CADILLAC -- UPDATE: 7 & 4 News is told by a student at Cadillac Area Schools that a compromise has been reached between students and staff. A moment of silence will take place at the graduation ceremony instead of setting out two empty chairs.
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A controversy is brewing in Cadillac after a request by some students to place two empty chairs at their graduation ceremony in honor of two classmates who passed away.
Seniors at Cadillac High School want to honor Bobby Davis and Alex Harrison. Alex Harrison was the victim of bullying and took his own life in February, 2009. He was 16 years old. Bobby Davis died in 2006 at the age of 12.
Students have emailed 7 & 4 News about the plan to put the two chairs up at graduation, but say the school has denied the request.
School leaders say a "casual request" was verbally made to the Cadillac High School principal by a student two days ago requesting the recognition of the deceased students in their graduating class with empty chairs. Officials clarify no petition has been presented to administration formalizing this request.
In the past, CAPS has acknowledged deceased students in the graduation program, which will continue this year with Davis and Harrison. School leaders say they are working with the group of students on this issue to come to a compromise that will be sensative to all students and families of CAPS.
The following statement was released from the Superintendent of Cadillac Area Schools:
"Our greatest pride is watching our students succeed as adults. The initiative taken by the graduating seniors to acknowledge their classmates is valued by Cadillac Area Public School's (CAPS) Administration and the Board of Education. It is necessary that we consider all graduates, families and survivors and celebrate the accomplishments of our student body respectfully. Dr. William Steele, PsyD, MSW, Director of the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children shared with us this morning that it is necessary that Cadillac Area Public Schools remain sensitive to the close knit nature of our small community and acknowledge the necessity to protect survivors and students. We have received a large amount of feedback on both sides regarding this issue and believe that we can arrive at a compromise that can accommodate the needs of our Graduates and treat the Graduation Ceremony of the Class of 2011 as the celebration it is intended to be. We will continue to seek the support and direction from professionals that have provided wise council to us in times of grief and loss. I personally continue to mourn the loss of each CAPS student. The loss of any child by any means is a significant loss." Mr. Paul Liabenow, Superintendent.
You can see more information on what lead to the school's decision by CLICKING HERE.
The graduation ceremoney takes place Saturday, May 30 at 1:00 PM.
You can see more on the students efforts by CLICKING HERE .
There is also a discussion on Alex Harrison's Facebook memorial page, which can be found HERE.
What do you think about this issue? Should the students be allowed to remember their classmates by placing empty chairs at graduation? Tell us "Your Point of View" by voting in our poll and leaving your comments.
