Seniors Want OK For Mortarboard Decoration

ERMA – In an age of creative self-expression, the Class of 2016 seniors at Lower Cape May Regional High School want to take a step back from electronic self-expression and reintroduce the custom of decorating mortarboards at graduation. They want to do that with personal messages and doo-dads that communicate sentiments on that solemn occasion.    
According to Class Secretary Marti Panezner, the elected officers of the Class of 2016 discussed their impending graduation over the winter break and wondered if they might return to the practice that had been halted two or three years ago. According to Panezner, this was when things began to go wrong.
Panezner related that this practice had been popular with students in the past and that nothing inappropriate or in poor taste would be permitted on their regalia.
“A panel of teachers and advisors was formed to go over the decorations proposed; each student had to present their decorations to the board for approval before they could wear them,” she added. Panezner stated that they spoke with one of their advisors who suggested that they petition the school to reinstate the practice to include a proper vetting of each student’s intended decoration that had been in place when it was permitted.
They gathered 150 signatures of 188 seniors who were for the proposal.
Panezner stated that when they sought a meeting with Principal Lawrence Ziemba on the subject, he was “Not motivated to work with us.”
The elected senior class officers sought to meet with the principal, but the meetings kept being canceled and re-scheduled. “This was kind of frustrating,” Panezner stated. She related that the principal would have monthly meetings with seniors about various issues, but that when the topic was raised by some students, Ziemba allegedly stated, “Graduation is not for the students, but for the community,” and that, “The community would not appreciate the practice.”
Class Vice President Caleith Manyak supported Panezner’s recollection, and she stated that she was sure the Principal had their petition and that she was also aware of a letter sent to the superintendent that was never answered.
They both believe that they were not being taken seriously and were treated like small children instead of high school graduates.
Manyak believes the situation was a case of “The answer is no because I said so” and no further discussion or dialogue would be allowed.
Principal Replies
Ziemba disputed much of what those students told the Herald on the issue. He related that he first heard of the request to meet about this issue May 12 and that he received an email from them on May 13 and met with them May 16; he felt that this was a very quick response to their request.
He added that there were no prior meetings scheduled or canceled on the topic. Ziemba stated that May 16 during their meeting he asked the students why they went to the press before meeting with him on the subject? One student admitted that she had already called the media before contacting his office just to get things moving.
Ziemba further stated that the students misrepresented what he said about the community, saying that although he is not in favor of the proposal to decorate the mortar boards, he did not tell them that the ceremony was not for the students, and only the community matters. He stated that no decision has been made as of May 18 and that he will collaborate with other school officials to make the final decision.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.