Once upon a time and not so long ago the children in Grade 8 in schools across Ontario celebrated the completion of 10 years of formal schooling. The celebration took the form of a “graduation” ceremony followed by a beautiful party that saw boys and girls elegantly dressed, happy and full of anticipation for what awaits them outside the cocoon of elementary school. Some claim that this “rite of passage” is not a true graduation because these students have not achieved anything of academic significance. Excuse Me? Ten years of learning and you dismiss this as not significant? I now dismiss you from further discussion on this topic.
For those who agree that ten years of elementary school experience is the foundation for whatever happens at the secondary and post secondary levels, let’s continue our discussion about Grade 8 “graduation”.
A school in Mississauga, this week, chose to cancel a grade 8 graduation dance because the teachers did not want to be responsible for supervising and cleaning up after the party. This circumstance is sad because it didn’t have to come to this. Why would a time-honoured tradition be sidestepped for such a petty reason? This event is very, very important for students of Grade 8. I don’t disagree with teachers being reluctant to do janitorial work at the end of a very long day. I do part company with teachers who would deny their students this precious, memory-filled milestone, simply because they are “working” above and beyond their expected responsibilities. Of course they are. This is what it’s all about. You were the mentors, the role models, the confidants and the heroes to these kids all year long. Now you are telling them that you don’t want to share in their joy and their triumph at the most important moment in their elementary school years. I would bet that most of you have memories and photos of you and your homeroom teacher together at the party or receiving your graduation certificate; you dressed in your beautiful gown or your rented suit and the teacher looking at you with pride. Awesome right?
This item hit the local papers because of the outrage expressed by parents who expect their children’s teachers to just keep on giving. My next target in this is you parents. Where are you when this event is being organized? How many of you volunteered to step up and help set up the gym, clean up after the party or just do some chaperoning? Shame on you for expecting way too much of your teachers. Get real. Didn’t you once graduate from elementary school and do you not remember what a fabulous night it was? Do you forget that it was your teachers who made it so? Preparing and running a graduation night is a daunting task and could use some help. So stop whining and pitch in.
And now you Mr. or Ms. Principal. Have your leadership skills suddenly gone into hiding? Are you so intimidated by the teacher’s union that you will do anything to avoid being “grieved”? Come out from under your desk and support the people who really matter in this issue, the kids who are your graduating class. Surely you could have brought the teachers and the school council together to not only resolve this impasse, but to ensure that these kids receive a triumphal celebration of their success and their goodness, and one which will provide memories of a magical time in their lives. The responsibility for getting this done is yours. The shame for not getting it done is also yours.
On a personal note, I recall the final graduation of my career before retiring. The ceremony of handing out certificates, presenting awards, the valedictory speech, the slide show of the escapades of the grade 8 classes during the year. Then came the party, kids trying to turn the lights down while we turned them back up, music played too loudly (for our ears), the boys doing their imitations of peacocks and the girls pretending not to notice. The dance ended and the students spent several minutes hugging and saying their good-byes while we, the teachers, the vice principal and I, waited at the front door. As the kids came to say good-bye to us they were in tears and, of course, reduced all of us to tears. We bade them farewell, wished them good luck and we turned and went back into the gym to clean up. Even that was a precious memory. Call me old fashioned I guess. I’m just saying.
Michael, I’m going to go out on a limb here and comment. The school in question is the one at which my wife teaches. She has been working feverishly over the past swveral weeks to get decorations done for the dance. The teacher committee has been meeting regularly to ensure that eveything is in order.
There will be a dance, but it will be the next day during school hours.
The complaint from parents in this case seems to be directed at the sudden break in tradition. Instead of having a dance on the evening of the commencement, it will take place on the day after. Many other schools in our own coterminus district have decided to move from evening dances to events that take place during the day. Issues of liability and teacher supervision are often cited as reasons.
For me, there is another issue beyond those about which you so passionately write here.
The community here seems to have missed a perfect opportunity to communicate about a change that challenges both expectations and tradition. I think that if parents were invited into the conversation and not merely presented with the decision, some of the tension around this might have been averted. Instead, this has played itself in a rather ugly manner in the local press. Not good for anyone now, or moving forward.
I join you in lamenting the passing of the days when school staff were all present at school commencemnts (not just grade eight teachers) and stayed around for the dance.
After clean-up, we used to head out for a party of our own!!!
It would appear that the editorial in the local rag was somewhat misleading. I suppose I should be feeling a bit sheepish about my post except that I truly believe that the kids deserve a BIG party on a GRAND scale. To me that’s an evening event, not one to be held during the school day while classes are in session for the rest of the school. I appreciate the liability and safety issues but, have things changed so much that these factors are scarier today than before? I don’t recall ever having bad stuff happen at the grad night dance. We took the proper precautions regarding getting everyone home safely, with kids held back until a ride arrived etc. You are so right when you say that a golden opportunity for teachers and parents to co-plan and co-host the event was missed. The unfortunate publicity did not need to happen and I think there was a lack of leadership here. Thanks for your reply and for setting the record straight.
I’m thinking that there are more questions (and answers) that are hiding beneath the surface. For me, one big question–and I would love to have the conversation with some of you about this–relates to whether our collective agreements have led to a sense of entitlement and self-centeredness on the part of some within the profession.
Well, there is lot that I could say….have seen various scenarios unfold over the years. I have plenty of opinions about Gr. 8 grads in general, but, yes…as you said, Stephen…it all does need conversation/dialogue/input within the school/parent/student community….and well ahead of time…..maybe even in Sept.! Once that is done, many options and agreeable solutions are possible. So, if a dance in the evening is favoured by most, then there is time to organize a supervision team of parents and teachers. In the year of my youngest’s grade 8 grad, the students raised money to rent an off-site venue for the evening (after a late afternoon ceremony in the school gym planned by the students with support from some staff). A parent signed for the dance “hall”, and students invited teachers and parents to supervise and help with food, etc.
A lot fell on the students to plan, organize, and seek support from parents, staff, and community, but they felt ownership for their own celebration. Not to say there weren’t a few “bumps”. I chuckled when the balloon arch/display they purchased was not in the school colours….at all….:) But it was a student committee decision…:)
Thanks Sheila. There is much to be said for collaboration. There are too many people involved in graduation planning to think it will just happen. Teachers and parents need to be involved, but giving the kids a large measure of ownership in the process sends a strong message that we trust them and that we believe they are richly deserving of a big “fuss”. We must not lose sight of the fact that they are the “guests of honour”. For all of these reasons I believe strong leadership from the “office” is so necessary. Bottom line for me is, “Celebrate your Kids!
As you suggest, planning early in the school year is really important. Thanks for your comments.