This evening, members of the Portsmouth High School Class of 2016 will have their tassels turned and their perspectives changed. They will exit the school with no obligation to return, and orient themselves toward their chosen futures.
The graduation procedure at PHS is one rooted in tradition, from the senior luncheon on the day of the ceremony to the symbolic ringing of the clipper ship bell. However, the school has altered one of the details of today’s commencement ceremony in an effort to be more thoughtful, inclusive, and unified.
For all previous convocation ceremonies, PHS seniors have worn differing colors based on their gender. When I graduated last year, girls sported white caps and gowns to contrast the boys’ maroon ensembles. But now, in the face of social progression, the school administration has decided to unify the class with a single cap and gown design for all. For the first time in history, all members of Portsmouth’s graduating class will receive their diplomas while wearing the same white-cuffed maroon gown as the rest of their peers — an accommodation that has several parents and community members up in arms.
We no longer live in a society where individuals can be classified according to a binary gender model. There are too many complications and exceptions that we have to ignore when trying to classify students in this way, because gender normativity is not reality. It is best to avoid gendering people altogether if possible, especially in a service meant to unify a group of equals. Graduation ceremonies exist to acknowledge and congratulate all of the seniors on their collective accomplishments. They should not be divided into clothing categories based on assumptions about their gender identity.
Of course, I understand the disappointment of certain individuals within the PHS community. I remember being proud of Portsmouth High’s old color scheme because it was so closely tied to the school’s history and spirit. Faculty and staff members who graduated from PHS decades ago recounted marching through the auditorium in the same gendered maroon and white gowns that my class wore on our final day at PHS. While the class of 2016 will not be able to say the same, their unisex gowns are a contribution to the history books that reflect an ever-broadening societal perspective.
Despite tradition, the colors of the gowns should be non-essential factors of the overall graduation ceremony. For the sake of these bright students who are experiencing the most significant part of their lives to date, we should not let petty arguments detract from their moment in the light. Cherish this opportunity to celebrate instead of criticize, and hope that your children may do the same when they stand in your shoes.
I commend the class of 2016 for supporting a transition that prioritizes equality and social change over tradition. May you keep the Clipper spirit burning as you move onward toward bigger and better things.
Nicholas Floros is a 2015 graduate of Portsmouth High School. He’ll enter his sophomore year at Brandeis University in the fall.