Fans of The Beverly Hillbillies will remember the running joke that Jethro (the most educated of the entire Clampett family) had “made it all the way through the 6th grade.” Yee-Haw!
When this series originally aired in the sixties, no one celebrated such a modest accomplishment. Of course you made it through the 6th grade, and the 7th, and the 9th. Everyone did. It was expected that every student made it through to high school. The first celebration of academic accomplishment came when a student graduated from high school.
Now my Facebook feed is plastered with photos of parents proudly standing by their young sons/daughters holding diplomas commemorating their graduation from junior high/middle school and even grammar school. There are mentions of parties, gifts, and elaborate ceremonies.
Really?
Have Americans become that starved for acknowledgement? Have we reached the point where we need to celebrate each and every possible achievement in a child’s life?
If so, I’d better get busy making plans for a celebration.
In two weeks, my 4-year-old granddaughter, Brooklyn, officially graduates from day care and she is considering furthering her education in kindergarten.
LIke every proud parent, I love to commemorate and celebrate my children’s accomplishments. I am simultaneously concerned that we’re overdoing it. Passing from one grade to another is not nearly as significant as graduating from college, yet the celebrations have become similar. Is it any wonder a new employee expects a raise after two weeks on the job? Let’s commemorate, but not confuse that with rewarding kids (and others) for meeting basic expectations. We need to teach kids that often effort is its own reward.
JUST discovered your material Eric! I cannot agree with you more on a variety of topics you’ve written about. I’m a fan of encouraging and rewarding people for success but celebrating every little accomplishment along the road to becoming a functioning member of society is just teaching kids its “all about me” and building a mindset of “I deserve some sort of recognition or else I’m not gonna work any more.”
My father owns a small hardware store in a state with a high minimum wage and he can’t find young people to work for anything! Whats more the ones he finds are either lazy or end up stealing from him. Love your work and will be checking back frequently.
Great feedback, Seth! Delighted you enjoy the work. Please comment whenever the feeling strikes you.