Class rings- still important, popular?

[luvsJack]

Although, dd will likely get both; if there had to be a choice between a jacket and a ring I would definitely say get the jacket.

Just like the rings, most of the kids here continue to wear them in college. And, at least the ones that our hs gets seem to be good quality. And very warm!

Its funny, yesterday the football team won the state championship. I have been seeing our school letterman jackets all over town today. Seems that everyone that ever had one has either dug it out to wear or has let their kid wear it. Seen some from the 60's and 70's!!!!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

In my hometown, the booster clubs buy kids their letterman jackets. The only exception for this is quiz bowl and academic letter jackets, I think. I know for athletics and band, the boosters buy them for the kids and always have. So it's not like kids have to choose, mostly. Maybe that's why the tradition is ongoing where I'm from.

 

[luvsJack]

In my hometown, the booster clubs buy kids their letterman jackets. The only exception for this is quiz bowl and academic letter jackets, I think. I know for athletics and band, the boosters buy them for the kids and always have. So it's not like kids have to choose, mostly. Maybe that's why the tradition is ongoing where I'm from.

Wow, that's nice! The alumni may purchase the football team's but nothing else.

 

[tar heel]

One of my three sons got one. I wonder where it is .... He wore it very little.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Wow, that's nice! The alumni may purchase the football team's but nothing else.

If they didn't, I doubt that a lot of the kids would be able to get one. This way it's not charity, it's the community taking care of its kids.

Just like your area, the kids wear their jackets for years and years and years. They're good heavy wool and leather. ETA: heck my DF is in his 80's and still wears his jacket to HS football games. Back then, the band only got woolen sweaters, so my DM keeps hers back for special occasions.

 

[chisnpeke]

I graduated from high school in 2007 and got my class ring midway through my freshman year (that's when they sold them to us). It was expensive but I wore it pretty much daily for the rest of high school. It is a bit tight on my finger now but I don't have much reason to wear it now anyway. I did not get a college class ring.

 

[meg39]

I graduated in 2011 and did not get one. All of the nerds got them and gave them to their significant others on a chain to symbolize their love. Precious. But not my cup of tea

 

[Imzadi]

My son did not want one when he graduated from HS. He is now a senior in college and mentioned that he would like a ring. They are expensive and will be his graduation present from DH and me. My Dh still wears his college ring.

When my DDs were in high school they chose not to get a "class ring" but chose a pretty ring that they could wear more often.

If she does get a class ring, it makes sense to get it as a sophomore. Like a high school letter jacket, most students I knew didn't wear their jacket/ring at college.

Yes, if DD is planning on going to college, more than likely she will not wear her HS ring. College rings are different. Get it while she will wear it, or not at all. You also mentioned she's not really a jewelry person. Also consider IF she will really wear it often after she's gotten it.

 

[trip]

I graduated in 2011 and did not get one. All of the nerds got them and gave them to their significant others on a chain to symbolize their love. Precious. But not my cup of tea

Ah the memories. When I was in high school the girls would wrap their boyfriends ring with angora yarn to compliment their outfit (so it would fit) but then wear it on a chain around their neck.

 

[MissManda]

We ordered a ring for our HS sophomore. I actually wasn't sure if they were that popular anymore but he was so excited about getting one. I'm not sure he had even really seen one before until then. My DH and I still have our HS rings (don't wear them anymore but they are around) and so he looked at ours and then he designed his own online and tweaked it. He was very into it. I think we paid about $250 for it.

He is very involved in school and plays football, weight lifts, in the ROTC and several other clubs. Most of his cloths that he wears are schools related, so he's pretty "team spirited". I felt it was okay to spend the money on the ring for him even though I know he'll probably only wear it up until he gets his college ring. This is an important time in his life and even if he doesn't wear it, its something he will always have to look back on this time and remember it.

Another local school just had their ring dance and apparently it was a formal. My DH and I were out for dinner and saw all these people coming in wearing formal dresses and tuxedo's. We overheard someone ask why they were dressed up and they said it was for a ring dance. I was pretty surprised by that. So I guess at that school rings are still a pretty big deal.

I will tell you, I can't remember the last time I saw someone wear a letterman's jacket around here. When I was in HS, you couldn't go anywhere without seeing one. I don't know if they aren't that popular anymore or if the kids are getting them but not actually wearing them (which sort of defeats the purpose). Who knows. Guess I will find that out soon enough!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I think they are a complete waste of money. Wait until they graduate for college.

 

[Arielle22]

My DDs graduated within the past 2 years. Neither wanted a ring. I got mine in the early 80s and wore it for a few years. I sold it for the gold a couple of years ago.

 

[MomofKatie]

Thanks for all the replies!

I asked DD if she really wanted one, and she didn't seem like it was a big deal. She is not very into school spirit, even though she plays varsity soccer and is in a few clubs. I told her to think about it, but if she decided she would like to order, she will pay half. She didn't appear to really want the ring.

I do like the Wal Mart or ArtCarved options. That way, if she decides after the deadline she would like a ring, we can still get one (and for a lower price, hopefully).

Latter jackets aren't at all a big deal here, so that isn't an option (I think I've only seen 1 or 2 kids wearing them in the last several years, and both were football players). We do order her the full warmup jacket/pants combo for soccer each year, and she wears them both constantly.

She will definitely be going on to college, so I'm sure all the high school Ts, warmups, etc won't be worn after senior year. Good idea to wait until college for a class ring. It will probably mean more to her then.

 

[crayon3448]

I got one (graduated 2003) but only wore it a few times, my mom still has hers from when she graduated from the same high school. Unfortunately my house was broken into last year and it was taken. Even though I didn't wear it, I still wished I had it.

 

[MooskaMinnie]

I teach juniors (the year my schools does class rings) - they just got their rings last week. VERY few students ordered them because of the cost and for the fact that they don't seem very popular in our neck of the woods.

 

[luvsJack]

I think it probably just is an individual high school thing. For some its popular, for some its not.

Like the letterman jackets. Around here you see them all the time. Of course, for a lot of folks around here, they go to the same high school their parents went to and their kids will go there too. So, its school pride thing.

It just a individual thing, whether its a waste of money or not. Both of my sons still have theirs and wear them sometimes. I have mine--doesn't fit or I would wear it. And dd is looking forward to getting her's.

Sounds like a lot of folks here are saying they would get the college ring. My boss still wears his, and the superintendent of the high school wears one. That's the only two college rings I have ever seen.