In the June 27 issue, the News printed an excerpt of a New York Times article that questioned the appropriateness of eighth grade graduation ceremonies, referring specifically to WW-P’s Community Middle School.##M:[more]##
A June graduate of WW-P’s other middle school responded:
As a recent graduate of Grover Middle School, it had never occurred to me that the end of the year activities arranged for 8th graders could be perceived as grand or undeserved. For all the excitement that surrounded the end of middle school, the most emphasis was placed on the beginning of high school, and the challenges and opportunities that awaited us there. In a community such as ours, where such a huge emphasis is placed on academic excellence, and the dropout rate is so low, I feel that very few, if any, 8th graders would be misled by the end of the year activities, and think they are “done” with their schooling.
Also, keep in mind that 8th graders from both Community and Grover have “Salute,” not Graduation, that there are no caps or gowns involved, that not all 8th graders participate in the Cameo awards, and that no one would dare show up in a limousine to the End of the Year semi-formal dance.
At any rate, the fun that surrounds the end of 8th grade is not something that repeats itself until senior year. After all, as any graduate of the 8th grade will soon find out, the end of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade does not involve dances or picnics — it’s all about studying, and finals. So, perhaps the pomp does fit the circumstance.
Lekha Kanchinadam
High School South,
Class of 2011
