What is there to look forward to?

[Feralpeg]

I was just looking at a website for a local news station. They were posting graduation pictures that people sent in. Among the many photos of high school and college graduation were a bunch of kids graduating from pre-school and kindergarten. The kids were in caps and gowns.

I'm sorry, but I think it is ridiculous. What is there to look forward to if kids experience all of these things so young? First of all, I don't understand the graduation from pre-school, kindergarten, middle school thing at all. Why is this necessary? It wasn't done in my day.

While I'm on a rant, I also don't understand the formal gown thing for every dance in high school either. When I was in high school, that was what made prom so special. It was the only time you got to dress like that.

IMHO, these are things pushed by companies to get money out of people. No parent wants their kid to be the only one not to do these things, so we fork the money over. It is ludicrous.

What's next? Maybe little girls should starting dressing in bridle gowns for a fashion show. Some things kids should have to wait for. JMHO.

Rant over!

 

[carone0318]

What's next? Maybe little girls should starting dressing in bridle gowns for a fashion show. Some things kids should have to wait for. JMHO.

Rant over!

Oh, you're referring to 1st Communion.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It's hardly necessary, but I'm kind of looking forward to my DS' preschool graduation. It's lame, but heck, it'll be cute.

 

[Michie]

I was just looking at a website for a local news station. They were posting graduation pictures that people sent in. Among the many photos of high school and college graduation were a bunch of kids graduating from pre-school and kindergarten. The kids were in caps and gowns.

I'm sorry, but I think it is ridiculous. What is there to look forward to if kids experience all of these things so young? First of all, I don't understand the graduation from pre-school, kindergarten, middle school thing at all. Why is this necessary? It wasn't done in my day.

While I'm on a rant, I also don't understand the formal gown thing for every dance in high school either. When I was in high school, that was what made prom so special. It was the only time you got to dress like that.

IMHO, these are things pushed by companies to get money out of people. No parent wants their kid to be the only one not to do these things, so we fork the money over. It is ludicrous.

What's next? Maybe little girls should starting dressing in bridle gowns for a fashion show. Some things kids should have to wait for. JMHO.

Rant over!

They already do that! I agree with you, though!

 

[Marseeya]

I know what you mean. I'm so glad our schools don't do that.

 

[CEDmom]

Before my DD graduated from pre-k and kindergarten I was in complete agreement with you. While I don't think it's in anyway a necessary thing it was a great Kodak moment. She's not the type of kid that expects bigger and better things once she's experienced something. I highly doubt her HS or college graduation will be tarnished by her having gone through a 5 minute ceremony when she was 4 and 5.

BTW, for what it's worth HS graduates shouldn't be wearing a cap and gown either. It's actually only appropriate if you're receiving a degree.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I "graduated" from pre-school many years ago. This is not a new phenomenon. My daughter proudly graduated from Kindergarten this past Monday.

I suppose what she has to look forward to is something a little more formal than the paper mortarboard she wore.


It was cute--she was proud, we were proud. No harm done and we haven't eclipsed any of her future milestones with this.

 

[AmazingGrace]

I just got back from Grace's kindergarten celebration. I think graduating kindergarten is a milestone, but I'm with the OP, that it can go too far. Our school did it well. the kids dressed up. Each class sang a son, the teacher made a speech, and certificates were given. It was nice.

 

[Aidensmom]

I can't believe some people would be so proud of their Pre-K graduates! Some people even have the pictures in their signature.

 

[Becky2005]

I agree! Heck, I didn't even know my 8th grade dance WAS considered a graduation sort of event! The school didn't tell us, I just thought it was a dance that we got because we were 8th graders. I realized it when they handed us certificates (which I promptly forgot there and got it the next day at school along with all the other kids that didn't go to the dance). That was WAY BACK WHEN.

We don't have pre-school, kindergarten graduations here and I'm not quite
sure what 8th graders do here in this town. I do know they have a dance but not sure if there is more than that (my 9 year old's friend has an 8th grade brother, so I've been getting bits & pieces).

