When did we start calling it "promotion" or "graduation" from various grades?

[Anonymous]

Keeps the kids excited for the end of the year rather than just watching a movie in every class. Also helps kids learn how to say goodbye and handle major transitions. Gets parents involved in education who may normally shy away completely.

Lots of reasons.

[Anonymous]

As a culture we've actually diminished a lot of rites of passage and celebrations that were around for millenia (like girls letting down their skirts to show they were adults and of marriagable age in the 1800s...we let that one go for good reason of course).

The fact that we're finding replacement things to celebrate is a good thing. Human communities need occasions to come together and be joyous.

It's also a nice way to mark a transition from one school to the next.

[Anonymous]

Well we did all of this in the 90s so at least 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a culture we've actually diminished a lot of rites of passage and celebrations that were around for millenia (like girls letting down their skirts to show they were adults and of marriagable age in the 1800s...we let that one go for good reason of course).

The fact that we're finding replacement things to celebrate is a good thing. Human communities need occasions to come together and be joyous.

It's also a nice way to mark a transition from one school to the next.

+1 It's marking a notable transition in life.

[Anonymous]

I had a fifth grade promotion dat celebration in 1995 and a preschool graduation (complete with the traditional hat and tassel!) in 1989. The pics are so cute.

[Anonymous]

We had a parent who was mad that we did not have a graduation ceremony for her second grader. Let that sink in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a culture we've actually diminished a lot of rites of passage and celebrations that were around for millenia (like girls letting down their skirts to show they were adults and of marriagable age in the 1800s...we let that one go for good reason of course).

The fact that we're finding replacement things to celebrate is a good thing. Human communities need occasions to come together and be joyous.

It's also a nice way to mark a transition from one school to the next.

I don't have a problem with an end-of-year party to celebrate the transition from one grade to another, but I think the pomp and circumstance and making little kids wear robes is just kind of ridiculous and it's not really age-appropriate to make them go through the whole ritual of a graduation ceremony. That being said, kids in robes look so stinking cute so I understand the impulse

[Anonymous]

I was in elementary school in the 90s. We only had a "graduation" for 5th grade as that was the last year of elementary school in my area. I think graduation parties are dumb for anything outside of high school.

I do think an end of year party is nice. Like in 5th grade we had things like most improved, best student, etc.

[Anonymous]

Ours is called kindergarten closing. Others call it graduation. I don’t understand it because they will be down the hall in first grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this whole overly-celebratory trend start--to call it "promotion" or "graduation" when you finish Kindergarten or elementary school? And then having celebrations or ceremonies after the end of just finishing a regular grade school year?

My ES and MS had "graduation" with a party (ES) or dance (MS) back in the 80's. So, long time ago.

I graduated HS in 1998, so grew up in the mix of 80s and 90s. I don't remember any of this nonsense. You only graduated from HS and College. You "finished" kindergarten, 6th grade, 8th grade, etc. You weren't "promoted."

I was recently reading B is for Betsy which was written in the 1930s or 1940s and they called it promotion then. Betsy was promoted from the first to the second grade.

No ceremony though.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a problem with an end-of-year party to celebrate the transition from one grade to another, but I think the pomp and circumstance and making little kids wear robes is just kind of ridiculous and it's not really age-appropriate to make them go through the whole ritual of a graduation ceremony. That being said, kids in robes look so stinking cute so I understand the impulse

Totally agree.

[Anonymous]

I graduated HS in 93. There was no K promotion, 6th grade promotion, or 8th grade promotions at my schools.

[Anonymous]

I definitely remember a 6th grade (my school was K-6) "graduation" as a kid which would have been 1987. We did not wear robes, but they handed us certificates rolled up and tied with ribbons.

My kids' schools do promotions and are adamant that they are not called graduation, because only 12th grade is graduation. No robes, not fake diplomas, just recognizing the transition from one school to the next. It's nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this whole overly-celebratory trend start--to call it "promotion" or "graduation" when you finish Kindergarten or elementary school? And then having celebrations or ceremonies after the end of just finishing a regular grade school year?

My ES and MS had "graduation" with a party (ES) or dance (MS) back in the 80's. So, long time ago.

+1

Same. At least 40 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this whole overly-celebratory trend start--to call it "promotion" or "graduation" when you finish Kindergarten or elementary school? And then having celebrations or ceremonies after the end of just finishing a regular grade school year?

My ES and MS had "graduation" with a party (ES) or dance (MS) back in the 80's. So, long time ago.

+1

Same. At least 40 years ago.

^ we didn’t wear robes but it was a big ceremony with a little certificate of completion from my k-8. Plus dance.