Controversy over Palmer High grad sporting Confederate flag design on cap

PALMER — Kathryn Shelton was told by Palmer High School principal Paul Reid not to wear a graduation cap with a Confederate flag design at the PHS graduation ceremony on May 8. Shelton discussed the cap with Reid and then with Mat-Su Borough School District Director of Instruction Reese Everett, and was given a decoration-free cap to wear during the ceremony, school officials said. At some point, Shelton switched her blue cork board back to the one with the Dixie flag on it and walked across the stage.

Following the graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Reid began fielding calls with complaints early the next morning. Shelton was a manager for the PHS track and field team, and Reid informed the coaches that Friday that she would be removed from the team.

A MSBSD press release sent out last week detailed that Shelton was frustrated with the decision when she was told that she could not wear the rebel-flag adorned hat. Superintendent Dr. Monica Goyette met with the student and her family following the events at graduation on May 8. The decorated hat violates the PHS graduation handbook, which students had a chance to review weeks prior to the ceremony.

“Knowing that the Confederate flag is symbolic for certain hate groups, I deemed that it wasn’t appropriate for the event and asked her not to wear it,” said Reid.

Reid discussed graduation cap decoration requirements in a prior meeting with the seniors at graduation practice. The cap came to his attention 20 minutes prior to the ceremony. Reid did not confiscate the cap.

“It can’t be controversial,” Reid said.

He discussed the requirements for grad cap decorations with them prior to the night of graduation.

“People didn’t know we asked her to not wear it,” Reid said. ‘It’s controversial. We talked about this. I’m not going to debate it.”

Reid said he didn’t notice the flag on the cap until it was too late.

“I didn’t notice it until she crossed the stage,” he said. “I saw the painting on the edges of it and I didn’t think much of it in the sense that you’re just caught up in the positive movement.”

Shelton was asked why she chose to to walk across the stage with the Confederate flag on her graduation cap, but declined to comment.

“Graduation Cap Decoration are allowed with the following stipulations: Graduation Cap decorations are not mandatory. Graduation Cap decorations are allowable at the discretion of the school’s administration.Students’ decorated caps must not display racial or ethnic slurs or symbols, gang affiliations, vulgar, subversive, sexually suggestive, or otherwise inappropriate language or images; promotion of products that students may not legally buy such as alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs; or anything that promotes harm to another or to one’s self. All Graduation Cap decorations must be approved by administration prior to the day of graduation. If violated, the offending cap will be confiscated, and a new cap will be provided at the student’s expense,” reads an excerpt from the 2018 MSBSD Graduation Handbook.

“The student violated the student graduation guidelines, was directed to wear a blank mortarboard, which they were given, and chose to switch to the original at the last minute. There were consequences for the student for their poor choice that day. Graduation is about celebrating the entire class and their families & friends that helped them achieve their goal of a diploma. We strive to make MSBSD graduations formal, dignified and polite ceremonies for all participants,” wrote MSBSD Public Information Officer Jillian Morrissey.