Graduation... grade 5?

I remember when Jeff's Junior Prom was in view... Everyone was buying fancy dresses (not Jeff,) ordering tuxedos and renting limos.  Jeff was on the shit list of his pals...(or maybe it was their mothers) because he had no desire to spend his (or my) money frivolously!  I was impressed with his decision, others were not.  This meant that by simple division, the others would have to pay more....sorry :-(  His comment, at the tender age of 17, was, "What will I have to look forward to if I do it all now!"

Fast forward 21 years.  Last week Bailee graduated from 5th grade....seriously?  Several years ago, against my objections which literally meant nothing, the powers that be decided it would be a great idea to move the 6th grade to the Middle School (high school bldg.)  These children still can't decide if they want to pull pig tails or pranks, use iPads or mini pads or frolic or flirt. One thing they don't want to do is write silly notes in cursive....because they were never taught!!!!!!   Anyway, that's another whole gripe.

These days, there are ceremonies for graduating from preschool, Kindergarten, 5th grade, 8th grade and then high school.  Ceremonies, programs, awards, music, celebrations every few years sure take the excitement out of graduation..... Which in my day, nearly 50 years ago, was a pretty big accomplishment rewarded with earned pomp and circumstance.  If you've already had four, it becomes old hat!  Kind of like a limo for the Junior Prom.

We have truly become a society of reward.  If you pee in the potty, you're rewarded, if you learn to ride your bike, you're rewarded, if you pass your Regents, you're rewarded and if you get your driver's license, you're rewarded.  everyone gets a ribbon at the Science Fair, all get trophies for soccer, certificates were given to each baseball player and awards were given for being kind.......really?  To the extreme, college students are given days off and pizza when they become so troubled over the recent presidential election that they can no longer function without therapy. I'm pretty sure that one of these Halloweens, everyone will be donning their pussy costumes.... after all, that's what we're promoting.

I am not purporting that we raise military trained kids but rather respectful ones who don't need a reward for completing a test or running to first base!  Kindness should have a self reward that needs no certificate. Verbal congratulations and  encouragement throughout the year should be common place in education and pride in your work should be the unseen trophy.  Teaching respect and responsibility while not teaching grammar and cursive seems a juxtaposition of responsibilities.

5th Grade graduation was nice but unnecessary.  Hopefully their sights will be set on HS graduation  while making themselves good listeners, kind classmates, respectful students and ambassadors for successful adults.  They will soon be our doctors, lawyers, plumbers, electricians, accountants and caretakers......and they will be rewarded with what they have learned.....and so will we!

soccer, certificates are handed out for being kind