Friday I attended a 5th grade "graduation"...I didn't even know such a thing existed. 7 of the 9 5th graders I coached in basketball this past season were "graduating" from this particular elementary school and I had some parents ask if I would/could attend, so I did. Between 90-100 kids, couldn't get the exact count...took 1:45 hours. While I am glad/happy with the accomplishments of the kids...5 of the 7 were on the all "A" honor roll, and one of the others won the "leadership" award for the boys, I have to say I don't get all the graduation stuff now a days. Had a 5th grade dad tell me this is the 5th graduation ceremony his child has participated in so far in his school career. What the heck?

It's the everyone gets a trophy mentality.

Last week, at my daughter's 8th grade graduation, they gave out multiple awards from every teacher in every subject: Work Ethic Award, Positive Person Award, etc. There were 400+ students (who will all be together again next year, only in a different building down the road at the high school). Why do we need these types of awards? Out of the 1,000 awards given out, a large majority of them were band members, which was cool. The only problem is that they were stationed all the way in the back of the gym because they were performing. It probably took an extra 20 minutes because each one had to walk the length of the gym multiple times to get their awards.

 

I agree with High School and College graduations. They're milestones. But please keep it efficient. I've gone to dozens of my kids' 5th grade/8th grade graduations and absolutely hated each event because I felt it was pointless.

I would gladly attend a ceremony celebrating either of my grandkids graduations at any level. People don't complain about watching 3 year Olds play soccer or basketball, but complain when they graduate to the next grade? Whatever keeps them motivated to keep furthering their education, I'll be there m

It's the everyone gets a trophy mentality.

 

Beat me to it! Thought they were calling some of them 'promotions" versus graduations?

Some of you know my health isn't great. I've missed so many graduations, all state choir, all state band concert,plays, concerts, sports senior nights, academic sports competitions of the grandchildren. However, I have not missed a single one's High School Academic Awards Night or Graduation. I WISH I could have been there for every single one. Thanks to new technology, I've watched a lot after and some even in real time. And I too cannot believe the way people act at these ceremonies.

I would gladly attend a ceremony celebrating either of my grandkids graduations at any level. People don't complain about watching 3 year Olds play soccer or basketball, but complain when they graduate to the next grade? Whatever keeps them motivated to keep furthering their education, I'll be there m

 

Thanks for putting things in perspective. I never thought about it that way.

On 8th grade graduations especially from parochial schools---this is a tradition that goes back a long, long time. Way back when, school ended for many at 8th grade. My dad is 89 and he recalls that not everyone in his small 8th grade class went on to high school. For many students, they had to get jobs to help the family, or work on the farm, or take care of younger siblings. So 8th grade graduation marked a big time in their lives.

On 8th grade graduations especially from parochial schools---this is a tradition that goes back a long, long time. Way back when, school ended for many at 8th grade. My dad is 89 and he recalls that not everyone in his small 8th grade class went on to high school. For many students, they had to get jobs to help the family, or work on the farm, or take care of younger siblings. So 8th grade graduation marked a big time in their lives.

 

I graduated from 8th grade. It was a big deal back then. I remember my grandfather led the opening and closing prayers. If fact, I believe it was the last 8th grade graduation at Rockholds Elementary. The next year Whitley County Middle school opened and Rockholds dropped back to K through 6th grade. My father attended high school there back in the late 30's and early 40's. I don't think the building is even there, now.

On 8th grade graduations especially from parochial schools---this is a tradition that goes back a long, long time. Way back when, school ended for many at 8th grade. My dad is 89 and he recalls that not everyone in his small 8th grade class went on to high school. For many students, they had to get jobs to help the family, or work on the farm, or take care of younger siblings. So 8th grade graduation marked a big time in their lives.

 

I agree. My dad never went past 6th grade. He never even got his GED until after he retired. He was adamant we do well in school and graduate high school. He never missed an academic awards ceremony or graduation of his kids or his grandkids.

 

I think that even though life is easier for most of us, many kids don't have parents like those of us on BGP. When we are there supporting our kids/grandkids, take time to celebrate all the other kids. They may need it more, and that little bit of motivation may be what keeps them going.

 

As I have mentioned before, my daughter in law teaches at Doss. She has said she has students who are homeless, and she has students who have parents in jail. She has students who somehow managed to get passed along through each grade by uncaring teachers and they can't read at a middle school level, let alone senior level in high school. Some kids have great parents who work several jobs, and are just not able to be as involved as they'd like. We both just wondered how things could have been for them if someone had expressed pride in their accomplishments.

 

One of her best students is an ESL student. She's a Syrian refugee. She lived in Turkey with her mother and brothers and sisters in a refugee camp. Her father had left them a long time ago in Syria and come to the US. He remarried and had another family, but three years ago offered to bring ONE of his children to the US if allowed. So, after arriving in Turkey, the mother and siblings decided she would have the best chance to get a good education. So, after 16 months, she arrives here to live with a father she barely remembers, and a family she's never met, and having to learn a new language and begin American school. I hope someone is there to celebrate with her.

I would gladly attend a ceremony celebrating either of my grandkids graduations at any level. People don't complain about watching 3 year Olds play soccer or basketball, but complain when they graduate to the next grade? Whatever keeps them motivated to keep furthering their education, I'll be there m

Agree. I go to all and celebrate all. Who are we to judge the significance of a child's accomplishment? How do we know the work put in to get there. And finally, what if this one "graduation/promotion" is the last one they ever have? You never know what tomorrow will bring.

#noregrets

Speaking of graduations... I went to one last night and it was something to see.

 

There were direct orders several times for parents/the audience to be silent while the kids names were announced and to hold applause til the end. Well you began to notice that the families of the students graduating with C laude, S laude, M laude etc... were all very respectful and followed the rules and watched in silence as their child went across the stage.

 

The rules went out the window when the students graduating without honors came across the stage. It felt like we were at a concert at points... it was embarrassing honestly. The people wondering why the younger generations are the way that they are probably need to take a look in the mirror at who raised them. The most simple directions and adults cannot even follow them. The only excuse I could come up with is that this is the only person in their entire extended family that had an education so they felt the need to scream like wild hillbillies.

 

Another example, end of the ceremony the principal asks that everyone stay seated until the students have exited the arena. As soon as he finished his sentence 3 different families in front of us stood up and walked out of the arena. It was unbelievable.

 

I'm with you, the adults are embarrassing. I attended WV's graduation and once one family started it was on. I must say the Principal did one heck of a job, eventually firing back humerus one liners to the offenders. That dampened my embarrassment for those adults.

If I can make it within my schedule, I'll go to a HS or college graduation. The idea of celebrating a graduation from MS or below is just silly to me. Times change. You can't drop out of school to go work on the family farm anymore because the concept of making a living off a family farm just doesn't exist.

 

By the same token, I don't get especially worked up for people making a big deal out of junior (not mine; theirs) playing for the JV, frosh, MS or below district/conference championship. Come see me when it's varsity time. I have no time for these things.

 

Call me jaded. It fits.

Graduation is a time to reflect and revel in celebration watching our children grow and experience and accomplish. If I’m able, I wouldn’t miss ANY of my child’s graduations for the world.

I can do without the air horn at a MS graduation. Won't be long before we get wanded going into these events because a few knuckleheads can't follow the rules.