500 signatures reached
To: Mr. Chuck Perry, Broken Arrow Public Schools Superintendent
Broken Arrow ECA Graduate Recognition
It has come to the attention of Early College Academy students and families that the senior graduates will not be given a seating section for recognition of their efforts and sacrifices for this program. It was made known to students before applying and entering that successful students would have their own seating section during Broken Arrow High School's graduation if they complete this 2-4 year program, but recently revealed that this promise will not be fulfilled. This petition is a form of protest on behalf of these students who dedicated their time both in and outside of school in order to successfully complete this program, involving both Broken Arrow High School's curriculum towards a high school diploma and Tulsa Community College's educational curriculums towards college credit(s) or an Associate Degree of Liberal Arts. Visible recognition at graduation is one of many ways of showing support and appreciation towards their efforts of an educational path for life. Taking away one of the few celebrations given for such achievements shows these students a disregarded attitude toward bettering one's educational potential. We believe as a community that the form of visible recognition at graduation should be reinstated and granted to these students through the once-promised offer of a separate ECA seating arrangement.
Why is this important?
Throughout this Early College Academy program, students face educational, emotional, and social challenges that have set themselves apart from the regular Broken Arrow High School system. These challenges have formed a bond between each student that can be easily identified as a strong friendship connection with one another that is hard to break, a bond that extends beyond the walls of a building. Giving these students a separate seating group that includes other people who went through the same difficulties and sacrifices as them is a vital element of recognition and respect they deserve at graduation. Not giving a separate section like promised means that this close community will graduate with other community members who don't share this same sentimental and educational bond. Not being able to stay with their community till the very end is a disappointing end of a once longed-for experience.