Graduation Robes or Graduation Robbery?
- Natalie Fossoy | Co-Editor-in-Chief |
- Nov 8, 2016
- 3 min read

Hey senior class! You might not know what credits you need to graduate, but on the bright side, you do know that you can get the Official School Announcement & Photo Card Bundle for the low low price of $45 for 25. What’s more useful to society? You graduating high school or your parent’s money?
Connor McRobert, a graduate of the 2016 senior class, reminisces about last year's senior informational meeting; “Thinking back, I think the other seniors and I were overwhelmed with what we were expected to pull off, and moments like the Senior [informational meeting] offered a chance for us to pause and breathe. Even if only for a short time, we forgot about the hurdles we had yet to clear and remembered the gift of each other’s presence. Life after high school (whether that’s college or not) is still exciting and empowering, but it’s moments like the senior assembly that are etched into my memory.”
But was this year’s senior meeting that memorable?
In years past, the senior informational meeting has had more of a focus on graduation requirements and appropriate behavior. This year, Ms. Danskey introduced a representative from Jostens and briefly mentioned that senior pranks can lead to punishment that can result in not walking. After this, the Jostens representative spoke for half an hour. In short, the “informational meaning” could be described as little more than a glorified sales pitch.
Hayley Patraw, a senior who attended the meeting, was confounded and stated sarcastically, “The connection was graduating from high school is basically the same as dying from cancer,” referencing the seemingly random personal anecdote the Jostens representative made to reiterate the necessity of celebration. Emely Ramirez, also a senior, said she “was listening to what he was saying and the whole time wondering, ‘How am I supposed to graduate?’”
According to the Hillsboro Annual Report from the 2015-2016 school year, 43% of the 1600 students who are enrolled in Century are economically disadvantaged. That means that roughly half of the population who attended the Jostens sales pitch for senior caps and gowns (and rings and announcement letters and “senior swag”) walked out of it wondering how their family is going to be able to afford all of these “necessities” to make graduation a celebration.
And this, on the tails of the dropout rate doubling from 0.2% to 0.4% between 2013 to 2015. And the dropout rate for students who are economically disadvantaged is even higher. Meaning that the kids who needed to have an assembly about graduation requirements instead got a slap in the face.
With that in mind, the informational meeting wasn’t all bad, according to People in Politics and AP Government teacher, Mr. Rogers; “I thought the information from Ms. Danskey was good about cautioning seniors to be sure that they do the things they need to do and don't do anything that's going to jeopardize their chances.”
That information spanned the first five minutes and covered things like suspensions for senior pranks - and not nitty gritty class requirements. But, Mr. Rogers countered, “At this point, students should know what they need to do to graduate and they should be tracking that themselves.”
However, regardless of if the meeting was a waste or not, most people agree that it wasn’t the best use of time and that something needs to change. Rogers brings up a good point; “I didn’t catch how much the cap and gown was but that's all you need. But I think those should be available for students free of charge. I don't know why the high school can't just have caps and gowns available for free.”
Ramirez says the same thing crossed her mind. She said, “My mom and I were looking at the papers and how much it all costs and wondering why I am required to get all this. Why can’t we just borrow one? When my sister graduated high school, her school gave her a robe to borrow.”
Most agree that a senior informational meeting should be more student-focused, and that a discussion about graduation robes shouldn’t take half an hour and $50 out of families’ pockets. Students need more than an advertisement to learn about graduation requirements.
Comments