valley Stirs Controversy

New Graduation Policy (Added: May 20, 2009)

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