Calif. school district and student reach agreement allowing him to wear eagle feather at graduation
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His high school graduation later this week may be a feather in Christian Titman’s cap, but it apparently won’t be a feather on his cap, for at least most of the ceremony.
School officials resisted his effort to be allowed to wear an eagle feather on his graduation cap throughout Thursday’s ceremony, Reuters reports. That led to an emergency court filing (PDF) on Monday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.
Asserting causes of action under the state education code and California constitution, it sought a declaratory judgment that Clovis Unified School District is violating Titman’s free speech and religious rights as a Native American, as well as a temporary restraining order precluding school officials from enforcing the eagle-feather ban Thursday.
The Fresno County Superior Court complaint also asked for attorney fees and costs.
However, a settlement was reached after a Tuesday court hearing, under which Titman will be allowed to wear the 5-inch feather in his hair during the ceremony and attach it to his cap prior to the tassel turn, the Associated Press reports.
That settlement does not necessarily preclude ongoing litigation to hammer out a permanent standard for the future, the Fresno Bee reports.
In a written statement provided by a spokeswoman prior to the settlement, the district said it “remains committed to attempting to reach a resolution that respects both Christian’s Native American culture and traditions, and the long-standing traditions surrounding our content-neutral graduation ceremony standards.”
The spokeswoman, Kelly Avants, said the district tried to compromise by letting Titman get the eagle feather along with his diploma or wear it during a portion of the graduation ceremony, but the 18-year-old nixed these ideas.
“The eagle feather is not only a signature of my tribe but it also represents the pride I have for my tribe, my people and my heritage,” Titman, who is a member of the Pit River Tribe, told the Fresno Bee earlier. “When I have feathers on, I’m connected with ancestors before me.”
