I have traveled by many schools over the past couple of weeks. The schools in my county have a message sign in front of them. It seemed that each school had some type of announcement of a special event. Some schools were giving dates for ballgames and homecomings while others were announcing dances and Valentine’s Day activities. I began to wonder when homecomings and Valentine’s Day dances became part of the elementary school schedule.
It seems that most high school traditions have now trickled down into our middle and elementary schools. Almost every elementary school with a basketball team now has an official homecoming complete with a king and a queen. Eighth grade students are selecting superlatives and a Mister and Miss of the school. It also seems that virtually everyone has a graduation. I have counted that some people could possibly walk in nine graduations. Preschools graduate children. Some kindergarten students participate in graduations. There are sixth grade students that graduate before middle school and middle school students that graduate before high school. Of course, high schools have graduations. College students may graduate with an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a doctorate.
As an eighth grade teacher, I have participated in both homecoming and eighth grade graduation. The students enjoyed them. I am not opposed to these activities. However, I wonder when it will stop. When will we cease to push academics and activities lower and lower to younger children? Aren’t our children growing up fast enough as it is? Is it too much that a sixth grade class is holding a Valentine’s Day dance? I prefer that my children not be encouraged to have boy and girl relationships in the sixth grade.
Another problem that I see with elementary children participating in activities that were once reserved for high school is the decrease in meaning. Will the activity hold as great of an impact if it has already been carried out one time? We have an eighth grade class and a senior class that hold their graduation ceremony on the same football field. Will the senior graduation have the same impact on the students that have already walked the field as eighth grade students?
These activities are not bad. Again, I have participated and coordinated some of the ones mentioned. However, I hope that we do not carry them out because we think if our children take part in older activities it means they are more mature. Perhaps it would be better for middle and elementary schools to create special activities that are more age appropriate.
High School Graduation
Tales from a Sixth-Grade Graduation
Any parents out there who wont allow their teen to a dance or prom?