WALKER, LA – After a post on the Facebook group Livingston Parish Rants & Raves criticized Walker High School for forcing seniors to buy brand-new caps and gowns instead of reusing family hand-me-downs, the school has implemented another policy that’s sure to be equally as popular. Starting this year, every graduate must purchase a $55 “Principal Handshake Token” to cross the stage and shake the principal’s hand.
The plastic coins, featuring the principal’s smiling face must be handed over seconds before the handshake, or the diploma will be withheld “pending verification.” Students with older siblings who walked in previous years are not exempt; the school confirmed that tokens from past ceremonies, including those exchanged for fist bumps, “expired immediately after service and cannot be revalidated.”
Administrators defended the policy, saying it ensures a “consistent handshake experience” and prevents “unregulated physical contact.” One school spokesperson explained, “Some of last year’s free handshakes lacked enthusiasm. We believe monetary commitment improves sincerity.”
Parents, however, are less convinced. One mom noted, “We already paid for a new gown, a tassel, and ‘approved air from the town of Walker’ for graduation balloons. Now we have to pay to touch the principal?”
The district has hinted that next year’s upgrades may include “deluxe handshakes with optional eye contact for premium members.” They also mentioned that 75% of the proceeds from the handshake token sales are going to purchase equipment for the Walker athletic program which is facing a major shortage after an incident last year.
