Graduation SpeechesLast month’s Livingston High School graduation ceremony was a wonderful, momentous occasion, as it always is. The weather held up nicely, and friends and family filled the stands to watch over 500 students receive their high school diplomas. It was nearly perfect, save for one problem: the Class of 2023 salutatorian was barred from giving a speech. The reason for this decision was a years-ago change in the student handbook that finally took effect this year (actually, it began last year, but there were co-valedictorians in 2022). That’s right, this worthy student was denied the ability to address her peers, as salutatorians have historically done for years, due to what amounted to fine print in the district’s terms and conditions.In the salutatorian’s place was a student speaker, selected by the administration from submissions to represent all that LHS students embody, not simply the highest grades. We feel that having a student speaker, in addition to those who finish at the top of their class, is a wonderful idea. It is certainly worthwhile to highlight the multitude of ways in which our students shine. But why does that have to take away from the salutatorian? Why is this an “either-or” scenario? What are we really talking about here? Are we that concerned with a three minute speech tacked onto an already two-and-a-half hour long ceremony?Ahead of last month’s ceremony, Board of Education president Vineeta Khanna offered to forego her own speech, in order to permit time for the salutatorian to talk to her fellow students. So, if the issue is really about time, about saving a few minutes, then doing that seems like a fine solution moving forward. Because, let’s be honest, students primarily want to hear from their peers. And, remember, that this is who this ceremony is truly for – the students. In addition to the valedictorian and the student speaker, the Livingston High School principal, the district superintendent, and, as was previously mentioned, the Board of Education president all gave speeches. Do you think students wanted to hear from any of them more than they did one of their classmates?The decision to remove the salutatorian’s speech seems like it was a solution in search of a problem. Luckily, remedying this issue in the future is common sense and easy to do: have the valedictorian, salutatorian, and a student speaker all give speeches in future ceremonies. Let us ...
