They don't let all graduates walk across the stage, just because some haven't been accepted to college??

How obnoxious. Talk about instilling a sense of unfairness, inequality, and downright stupidity. "You're not good enough to walk with your peers. You're less-than. You're a loser."

No wonder the students' pranks have gone off the rails. They're learning lessons from their elders.

That's unreasonable. There are plenty of bright students who, because of financial reasons, will start out at a 2 year community college, transfer to a great 4 school. In the last few years students who would have no trouble winning acceptance in a prestigious 4 year university simply aren't applying to 4 year institutions and are instead of opting for community colleges to start, a purely financial decision.

The handbook was not handed out this year to students. The assistant principal responsible for the handbook did not do her work, instead it was put online, the work was forced onto the administrative assistant to do. No leadership can be found in the building.

@anonymous -
I'm confused - the seniors this year have been getting handbooks for the last four years. Even if they missed this last one, didn't they look at the information (and sign off on having read the handbook) the previous three years? Why would a student assume a longstanding rule had been changed just because they didn't get a paper copy of a handbook?

If it struck a student or a parent as an unreasonable rule at first glance I would have asked for justification starting in 9th grade. And to @Anonymous, there doesn't seem to be a rule that you have to attend a four year college, you just need to get accepted to one. If they can't give you a financial aid package that makes it possible to go and you attend a community college I don't think you are barred from graduation.

@a parent
If the only handbook available for 2010-2011 is the online version and the online version does not state this requirement then it is no longer enforceable, doesn't matter waht the previous years handbooks say. There are plenty of ommissions in the handbooks because the authors do not understand the logic of the rules they write.

If it already isn't give it a few more years and the flagship schools will be as run down and out of control as the old neighborhood schools.

The people in charge don't understand Baltimore or the students we serve. The fights and incidents at Poly, City and Western (not as much anymore since everyone hates the principal) are swept under the rug. No arrests for the fights at Poly, please! If that were in a neighborhood school they would have had the news there, kids locked up and the principal would be getting written up.

Heck the riot at Poly where the principal was injured didn't even make the news, only a mention in the blog. Hmmmm, wonder why. Might it be all the County kids tuition paying parents can't know the truth.

The one high school principal I know who really holds it down I hear is leaving the system. I'm sure the powers that be ran him out or ignored him.

Last count 24 schools need principals and I'm sure the list will grow.

Regading walking across the stage to RECEIVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; if a student is in good standing in every way and has met the graduation requirements,how can a four year college acceptance be required to pick up your earned high school diploma? I am as much for "raising the bar" as anyone but this crosses the line. Are those requiring this willing to pay a four year college bill or even the cost of college applications, SAT's, visits, etc? How very elitist and arrogant to think that every child is going to a four year college immediately or ever. Community colleges are more and more the affordable gateway to other colleges. Trade schools are perfect for those who desire them. How about the military? How very arrogant. It would be a perfect world if every kid could go immediately to a four year college but that is not the reality of the economic times nor is it the desire of every student. And that should not preclude thme from attending a top notch high school. My electrician is a young man with great business sense, loves his work, has his own business and is doing very well.

Further, take a look at the statistics of how long it takes to actually graduate from a four year college, if ever! Some young folks could benefit from a few years of work and the added maturity before spending 15,000-30,000 dollares per year! If ths rule is really in the handbook, it should be changed.

Regading walking across the stage to RECEIVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; if a student is in good standing in every way and has met the graduation requirements,how can a four year college acceptance be required to pick up your earned high school diploma? I am as much for "raising the bar" as anyone but this crosses the line. Are those requiring this willing to pay a four year college bill or even the cost of college applications, SAT's, visits, etc? How very elitist and arrogant to think that every child is going to a four year college immediately or ever. Community colleges are more and more the affordable gateway to other colleges. Trade schools are perfect for those who desire them. How about the military? How very arrogant. It would be a perfect world if every kid could go immediately to a four year college but that is not the reality of the economic times nor is it the desire of every student. And that should not preclude thme from attending a top notch high school. My electrician is a young man with great business sense, loves his work, has his own business and is doing very well.

Further, take a look at the statistics of how long it takes to actually graduate from a four year college, if ever! Some young folks could benefit from a few years of work and the added maturity before spending 15,000-30,000 dollares per year! If ths rule is really in the handbook, it should be changed.

