Panel Votes Down Indian Clothing At Graduation

A school board committee says that American Indian students in Albuquerque may not substitute traditional Indian clothing for the usual cap and gown at graduation ceremonies.

Three of four members on the board’s policy committee voted against adopting a formal policy allowing Indian dress at graduation. Those members said they were swayed by the legal ramifications of allowing alternative clothing, along with pleas from principals who oppose anything but caps and gowns.

Board member Richard Toledo, who said he originally supported the American Indian students’ requests, changed his position, citing principals’ concerns about dealing with other students who might want to wear something different to graduation.

“The one thing that I can’t overlook … is I would not want the graduation ceremony to become a circus. Too many other individuals and groups out there are just waiting to jump on this and make a circus out of it.”

The graduation dress issue will now go to the full Board of Education on Wednesday. But because the policy committee did not pass a formal policy, board President Leonard DeLayo said, it is unlikely the full board could vote on anything other than a motion to require high school principals to study the issue next year.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Scripps-McClatchy Western Service