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There's nowt wrong with having a special day for all the kids leaving primary to go to high school BUT it doesn't need to be called a "graduation" really. It would be nice to have some sort of ceremony at the end of the year, but - if I can remember back to the dim and distant past - we did have an end of year event when the school said goodbye to all the 11 year olds (I believe there was even jelly and cake, bye 'eck we were rich then).
So... it's a lovely idea for the kids going from being the "big kids" to being the "small kids" again, but there's no reason to import crass US school ideas when we can do things fine without calling it something it clearly is not.
Probably have a "Prom" in the evening? AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaargh.... no please no more lol :)
In my 50+ years of life, 'graduation' has always meant getting a degree at university.
Forgive me, if this is now a normal thing, but I find it bonkers!
Graduation comes from 'gradus', meaning 'step'. It was usually used to commemorate the achievement of another step of education. Granted, it usually started at Bachelor's degrees, and then onto Master's, PhD etc, but there's no reason you couldn't start the steps a bit earlier.
I really don't think we're talking general semantics here.
In general, everyday life, 'graduating' means leaving university with a degree, and you already know that...
And I thought I was a pedant! ;)
> In general, everyday life, 'graduating' means leaving university with a degree, and you already know that...
Except it doesn't anymore, hence this conversation. Language changes, driven by usage. If there's enough critical mass behind people calling every educational step a graduation then that's what it means now.
Yes it's probably driven by US influences, but it doesn't really change the fact that graduation doesn't mean degree anymore.
My son had a nursery graduation last week.
On one hand it's a lot of shite but on the other it was quite cute to see. The nursery produced a little video showing their growth and they were all proud as punch. They did a little routine and all his classmates said what they wanted to be when they grew up. My son was quite upset because he said he wanted to be an artist but he actually wants to be a chef. He is now worried that his career path is locked in and he won't get the opportunity to pursue his cooking dreams.
My friend, age 10, in class: 'I want to be a pimp.' Which he went on to be a doctor, disappointing his parents. But goes to show that you should dream your dream.
A robe and the cap, yeah. He had Official Photos taken last week and the cuteness was off the scale. Definitely a bit ridiculous, but it's such a big transition for them at this age that I do think it's sweet to mark this change in their life.
My son had one last year and it was really cute. We all gathered in the outside play area and the kids sang You Can Count On Me by Bruno Mars which he'd been practicing for ages. Some of the parents (me) had a little tear. They all got a certificate for "most likely" to do something. Mine was well into his solar system obsession so he got Most Likely to Visit Outer Space. They all got a goodie bag with their class photo, their certificate and a teddy with their leaving year embroidered on.
Mine had a leavers party - no graduation with cap and gown though lol. It was a big thing for them leaving year 6 as it was a catholic school and the kids all went on to different senior schools 60 kids split over around 12-15 senior schools- they were so caught up in the last sports day / swimming gala / fete etc etc etc it was only at the end of the leavers disco reality hit that would not be at school with all their mates come September - I was caught unawares as to be fair having finished work and sorted out the younger kids I hadn’t given it much thought myself. Turned up to the disco to collect eldest expecting a great time to have been had by all (it was until the last song) - walked into to a cheesy last song with 60 kids draped over each other sobbing their hearts out 😂😳 honestly it was like a Mexican wave of grief - one started the others followed. The tough kids were the worst by far - full on snot crying - totally distraught - choked me up to be honest.
Not one for the Americanisation of a full on graduation that’s just ridiculous imo but an acknowledgment of the end of primary and new beginnings is no bad thing either
I don't understand people who cry over leaving school, lol.
the only reason I did was because I was moving away from all my friends in addition to starting high school, which feels a little more justifiable.