Regading walking across the stage to RECEIVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; if a student is in good standing in every way and has met the graduation requirements,how can a four year college acceptance be required to pick up your earned high school diploma? I am as much for "raising the bar" as anyone but this crosses the line. Are those requiring this willing to pay a four year college bill or even the cost of college applications, SAT's, visits, etc? How very elitist and arrogant to think that every child is going to a four year college immediately or ever. Community colleges are more and more the affordable gateway to other colleges. Trade schools are perfect for those who desire them. How about the military? How very arrogant. It would be a perfect world if every kid could go immediately to a four year college but that is not the reality of the economic times nor is it the desire of every student. And that should not preclude thme from attending a top notch high school. My electrician is a young man with great business sense, loves his work, has his own business and is doing very well.

Further, take a look at the statistics of how long it takes to actually graduate from a four year college, if ever! Some young folks could benefit from a few years of work and the added maturity before spending 15,000-30,000 dollares per year! If ths rule is really in the handbook, it should be changed.

Western did have the handbook online every year on a well designed website. Unfortunately the school system wanted to streamline all school websites and made each one uniform, removing Western's (a site that had every department's documents, downloadable charts for class, and a lot of other useful tools). The new city built website does little to nothing.

On the topic at hand. Western is a college prep. school in the sense that Mervo is a trade school. Am I wrong in thinking that part of getting a Mervo diploma is apprenticing in your trade? Additionally, as I understand it the girls who walk across the stage are the girls who have earned a "Western Diploma" which has higher standards than the standard Baltimore City diploma. I believe they need an 80% or higher gpa, be above a maximum # of missed days, and (apparently) be accepted to a 4 year college/university.

Why is it ludicrous to say "the honor of walking across this stage is earned by going above and beyond the norm"? Give students high goals, and they will reach to achieve them. Give them mediocre goals to include everyone, and you've got the majority of BCPSS schools that graduate seniors regardless of attendance or grades.

I thought the idea of city wide was to educate and inspire the "best". I don't see why having standards much higher than most students would find comfortable is unacceptable at all.

Brandon, I absolutely agree with you. Just another example of how BCPSS' parents and students are not held accountable for their actions. When anyone decides to become a part of an institution, you are required to follow the rules and regulations of that institution. If parents have problems with the requirements of a school, don't send your child there. It is as simple as that.

Once again, the dinosaur weighs in...
Since when were "standards" of education determined by acceptance to a four-year college/university? Herein lies one of the basic flaws in today's flailing system! Higher education outlets have lowered their own "standards' to the point where functional illiterates may be accepted - then, afforded costly and redundant catch-up classes, lest they fall behind before they're even out of the gate! The standard for graduation from ANY American high school should be well-rounded proficiency in a host of basic skills: reading, writing, math, science, GEOGRAPHY, history, government, art/music, etc. The student should be prepared to enter adulthood, the workforce, or advanced ed at Whassamatter U, and should be able to proudly trot across the stage to accept that vaunted diploma even if she's planning to backpack across the Gobi for the next two years. Following Western, I noodled around at CateState for a year or two, went to work, took continuing ed courses along the way, earned a paralegal from Penn State at age 55, finished 13th in the rookie division of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, and on 12/27/05, appeared on "Jeopardy". All this with a WHS diploma which, in 1965, meant a far more comprehensive educational background than most of tday's four-year institutions could ever HOPE to provide!

Brandon-My point was not that Western lower it's standards but rather that it is elitist to assume every kid can afford a four year college right out of high school. And yes, even applying is expensive for some families. I feel that if you are a student in good standing at your svchool, you should walk to receive your well earned diploma. It is only the child and the families business what happens next. If the school has done it's job, the student will be aware of options and the value of college. Are you saying that a kid who may go to community college or into a job was not worth an excellent high school education even if a four year college is not happening immediately?Actually, that kid might have been more in need of a first class high school education.
@WHS"65-I totally agree with you. I went to one of the top rated public high schools in the US. (not in Baltimore) I took most of my lifetime to get three degrees and several certifications but I also traveled, volunteered, worked, paid most of my own bills, and believe I have lived an interesting, worthwhile, and fairly regret-free life as a result of some nontraditional choices.

Finally, I am helping three seniors (not from Western, Poly, or City) who are graduating in good standing and have been accepted to colleges search for money. (not my job-am volunteering) Money is not as easy to locate as we are often led to believe without incurring huge debt.