Ledyard — A school graduation policy that bars students from wearing cords that symbolize their choice to enlist in the military sparked an angry reaction over the weekend from parents who disagree.

The school's policy allows colored, braided cords — usually worn around the neck with the graduation gown — for two academic awards and two service awards that "celebrate the accomplishments of (a student's) four years at Ledyard High School," Principal Amanda Fagan said.

A group of students met with Fagan last week asking her to reconsider the school policy, which Fagan said has been around "for as long as I can remember."

Over the years, she said, she's had requests from arts honors societies, the FFA and the Student Congress and have turned them all down. This was the first year that anyone had approached her about wearing cords for military service.

"The honors we do have at graduation are reflective of overall service and overall accomplishment, as opposed to specific niches," she added.

She said that she reached out to high schools in the region and heard back from 11 of them, eight of which told her that they do not allow the cords.

Students are allowed to decorate their mortarboard with anything they want, Fagan said, and in recent years many have chosen to display the seal of the military branch in which they've chosen to enlist, and she recommended they represent their service that way. 

Following the meeting, parents began to protest the policy on social media.

Ted and Sandra Christians said their son Tony Christians received a cord as a ceremonial gift from a recruiter when he enlisted in the Navy earlier this school year.

Ted Christians, himself a Navy veteran, said his son thought it was a "a really neat idea to display his intention when he graduates."

Sandra Christians said she thought the school eventually would allow the cords and was surprised how long the argument ran online. "I don't understand how we have so many people that are so far apart on a small show of respect" for enlisted students, she said.

Students were divided on how they would like to be honored, said Superintendent Jason Hartling, who met with students on Monday.

"I heard a bunch of different things: I heard one group of kids say they didn't want anything, I had other students say they absolutely did not want to be recognized (during the ceremony) and others that just wanted to wear their cords," he said.

Hartling said he's spent "probably 10 hours" responding to phone calls and emails about the issue.

He said he consulted with recruiters from each of the branches of the military, and they told him that the cords are not issued by military branches but recruiters may distribute them on their own. He said in every case, the military was clear that wearing a cord at graduation was ultimately at the discretion of school administrators.

"Allowing future military members to disregard both their recruiters' and the school's expectations sends an inappropriate and inconsistent message to our students and future members of our military," Hartling wrote in a news release.

"It created a firestorm: people via email, social media, phone calls (were) really getting nasty," he said.

A number of misconceptions circulated, including that the police would bar students from wearing the cords during the ceremony. Ledyard police will not be involved and the administration "won't push the issue further," Hartling said. The policy isn't under the purview of the town's Board of Education.

Others questioned the patriotism of the school administration, which Fagan said was hurtful.

Hartling graduated from a military academy in Vermont, and enlisted as a military police officer for eight years. Fagan's family goes back three generations in the Navy and Air Force.

"Ledyard is a military town and we love our service members and veterans in every sense," Hartling said.

Sandra Christians said she has connected with other parents of enlisted students on social media that are upset with the policy.

"If the school will not let them display the cords, I think the parents should display them ... and stand up out of respect for their choice," she said.

Hartling said in the release that, going forward, students who have enlisted in the military may wear their service dress in lieu of their cap and gown, and students who have confirmed enlistments will be recognized during the high school's "Blue and White" day.

The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2017 will be held June 23.

 n.lynch@theday.com