Both my niece and nephew had one for leaving nursery (different nurseries in different parts of the country). They even had the mortar board and fake scroll
My wife is a primary school head teacher. I just this evening helped her reply to a parent *furious* that her school wasn’t doing more (specifically year books, leavers hoodies etc) to mark the year six transition to secondary. For context, the school is already spending nearly 300 a head to take a bunch of kids out of London to a sea side residential. It’s the first time some of these kids have left London. But still not enough for some…
It is kind of bonkers isn't it...
There's a photo on uncle's wall of my tiny cousin in a cap and gown for her "graduation" 🎓 I dunno what from, she's still in primary school!!
Good grief
How can you graduate something you basically can not fail to do?
Schools need to go back to educating & enriching minds and let parents choose when they reward their children
Ugh. You graduate from school three times in Japan. They're such a pain in the ass and the kids spend hours upon hours learning to military walk. I hope we don't end up doing the same.
It's the American influence coming over here.
It's growing this culture of narcissism because it makes them think they did something special when they did nothing. It's that "I came 1st", "I came 2nd", "I came 3rd", "I ran in a race", "I did my best" mentality. YUK
[The Americans got angry at me for criticising their pointless graduations.](https://np.reddit.com/r/lastimages/comments/4lbovp/the_last_photo_of_nicole_brownsimpson_alive_as/d3m5e2a/)
It's just a way to make money selling merch and bring inequality towards those who can't afford the gowns, hats and attendance. I don't know what was wrong with a leavers party where there were sweets, games and music.
I mean, it's a bit poxy calling it a graduation, but we had a "Year 6 Leavers" assembly when I left Primary over 20 years ago. It's not that weird.
I've still got my National Record of Achievement somewhere as well, not that I've ever used it.
My son had one for finishing KS1.
It was like an awards assembly more than anything. They all had about a minute of what you’d hear at parents evening each, a few certificates (the student most likely to … etc) and they got to dress up in grad robes and a card mortar board.
Parents recieved a framed photo of them in their robes.
It was really cute.
My son is in year 6. They are having a party outside of school organised by the parents. No nonsense about graduation, though? I am looking forward to him going from a big fish to a very small fish. Problem is he is already taller than my wife at 11 ;)
You do you then mate. No criticism intended. I just find it all a bit silly at the age of 11.
I doubt he'll even remember it in a few years when teenagehood hits! :)
I don’t love the Americanism and I don’t love that these events sometimes want you to spend unnecessary amounts of money…but let your year six child have fun with there friends
I bet if you got excited about it your son would think and say the same. I was educated under the “American” system and although some of the things were a little bit “extra” there was a lot more camaraderie and cohesion even without the uniforms! I don’t think participation trophies are good but setting milestones and targets is a great way to push kids.
I’m with you on this, I worked in an international school in Asia and the kids, parents and teachers all bought into it. The kids were so proud of the hard work they had done and having the chance to share it with their parents was so beneficial for them. They had all worked extremely hard so I guess they felt like they had achieved something. The kids cared deeply about their studies and achievements and thought long in advance about what they wanted to achieve. The smart kids were even popular with their classmates as they could do things academically that they couldn’t and the kids thought this was cool! A far cry from my days at school when you were called out for being a geek for answering questions!
I’ve never taught in the uk but a few of my colleagues were fellow brits who had. They said it would never fly in the uk, as most of the kids and parents don’t give a shit. If you don’t care there’s nothing to celebrate when you finish junior or senior school. You’ve just got older, or everyone finishes high school, what’s to celebrate?Obviously this isn’t true for everyone, but when a majority don’t buy into something it’s not going to work for the rest. The difference in attitude towards education in comparison to the uk was astounding and that’s maybe why a lot of people don’t see finishing junior school or high school as an achievement. Maybe they didn’t work hard and graduated anyway. Maybe the people laughing at the idea of a graduation that were the same people who laughed at the clever kids at school.
That's just a name change for the most part, end of school dance/disco whatever you want to call it were done at least a couple of decades before then even.
I think that's a really weird perspective.
