Too Many Graduations

At the age of 33, I have graduated five times. Three of those times were legit -- high school, undergraduate and graduate. The other two were preschool and 8th grade graduation. Five might sound like a lot, but now students could graduate five times before they even reach college. There might be preschool, kindergarten, 5th grade, 8th grade and high school graduation.

Some of these graduations might involve wearing a cap and gown, doing a graduation march and receiving a diploma. Yes, at four years old I wore a cap and possibly a gown (I don't remember everything about the ceremony. I do, however remember getting a stuffed owl which wore a cap and held a diploma.) It appears I am not alone. An owner of a cap and gown company was recently quoted in a Washington Post article entitled "Pomp as students finish elementary school. But is it a real graduation?" The owner said nearly half of his $1 million annual revenue comes from gowns that are worn by elementary students and kindergartn students.

When did we become a society where we feel we have to reward our kids for doing the things they are supposed to do? We except kids to progress from kindergarten, elementary school and middle school. Why do we need to hold a graduation ceremony when they do just that?

This goes hand-in-hand with my bewilderment about students getting points when they behave in school and after so many points they can pick something from the treasure chest. Or how every team and every player in a little league baseball team has to receive a trophy. We've even carried over this behavior to adulthood. I've seen countless adults receive employee of the month for simply doing the job they are paid to do.

We need to stop rewarding our kids for them doing every little thing they should be doing. Celebrations such as graduation should be reserved for a special time when they have worked hard to reach a milestone. Making it to the first grade is not one of those times.