I do like what our Kindergarten does though, they put on a little show for the parents and that is basically their end of the year event, even though it was a couple weeks ago and we still have a bit more to go.

We don't have a graduation ceremony for 5th graders either (the kids have a 5th grade picnic)..since that is the end of elementary school here.

I already know if my DD does have an 8th grade graduation, there won't be any party for her for that (we need to save our money to get back to Disney. ), we will probably just go out to Dairy Queen like we do every year at the end of the school year.

 

[va32h]

What is there to look forward to if kids experience all of these things so young?

I feel the same way about the all-night parties, limos, and expensive dresses for proms, but I get roundly booed off the board whenever I bring that up.

Some parents have no patience for the ordinary course of life. They want to play dress up with their daughters and have the fun of prom-shopping, even if the girl is only 12, and the dance is a jr. high mixer, not a prom.

My son's class had a kindergarten "graduation" of sorts. It was an assembly in the cafeteria, and each teacher presented her class and said something nice and specific about each individual student, then they received their certificates and were "passed" to the first grade. No caps or gowns. It was sweet.

And I think some kind of remembrance for kindergarten is fine - it's a momentous event for most kids - finishing their first year of school.

But I think there shouldn't be any more graduations til 8th grade. Our school district has a 5th graduation also, which I think is odd. (But check back in a year when my daughter is a 5th grader and see if I still feel that way!)

 

[miss missy]

I think those graduations are stupid too. It aint over till its over ..12th grade!

My rant would be those dances they have for grades 5 and up.. at the Y and schools ... sorry but what the he@@ are they thinking! There is nothing good it setting small kids up in adult situations, and boys and girls at a dance is an adult situationnot for lil kids! Frankly it is sick!

Why are we having kids learn that stuff so darn young! Wrong wrong wrong!

 

[ryka]

My daughter is graduating Kindegarten this year. We had to pay $16 for the cap and gown. Each class will sing a song and they will recieve diplomas. This is even more special to me because I graduated from kindergarten from the same school and my teacher is now my daughter's class supervisor. She won't get to graduate again until 8th grade.

 

[Bob Slydell]

There is nothing good it setting small kids up in adult situations, and boys and girls at a dance is an adult situationnot for lil kids! Frankly it is sick!

Boys and girls at a dance is an ADULT situation? How many adults go to mixers?

 

[luvmydogs]

As a former preschool teacher, I must say that I loved seeing all my kids in their little caps and gowns--if we could ever get half the kids to leave the caps *on*! Cute, sweet and innocent, and no matter how many years I taught, seeing those little ones singing their graduation song, and they and their parents looking so happy and proud never failed to make me well up.

 

[Beth76]

I totally agree. Fortunately, my son didn't "graduate" pre-k. I don't know about Kindergarten though. If they do, I'll of course go and be proud. I'll ooh and ahh and take pictures. But, I would be totally fine if they didn't have one. I certainly hope that I wouldn't have to pay for a cap and gown though.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well considering we now live in a society where the average 17 year old going to Prom will spend 4 times what my first car cost -

yeah, kids are big business these days.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

What's wrong with the graduation ceremonies?
the kids enjoy it. It makes kids feel special that they
going to the "big school'


i'm sorry but if you let these things bother people , lighten up

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Boys and girls at a dance is an ADULT situation? How many adults go to mixers?

Maybe they need chaperones at those dances.

 

[JVL1018]

My daughter "graduated" from preschool last year-no gowns, and the caps we parents made. It was adorable!
Like someone said this is not new, I have pictures of my husband graduating from preschool 34 years ago. He was still thrilled to graduate college, believe me. LOL

I had a ceremony when I left middle school in 7th grade(no caps and gowns, but dresses and sports coats for the kids) and <gasp> a dance in the school cafeteria.
It was fun, it didn't make us jaded or not appreciative of high school graduation or our senior prom.

My son will be having his promotion ceremony into PreK 4-5 in a couple of weeks and I will be there taking pictures with a smile on my face.
DD doens't have a K graduation because here all "graduations" are for grades that are leaving the school.
She is putting on a big K show and I can not wait!!