It's the end of the school year here, a month before it ends in France and the U.K. I have been deluged with graduation announcements, which is partly to be expected because I have nieces and nephews who are seniors this 
year. What I was not expecting is the big fuss made over: first grade graduation. Fifth grade graduation. Eighth-grade graduation. Ninth-grade graduation. Parties, class trips, presents for the teacher, huge ceremonies, instructions about what to wear.... when did this all celebration of banal milestones start?
My sister has three children and is a stay-at-home mother. She wrote, "There is a pool party, a DJ party/dance, a graduation ceremony, a 5th grade awards assembly, 5th grade trip, and a baby photo contest...I've had to spend $120 so far, and that doesn't include K's new dress and shoes!..I was in charge of a bake sale fundraiser that raised $450, which pays only for the DJ....I'm handling all the first grade stuff, such as the big picnic (potato sack races, rubber chicken relay, popsicles, face painting etc.) and creating a photo memory book for the teacher (using iPhoto). I find a lot of things fall to me because no one else wants to do them, or many of the mothers have full-time jobs...And every kids' activity has a end-of-year picnic, gift for the leader/coach/teacher, celebration -- three soccer teams, girl scouts, cub scouts, etc. It's fine for parents of only children. I can't wait for the school year to end."
I remember that there used to be 8th grade graduation. I think that was a holdover from the days when many farm kids were pulled out of school after 8th grade to help work the farm full time.
No one in my group has had these graduations, so I'm not sure why they have become so popular.
Posted by: nancy | 02 June 2007 at 00:34
Well they are not such banal milestones if it is you that are graduating from fifth or eighth grades. Especially if you are going to a new school.
Posted by: J.Doe | 02 June 2007 at 03:20
when our older son graduated from eighth grade several years ago, I was dumbfounded by the ceremonial hoopla. I mean, in our family, we EXPECT graduation from eighth grade, and high school, and college...though we did make a bit more fuss over the law school graduation, which is more the true extra-mile add-on!
Posted by: jadie | 02 June 2007 at 05:22
I do think the celebrations have gotten out of hand. On the other end of the spectrum, I think it's sad that the French do not celebrate milestone accomplishments such as passing the BAC or earning a university diploma. Considering the amount of actual work that goes into passing the BAC (since I moved here, I've had two nieces pass the BAC and a third who is taking part 2 this year and I literally didn't see them until the exams were over because they were constantly revising), I'd love to see more French kids get a little pat on the back, especially since not every student goes on to lycée, particularly out here in the countryside!
Posted by: Vivi | 02 June 2007 at 09:12
It is silly, the way the *celebration* of every possible school passage, has grown like topsy.
So what to do? The only way to *fight* this, is to 'not play along,' in the expected way. But, then there is the *wrath* of family, to worry about. Eeeek! :-))))
Guess I've been lucky. We haven't had tooooo much of this to contend with. And we have 5 Grands. :-)
Mari-Nanci
US
Posted by: Mari-Nanci | 02 June 2007 at 15:21
There's been talk of having American style high-school graduations over here in England but nothing has come out of it. As an American I sort of miss the lack of ceremony in British life (most weddings and university graduations are similiarly low key) but wow, you sure save a lot of money.
Posted by: kevin_m | 03 June 2007 at 13:27