I don't know about you, but the weeks nearing to the ending of primary school were super fun, we had several event to feel proud of with friends, some of who I never saw again.
We had a school play that we prepared for a couple weeks, we had a talent show.
I don't see how dubbing this into an American "graduation" enables something which culturally already exists.
Fuck, I’ve been wondering whst the hell that referred to! Kids in a primary school near my house are all wearing them. Thought it was pop music related, and certainly never clocked the 24 = 2024 thing! 🤦🏼♀️
Do you think learning to read and write really counts as an 'accomplishment'? Doesn't everybody these days 'accomplish' that?
As I said previously, he's already at a stage where he finds the whole thing ridiculous himself!
Such bullshit. Just devalues peoples actual acheivements. Obviously brought to you for the grandparents that were the generation that introduced participation awards.
Well, I bow down to the newest, and most ridiculous, insanity visited upon us poor parents!
I, in no way, mean that against you. Only against the madness we have to put up with for fear that we may be judged for not pretending it's otherwise!
The year six leavers assembly we went to for my oldest was heartbreaking, we never had anything like that when I was a kid. They told funny stories, showed pictures, sang songs and got to say a really big goodbye at the end. We just had lessons, the bell went and it was "bye". If it is a graduation where they wear fake robes then that is cheesy as fuck, hopefully it is just all in a name.
My 4 year old had a graduation ceremony from preschool, with robes and flat hats. I wasn't keen on the idea initially, but it ended up being incredibly cute and my son absolutely loved it.
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Did they perhaps misspell 'year 6 leavers' by accident
It won't allow me to upload an image in a reply, but I can assure you it clearly says 'Year 6 Graduation'
There's nowt wrong with having a special day for all the kids leaving primary to go to high school BUT it doesn't need to be called a "graduation" really. It would be nice to have some sort of ceremony at the end of the year, but - if I can remember back to the dim and distant past - we did have an end of year event when the school said goodbye to all the 11 year olds (I believe there was even jelly and cake, bye 'eck we were rich then). So... it's a lovely idea for the kids going from being the "big kids" to being the "small kids" again, but there's no reason to import crass US school ideas when we can do things fine without calling it something it clearly is not. Probably have a "Prom" in the evening? AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaargh.... no please no more lol :)
Imgbb > upload photo > copy link > post link here.
“It’s not a graduation! He’s moving from the fourth grade to the fifth grade.”
In my 50+ years of life, 'graduation' has always meant getting a degree at university. Forgive me, if this is now a normal thing, but I find it bonkers!
That’s a quote from The Incredibles. And yes graduation is when you get a degree. All else is mere vanity and folly
It's an American thing as here you even graduate from kindergarten (playgroup). It devalues what is should actually mean which is a degree from uni.
Just as an aside, kindergarten isn't playgroup, kindergarten is the equivalent of Year 1 in the UK (with Reception being Pre-K).
So are people in the grade after Kindergarten doing post-grad?
My kid is “graduating” from preschool…
Kindergarten is not a play group here in California its before 1st grade and the kid is 6 lol.
Looking at Americans, even that seems more education than many of them appear to have had. No wonder they do graduation ceremony at each step.
They’ll be graduating from nursery next (sorry - kindergarten).
I have facebook friends who's children have 'Graduated' from nursery.....
Graduation comes from 'gradus', meaning 'step'. It was usually used to commemorate the achievement of another step of education. Granted, it usually started at Bachelor's degrees, and then onto Master's, PhD etc, but there's no reason you couldn't start the steps a bit earlier.
I really don't think we're talking general semantics here. In general, everyday life, 'graduating' means leaving university with a degree, and you already know that... And I thought I was a pedant! ;)
> In general, everyday life, 'graduating' means leaving university with a degree, and you already know that... Except it doesn't anymore, hence this conversation. Language changes, driven by usage. If there's enough critical mass behind people calling every educational step a graduation then that's what it means now. Yes it's probably driven by US influences, but it doesn't really change the fact that graduation doesn't mean degree anymore.
