tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post2091878045858581393..comments2023-07-30T06:56:42.018-07:00Comments on Parenting is Political: A Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony: AwkwardStepfordTOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08340282997915000608noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-30530549477312337562011-10-17T19:41:44.869-07:002011-10-17T19:41:44.869-07:00Thanks for your comment, Mary. It's amazing th...Thanks for your comment, Mary. It's amazing that administrators and teachers can't see the problem with an awards system that leaves out a small minority of kids! I'm seriously considering sending a copy of this post and the comments to some principals I know, including the principal of my daughters' middle school. I'd prefer not to see a repetition of this nonsense in two years.StepfordTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08340282997915000608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-63040850321051591892011-10-16T20:10:28.533-07:002011-10-16T20:10:28.533-07:00About 75% of my son's 8th grade graduating cla...About 75% of my son's 8th grade graduating class received awards. Some children received four or five awards. I never received a straight answer from the teachers and administration as to why the awards ceremony is done this way. It was so awkward for the minority of students that didn't receive awards to sit there with their families. It's easy for people to say "work harder" but the fact is my son - like most of the rest of the handful of kids that didn't get awards, about 14 in a class of 64 - was on the honor roll, participated in after-school sports teams and has never been a discipline problem. But, like your E, he's a quiet kid that flies under the radar.maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13512252279490931490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-7259099220368454312011-08-16T22:22:26.822-07:002011-08-16T22:22:26.822-07:00Great post, thanks for sharing.
I don't agre...Great post, thanks for sharing. <br /><br />I don't agree with the way awards are given either, and I'm often in charge of who gets the "insert subject here" award! If I have to choose a student, it's based on ability, not on personality. But truly, I hate choosing, and I really loathe being forced to choose by the powers that be. <br /><br />Another thing I have never understood is Kindergarten graduation. It's essentially a photo op for anyone who comes to see their kindy "graduate". Not to mention that, in most cases, the kids aren't even changing schools.<br /><br />Graduation gets even crazier in grade 8, in some schools, with 13/14 year olds dressed up to look far older, complete with stretch SUVs with sparkling "wine" and prom like graduation after parties with little or no supervision. <br /><br />Cut out the awards, cut the speeches to a bare minimum, have one valedictorian for the entire grade, keep the ceremony simple and directed at the kids. It is for them, after all.Kat's Kuriositieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07881565364989165607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-73030910551764200172011-08-05T19:29:25.741-07:002011-08-05T19:29:25.741-07:00I struggled at my daughters 6th grade ceremony as ...I struggled at my daughters 6th grade ceremony as well. The awards that bothered me the most was "Most Improved". Isn't it a nice way of saying you suck less now than you did at the beginning of the year?Julie Cobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13576337549645763046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-46433056905961155002011-08-04T08:08:40.957-07:002011-08-04T08:08:40.957-07:00amoment2think: Yes, "spirit"-based award...amoment2think: Yes, "spirit"-based awards are the most suspect, but awards in general may not be appropriate at this type of event. Some educators have suggested that it's better to separate the "grad" ceremony from the awards ceremony, and I think I agree. That way, at least all kids can enjoy one of the ceremonies! Though I'm not sure kids at this stage or age really need much of a ceremony. This one was certainly overly long and over the top.StepfordTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08340282997915000608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-22401587297859787052011-08-03T21:03:10.741-07:002011-08-03T21:03:10.741-07:00Norm -- Exactly. I did not "graduate" fr...Norm -- Exactly. I did not "graduate" from Grade 6. I moved on to middle school. I wonder when "grad" ceremonies of this sort began to be viewed as de rigeur, and why. As a parent, I'd be happier if there were no ceremony at all, at this stage.StepfordTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08340282997915000608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-36619199540093068322011-08-03T19:30:32.357-07:002011-08-03T19:30:32.357-07:00Wow. I dont understand how so many well meaning pe...Wow. I dont understand how so many well meaning people could be so oblivious! I don't have a problem with awards per se- but I really don't agree with these 'spirit' based awards. Our education system already is bad enough about only rewarding (in terms of grades) certain types of learning styles and approaches... This just takes that even further!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17150624834351859306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-20522342467492538822011-08-03T15:06:26.946-07:002011-08-03T15:06:26.946-07:00A grade 6 graduation ceremony of this magnitude is...A grade 6 graduation ceremony of this magnitude is ludicrous to begin with. These kids are not graduating, they are moving to a different school.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00919656038053173105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-86126919335346904072011-08-03T13:48:31.107-07:002011-08-03T13:48:31.107-07:00Remi — Thanks so much for your comment. I think th...Remi — Thanks so much for your comment. I think the pageantry is for the parents. My hunch is that—at our school at least—it is what the administration thinks the parents want. But we don't. We want what's best for the kids, and what is best for 5th and 6th graders is the kind of low-key ceremony you describe above.StepfordTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08340282997915000608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7844167015224368882.post-67275773385009685022011-08-03T13:19:21.275-07:002011-08-03T13:19:21.275-07:00Thank you for sharing. I struggle with awards and...Thank you for sharing. I struggle with awards and honour roll at such a young age. For grade 6's to start being singled out in front of their peers can be humiliating on both sides, those who get them and those who don't. If the kids don't understand how the awards are given and valued why bother.<br />At my school I try to keep it simple for the grade 5s leaving. A simple leaving ceremony that says good-bye to them (as well as to staff who may be leaving/retiring), gives them all certificates, simple suggestions about the next level of school, a nice slide show showing all of the students over the course of the year along with some year-end choir songs can be done in about an hour. Simple. I don't understand the need for pageantry at this age. Is it for the parents or the kids?Remihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17627852226185370848noreply@blogger.com