No Graduation (Page 2): That's insane and would never have happened if the parents had used the common sense God gave them! High school graduation is one big scam

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

Shellback wrote:

I agree with you -

In Philadelphia (late 80's), the junior high my kids were in had a graduation ceremony - the girls were in $600 dresses... I was talking to my neighbor over the costs and he said that most of the folks on the school board were business owners and his thoughts were they started the graduations as a way to increase business... I had not thought of that angle, but it makes sense... capitalism at its finest...

That's insane and would never have happened if the parents had used the common sense God gave them! High school graduation is one big scam - the expensive photographs, the high school ring, the year books, not to mention the prom - parents can easily spend thousands of dollars on a child's last year of school with absolutely no return in the way of a better education.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Shellback wrote:

I agree with you -

In Philadelphia (late 80's), the junior high my kids were in had a graduation ceremony - the girls were in $600 dresses... I was talking to my neighbor over the costs and he said that most of the folks on the school board were business owners and his thoughts were they started the graduations as a way to increase business... I had not thought of that angle, but it makes sense... capitalism at its finest...

I don't remember a grade school graduation, I know there was none for Jr. High.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I remember years ago on TV while someone was asking one of the collage football stars to sign their program. He just made an X. He couldn't even write his own name. How did he ever make it into collage?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Hal81 wrote:

I remember years ago on TV while someone was asking one of the collage football stars to sign their program. He just made an X. He couldn't even write his own name. How did he ever make it into collage?

Scholarship? Oral exams?
Or he played football THAT good and they looked past a few things.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Hal81 wrote:

I remember years ago on TV while someone was asking one of the collage football stars to sign their program. He just made an X. He couldn't even write his own name. How did he ever make it into collage?

If you’re gonna mock someone for being illiterate you should probably make sure of your own literacy.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

SuperflyTNT wrote:

If you’re gonna mock someone for being illiterate you should probably make sure of your own literacy.

I don't believe Hal was mocking the man! It looks more like he is questioning the system that allowed him to get to collage.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

I think that elementary and middle school graduations are absolutely ridiculous. These kids are just moving from one grade to another. Save the graduation for high school when the transition is into the real world. It will make it mean so much more. Want to bet that the idea comes from parents that think their kids are just a little, or a lot, above the rest.

ICN3S Loc: Cave Junction, OR

SuperflyTNT wrote:

Actually I always found the idea of an elementary school "graduation" pretty ridiculous.

I've said the same for many years!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jerryc41 wrote:

I just heard that the local elementary school will not be having a formal graduation this year. They decided it would hurt the feelings of the sixth graders who aren't graduating. Instead there will be a ceremony in the playground. Winners of awards will have their names shown in a Powerpoint display, rather than have them announced. Ridiculous? Yeah, just a little.

I'M going to raked over the coals for this, but here goes.
I see the same thing almost everyday here, "Good work" on images usually displaying very soft focus, poorly cropped, overexposed or blown out highlights.
I have been accused of being over critical or being a grouch, oh well this I can live with.
But giving the "feel good critique" does not do anything to help the photographer improve his/her work.
Is my work perfect? no, but it is a damned sight better than it was when I started. Partly because I wasn't happy with first images, and from some nasty critiques, sure it hurt, but made me want to show that I could do better. After over 60 yrs "off and on" shooting I'M still trying to improve my work.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Country Boy wrote:

I don't think they should belittle those that don't graduate but to lower standards to make them feel good is to remove the feeling of accomplishment from those that did. I should not be judgmental but this is done by the same teaching staff that failed to teach them enough to graduate them - could this be an indication of how they let them get through the year not learning and not being made to feel bad?

Teaching is a joint effort by parents and teachers. When children show up at school not even knowing their alphabet and never having been read to they start already at the back of the class. Uninvolved parents cannot compensate for teacher effort.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Graduation from elementary school??! When I was growing up you only had graduation ceremonies for high school & college! Too much of something cheapens it.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

We are taking away the desire/motivation for young people to aspire for success.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Manglesphoto wrote:

I don't believe Hal was mocking the man! It looks more like he is questioning the system that allowed him to get to collage.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SueScott wrote:

And chances are that these 6th graders will "graduate" from high school as functional illiterates who can't make change in the mom & pop grocery stores where they work.

Yes, I think that's the goal. "Everyone wins!" : )

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

sb wrote:

Teaching is a joint effort by parents and teachers. When children show up at school not even knowing their alphabet and never having been read to they start already at the back of the class. Uninvolved parents cannot compensate for teacher effort.

The teachers present the material, but the kids and their parents can choose to reject or ignore it.