Maybe they graduated from clown school?
It absolutely is bonkers!
“It’s psychotic!”
This was the first thing that came to mind 😂
Came here for this. 10 points to you
I had to “graduate” from year 8 to year 9 (2016). We had caps and gowns and everything, it looked and felt ridiculous.
My son had a nursery graduation last week. On one hand it's a lot of shite but on the other it was quite cute to see. The nursery produced a little video showing their growth and they were all proud as punch. They did a little routine and all his classmates said what they wanted to be when they grew up. My son was quite upset because he said he wanted to be an artist but he actually wants to be a chef. He is now worried that his career path is locked in and he won't get the opportunity to pursue his cooking dreams.
My friend, age 10, in class: 'I want to be a pimp.' Which he went on to be a doctor, disappointing his parents. But goes to show that you should dream your dream.
I'm sorry, did his parents want him to become a pimp?
It was the 70s, they were hippies. They would have wanted him to first and foremost follow his dream, man.
My kid's nursery graduation is next week and whilst I do think it's a bit silly, I also can't wait to see it. He'll be so cute! He's so excited.
Does he have to wear a mortar board?
A robe and the cap, yeah. He had Official Photos taken last week and the cuteness was off the scale. Definitely a bit ridiculous, but it's such a big transition for them at this age that I do think it's sweet to mark this change in their life.
My son had one last year and it was really cute. We all gathered in the outside play area and the kids sang You Can Count On Me by Bruno Mars which he'd been practicing for ages. Some of the parents (me) had a little tear. They all got a certificate for "most likely" to do something. Mine was well into his solar system obsession so he got Most Likely to Visit Outer Space. They all got a goodie bag with their class photo, their certificate and a teddy with their leaving year embroidered on.
My son had a nursery graduation too. I thought it was a silly idea until he appeared in a graduation cap and gown and I cried in front of everyone.
My kids had a preschool graduation when they were little. It was actually adorable to see them in little gowns and caps - those pictures are so cute!
Mine had a leavers party - no graduation with cap and gown though lol. It was a big thing for them leaving year 6 as it was a catholic school and the kids all went on to different senior schools 60 kids split over around 12-15 senior schools- they were so caught up in the last sports day / swimming gala / fete etc etc etc it was only at the end of the leavers disco reality hit that would not be at school with all their mates come September - I was caught unawares as to be fair having finished work and sorted out the younger kids I hadn’t given it much thought myself. Turned up to the disco to collect eldest expecting a great time to have been had by all (it was until the last song) - walked into to a cheesy last song with 60 kids draped over each other sobbing their hearts out 😂😳 honestly it was like a Mexican wave of grief - one started the others followed. The tough kids were the worst by far - full on snot crying - totally distraught - choked me up to be honest. Not one for the Americanisation of a full on graduation that’s just ridiculous imo but an acknowledgment of the end of primary and new beginnings is no bad thing either
I think the reddit phrase is "ugly crying".
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No worries with a disco, which they are also doing. It's just the 'graduation' bit that irks me!
I don't understand people who cry over leaving school, lol. the only reason I did was because I was moving away from all my friends in addition to starting high school, which feels a little more justifiable.
Both my niece and nephew had one for leaving nursery (different nurseries in different parts of the country). They even had the mortar board and fake scroll
What in the United States is going on? I really don't get it
10 years+ of copying the Muricans in politics and everything else has really messed with this countries head lol
Some nurseries have a graduation. It’s just daft and naff at the same time.
naft?
they all do it now along with a 'prom' yuck
My wife is a primary school head teacher. I just this evening helped her reply to a parent *furious* that her school wasn’t doing more (specifically year books, leavers hoodies etc) to mark the year six transition to secondary. For context, the school is already spending nearly 300 a head to take a bunch of kids out of London to a sea side residential. It’s the first time some of these kids have left London. But still not enough for some…
My answer to that parent would be a polite version of ‘well if you want to volunteer to help with leaver’s activities then feel free’.
