Tag Archives: graduation

Graduation—Part One—Family Dynamics

middle school graduations with my children, and my own college stuff, I was not nearly as prepared as I had hoped for the pending high school graduation. What has complicated things for our family is that my second daughter decided that she was ready to be done with high school too and went and got her G.E.D. in a matter of weeks and is now enrolled to start college this summer too. So, I’ve suddenly got two daughters graduating at the same time! In addition to managing all the pounds of paperwork and trying to figure out how to celebrate … Continue reading →

Getting Ready for Graduation

Whereas my daughter is far from graduating from school, she is quite familiar with “Pomp and Circumstance” (she uses the tune and inserts her own words: “Peanut butter and jelly… always sticks to my belly…”). She’s counting down the days to her friend’s kindergarten graduation. In addition, we have also been invited to my friend’s daughter’s 8th grade commencement. Even though it’s not my child marching toward her diploma I will still be bringing my camera along to the ceremonies. Millions of snap happy parents around the world will be aiming their cameras at their proud grads in the weeks … Continue reading →

Diplomas for Stars—Better Late Than Never

The pursuit of higher education often falls by the wayside when a celebrity is trying to break into the world of show biz. Such was the case with country music star Gretchen Wilson. A decade ago the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter dropped out of school in her native Tennessee to pursue her dream of becoming a star. It’s a decision Wilson says she has regretted for years, but come May 15th the songstress will finally be able to redeem herself. Next Thursday Wilson will don a cap and gown and graduate with hundreds of others during a ceremony she says her … Continue reading →

Graduating in 2008

My eldest daughter is graduating from high school this year, 2008. It has seemed a little strange as the inevitable year approached and now it is here. The strange thing is that I remember when she was born, in 1990 and thinking that 2008 seemed like such a long way off! How on earth was I going to get this little baby (okay, not so little since she weighed over 10 pounds) to the place where she would be graduating from high school? And what would she be like when she did? I am not one of those people who … Continue reading →

Too Many Cheers at Graduation

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A graduation of any kind is a joyous time. In most cases, family and friends attend to cheer on and support their graduating loved ones. However, five students at Galesburg High School in Illinois received much unneeded and undesired support from their guests. I came across this story and found it to be a very controversial issue. The policy at Galesburg High School prohibits cheering at the graduation ceremony. Students and parents were required to sign a statement saying that they would not cause a disturbance at the commencement ceremony. The school’s policy was created after the graduation ceremony of … Continue reading →

Celebrating School Rites of Passage

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My son wants a graduation ceremony. One of his cousins is graduating from elementary school today. Another graduated from middle school last week. Tyler refuses to understand why he’s not having a ceremony. After all, he’s graduating from kindergarten. I have explained to him that normally there is a celebration when you pass from preschool to elementary school, from elementary to middle and from middle to high school. I reminded him that since he didn’t attend preschool he missed the first rite of passage. He then asked, “Why didn’t we have a celebration?” He’s absolutely right, we should have. Homeschooled … Continue reading →

Homeschool Class of 2007

It’s graduation time, and I thought it was only fitting and proper to give a few nods in the direction of homeschoolers graduating from high school. Some homeschoolers will have quiet family celebrations and silently pass into the world of adult work life or college. Some homeschoolers will graduate en masse with hundreds of other homeschoolers, many of whom they have never met, but used the same online curriculum. Other homeschoolers will graduate with students they have walked the homeschooling journey with, gone to field trips, also and shared their proms. A couple of years ago, I attended the graduation … Continue reading →

Remedial Education

A disturbing trend over the past fifteen years is costing states millions of dollars and potentially providing an excuse for failure. Remedial education in core subjects such as reading and math for recent high school graduates who are entering college is becoming very common. Anywhere from 25-70% (depending on which study you review) of high school graduates entering a university need to take remedial classes. The State of Florida spends an astounding $71 million a year to teach students entering college things they should have mastered in high school. This is a disservice to our youth. Students should know the … Continue reading →

Tales from a Sixth-Grade Graduation

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You can learn a lot from sitting in the back of an elementary school auditorium. If you pay attention, you can make a whole lot of interesting observations. Today was my stepdaughter’s graduation from 6th grade. Not a tremendous milestone, in the scheme of things, but very important to her. It was a rather long and drawn out ceremony, with numerous musical numbers by kids. But I sat back, relaxed, and made some mental notes. Invisibility The most significant observation I made was that my stepdaughter, Sunni, seemed invisible. Her tiny frame and wispy manner caused her to glide into … Continue reading →

“Oh The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss

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Now that graduation is around the corner for most kids, many people are looking for that perfect graduation gift. Rather than purchase your graduate a card, or some novelty item. Consider purchasing them a book instead. One of the best graduation gifts I ever received was the book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss. The book starts out “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away!”. The main character in the book is off on their own for the first time. The entire book is about making your own choices whether they … Continue reading →