CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. \u2014 Native American students will not be recognized with an honor song during this year\u2019s commencement ceremony at Chamberlain High School in southeastern South Dakota, despite a renewed effort to add to the graduation tradition.<\/p>\n
The school board voted 6-1 Monday night to reject a request to allow the song, The Daily Republic newspaper reported (http:\/\/bit.ly\/12rwDHQ ). Board President Rebecca Reimer said a feathering ceremony led by the district\u2019s Native American Club the night before graduation honors tribal students, and an honor song during graduation doesn\u2019t seem necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost schools with our demographics have either a feathering ceremony or an honor song,\u201d Reimer said. \u201cNot both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Supporters of an honor song presented a petition to the board last month. About one-third of the 900 students in the school district are Indian, and supporters of an honor song say it would be culturally appropriate and might help bridge cultural and racial differences in the community of about 2,400 people.<\/p>\n
School board members said they want to make sure graduation recognizes educational achievements, rather than favoring one culture over another. The board has rejected honor song requests in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t see how it honors everybody when it\u2019s not in our language, and when I say our language, I mean English,\u201d said board member Casey Hutmacher. \u201cI look at the Pledge of Allegiance and it covers everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Board member Steve Fox cast the lone vote in favor of an honor song.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe vote for change all the time,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s supposed to be our goal, to change in good ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could think of so many reasons to do this for our kids,\u201d Fox said. \u201cWhy not give three or five minutes to teach our kids to honor another culture?\u201d<\/p>\n