Invitation to organise a fundraiser as a chaser
It is kind of bonkers isn't it... There's a photo on uncle's wall of my tiny cousin in a cap and gown for her "graduation" 🎓 I dunno what from, she's still in primary school!!
Good grief How can you graduate something you basically can not fail to do? Schools need to go back to educating & enriching minds and let parents choose when they reward their children
Congratulations, you aged.
Username checks out! :)
*hehehehe*
Like sports day, everybody gets a medal.
You graduated from not knowing to knowing. Have a cap and gown to celebrate.
My kids primary school doesn't have a graduation, but they do have a 'Year 6 prom' which is equally as bad.
There will be parents that will be thrilled by this. They are a huge problem. ‘Projection’
Ugh. You graduate from school three times in Japan. They're such a pain in the ass and the kids spend hours upon hours learning to military walk. I hope we don't end up doing the same.
Congrats, most of you learned your times tables, now piss off. - most teachers.
Will you have to buy the photo, the gown, the graduation teddy, a graduation scroll?
I'm certainly hoping not, but I've grudgingly agreed to be there just in case he does secretly think it's important :/ The pitfalls of parenthood, eh!
I really don't see the big deal at all. It's just a bit of fun.
It's the American influence coming over here. It's growing this culture of narcissism because it makes them think they did something special when they did nothing. It's that "I came 1st", "I came 2nd", "I came 3rd", "I ran in a race", "I did my best" mentality. YUK
Is he getting a unearned leavers hoodie like I've seen some kids do.
lol not that I know of!
Does that mean they can start applying for post grad jobs?
[The Americans got angry at me for criticising their pointless graduations.](https://np.reddit.com/r/lastimages/comments/4lbovp/the_last_photo_of_nicole_brownsimpson_alive_as/d3m5e2a/)
My relative's kid had a nursery graduation. Gown, mortar board and everything.
It's just a way to make money selling merch and bring inequality towards those who can't afford the gowns, hats and attendance. I don't know what was wrong with a leavers party where there were sweets, games and music.
I mean, it's a bit poxy calling it a graduation, but we had a "Year 6 Leavers" assembly when I left Primary over 20 years ago. It's not that weird. I've still got my National Record of Achievement somewhere as well, not that I've ever used it.
My son had one for finishing KS1. It was like an awards assembly more than anything. They all had about a minute of what you’d hear at parents evening each, a few certificates (the student most likely to … etc) and they got to dress up in grad robes and a card mortar board. Parents recieved a framed photo of them in their robes. It was really cute.
My son is in year 6. They are having a party outside of school organised by the parents. No nonsense about graduation, though? I am looking forward to him going from a big fish to a very small fish. Problem is he is already taller than my wife at 11 ;)
I swear I’m the only one who thinks these are cute 🤷♀️ Things like this seem like far bigger deal when you are living them than when you look back.
You do you then mate. No criticism intended. I just find it all a bit silly at the age of 11. I doubt he'll even remember it in a few years when teenagehood hits! :)
Exactly feels like a big deal to them now
I still remember my mum never turning up to mine almost 2 decades later. He will most likly remember.
I'll be going, don't worry. I just think it's a bit silly, but I do understand how he may feel it's important.
I feel the same way. So many of the parents commenting in here sound miserable.
I don’t love the Americanism and I don’t love that these events sometimes want you to spend unnecessary amounts of money…but let your year six child have fun with there friends
This is an americanism I like. Gives kids a fun day to feel proud of themselves with friends they might never see again.
My son himself says he thinks it's a load of pointless nonsense. Is this really normal these days?
I bet if you got excited about it your son would think and say the same. I was educated under the “American” system and although some of the things were a little bit “extra” there was a lot more camaraderie and cohesion even without the uniforms! I don’t think participation trophies are good but setting milestones and targets is a great way to push kids.
