Gown changes would give CHS graduation a new look

A sea of green and white from last year’s commencement ceremony (Mike Barucci photo)

A longstanding graduation apparel tradition at Canton High School may soon be getting a modern update as school leaders mull a potential move to single-color gowns for the entire senior class.

The proposed change, put forward by CHS Principal Derek Folan in consultation with the school’s department coordinators and student council, would end the past practice of assigning cap and gown color by gender — green for boys and white for girls — in the interests of equity and inclusivity.

As noted by Folan, this is an idea that has been gaining steam in recent years at high schools across the state, and he, for one, feels “pretty strongly” that it would be a step in the right direction for Canton High School.

“As principals we have a responsibility to review important considerations about our students and their experiences,” he said. “And when it came down to it, the gowns having two different colors and associating them with a different gender, that has given everyone a hard look at it.”

While emphasizing that no decision has been made, Folan said he has consulted with other area principals who have made the change, and he has given some thought as to what the new gowns might look like. One idea, he said, would be to switch to an all-green gown with a white stole that incorporated the new CHS logo.

“That way you would have both colors represented, and I think it would look pretty classy,” he said.

Yet the notion of making any changes to the traditional green and white gowns has sparked quite a bit of discussion and debate within the student body, particularly among the current senior class.

One senior girl who is opposed to the elimination of white gowns created a change.org petition calling for the proposal to be put to a vote by the seniors, and the petition attracted 100 supporters before it was closed last week.

In the petition, the author characterized the proposed change as an “unnecessary step to achieve inclusivity.”

“I was excited to graduate the way my brother and stepsister did: in the presence of green and white, our school colors,” she writes. “This is in no way a stance against gender equality; it is merely tradition. People have the right to choose which color they wear regardless of gender.”

The author went on to state that “many young women in the senior class are not pleased with the fact that the administration is trying to change this CHS tradition.”

“It isn’t just simply ‘the gowns look better in white,’” she writes. “Rather, many of us value the tradition of women wearing white at graduation.”

Folan said he fully expects there to be differing voices on any proposed change, and he intends to meet and solicit feedback from the entire senior class before making any decision regarding the gowns.

Last week, approximately 60 students turned out for a voluntary morning meeting on the issue, and Folan said they had a “really good discussion” in which different opinions and perspectives were shared.

“I think as a school that we can’t be afraid to have conversations, sometimes difficult conversations, where many people might have different opinions,” he said. “All we have to do is make sure that we are very respectful.”

As for the notion advanced by some that the change is being made solely to accommodate transgender students, Folan acknowledged that gender identity is “one consideration, but not the only consideration.”

“We try and minimize the number of experiences and choices that are dictated by gender,” he said, “and we’ve come a long way with regard to many of those aspects of school. But also, you just know your students and know your values and know that this can be a unifying element in our school.”

“The long and the short of it,” he said, “is that the safety and the well-being and the experience of students in my building is paramount.”

Folan also wanted to make it clear that, even if changes are made, the school and its leadership still greatly value tradition.

“It’s one of the reasons why I place a big emphasis on listening [to students and staff], because tradition really is the foundation of a community,” he said. “I believe that you have to respect and honor tradition, but you also have to balance that with new considerations and new perspectives that come forward.”

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