With the story running in newspapers across the country, it seems just about everyone wants to weigh in on the story of an Escambia Academy graduate who defied school rules and wore a feather with her graduation cap as a nod to her Native American heritage.

EA officials have remained mum on the subject, however, and the girl and her family said she will gladly pay the fine assessed by the school for her breaking the rule.

We’re not sure if this is the end of the subject, but we do hope that school officials will work more closely with students in the future to make sure that traditions are respected — both school traditions and cultural traditions.

In the end, it harmed no one that Charity Ramer wore a feather alongside the tassle on her cap. In photos, it is barely visible.
But the fact is, the school had a policy against such adornments — not just those that were Native American.

We’re in both camps on this one. It’s hard not to admire a young woman who stands up for what she believes in — and for a culture that is so important to her and to her family.

But at the same time, it’s a lesson for everyone in consequences. The school had rules; they were in their rights not only to have them but to assess a penalty when those rules were broken.

We hope that in the future, the school will spell out a graduation policy that is respectful to everyone — and that students will respect that policy as well.