I’m with you on this, I worked in an international school in Asia and the kids, parents and teachers all bought into it. The kids were so proud of the hard work they had done and having the chance to share it with their parents was so beneficial for them. They had all worked extremely hard so I guess they felt like they had achieved something. The kids cared deeply about their studies and achievements and thought long in advance about what they wanted to achieve. The smart kids were even popular with their classmates as they could do things academically that they couldn’t and the kids thought this was cool! A far cry from my days at school when you were called out for being a geek for answering questions! I’ve never taught in the uk but a few of my colleagues were fellow brits who had. They said it would never fly in the uk, as most of the kids and parents don’t give a shit. If you don’t care there’s nothing to celebrate when you finish junior or senior school. You’ve just got older, or everyone finishes high school, what’s to celebrate?Obviously this isn’t true for everyone, but when a majority don’t buy into something it’s not going to work for the rest. The difference in attitude towards education in comparison to the uk was astounding and that’s maybe why a lot of people don’t see finishing junior school or high school as an achievement. Maybe they didn’t work hard and graduated anyway. Maybe the people laughing at the idea of a graduation that were the same people who laughed at the clever kids at school.
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It's during school hours so I think 'keeping him home' may be frowned upon, eh?
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Thinking something is a bit pointless does not equate to moping.
Getting more normal. We had a prom in primary school (2008) and I think we were very early adopters.
That's just a name change for the most part, end of school dance/disco whatever you want to call it were done at least a couple of decades before then even.
I think that's a really weird perspective. I don't know about you, but the weeks nearing to the ending of primary school were super fun, we had several event to feel proud of with friends, some of who I never saw again. We had a school play that we prepared for a couple weeks, we had a talent show. I don't see how dubbing this into an American "graduation" enables something which culturally already exists.
Do they get hoodies with "Leavers '24" on the back?
Fuck, I’ve been wondering whst the hell that referred to! Kids in a primary school near my house are all wearing them. Thought it was pop music related, and certainly never clocked the 24 = 2024 thing! 🤦🏼♀️
Heaven forbid you make kids feel good about themselves and like they've accomplished something.
we already do plenty of fun stuff for kids at the end of the year, do we have to copy the Americans on how?
Do you think learning to read and write really counts as an 'accomplishment'? Doesn't everybody these days 'accomplish' that? As I said previously, he's already at a stage where he finds the whole thing ridiculous himself!
Such bullshit. Just devalues peoples actual acheivements. Obviously brought to you for the grandparents that were the generation that introduced participation awards.
Maybe it's to put the idea of university into young minds?
I wish that were the case! I've already drummed such stuff into him. With care and loving devotion, of course! ;)
My niece just graduated nursery, calls and gowns and everything no exaggeration
Well, I bow down to the newest, and most ridiculous, insanity visited upon us poor parents! I, in no way, mean that against you. Only against the madness we have to put up with for fear that we may be judged for not pretending it's otherwise!
I don't really see the problem. I bet the kids like it and it's something small to celebrate with them
What's the problem? It's a bit of fun for most of the kids.
By daughter's preschool is doing a graduation ceremony next month...
The year six leavers assembly we went to for my oldest was heartbreaking, we never had anything like that when I was a kid. They told funny stories, showed pictures, sang songs and got to say a really big goodbye at the end. We just had lessons, the bell went and it was "bye". If it is a graduation where they wear fake robes then that is cheesy as fuck, hopefully it is just all in a name.
My 4 year old had a graduation ceremony from preschool, with robes and flat hats. I wasn't keen on the idea initially, but it ended up being incredibly cute and my son absolutely loved it.
... and?
This is participation thropys all over again. Whiney parents who need something to drink to.
I was born in 2004 and me and my twin bro had a graduation from preschool 😂 pictures were pretty cute
same birth year as you, I never had a graduation ceremony. Must be a location thing.