I was a little surprised at Sunday's Litchfield High School commencement exercises to see the relatively informal attire by quite a few Litchfield graduates.

T-shirts, shorts, guys wearing sandals, girls wearing jeans, even barefoot diploma recipients - it appears there was no dress requirements. Members of the band and choir looked were far more dressed up than some of the actual graduates.

Perhaps it is old fashioned to say so, but I think graduation should be a semi-formal event where graduates are asked to show a little more consideration in their dress than the regular school day. My brother's high school, which held graduation June 1, had a business-casual code, requesting males wear collared shirts or sweaters and no shorts, jeans or sandals, while the girls were asked to wear dresses, skirts or dress pants. Everyone wore shoes.

While requiring ties and dresses may be going too far, the school should consider some guidelines for its graduates, especially now that the high school gymnasium is air-conditioned and much cooler than past years.

While graduation may not be a big deal for some seniors who are just anxious to get away - and I can't blame them - the moment deserves a little decorum of respect. A business-casual dress code is not asking too much of graduates who have already done the hard work in getting to commencement day.