Graduation Day

[Diane CBPFC]

My oldest son is graduating from high school today. They make a big fuss of it in Canada with caps and gowns. I will be so proud as he walks across the stage to get his diploma. The parents escort their child down the isle too.  We sure didn't do anything so grand when I left school in Wales.

[Vulture]

My eldest granddaughter is having a 'prom' night (whatever that is!) on Wednesday. Originally, they were all supposed to turn up at school be-suited and be-frocked to collect some sort of a certificate before going straight to the hotel/pub; as most of the girls (including Chloe) have acquired meringues to wear, the powers-that-be decided to just give them their bits of paper during lesson and let them get to the venue from home!

Like Diana said; we had nuffin' like that in Liverpool in 1961.

[Tom]

I don't actually remember my last day at school. I remember going to school before it, and never having to go again after it, but the day itself wasn't very memorable in the slightest.

I think it's good that such an important occasion is now marked in some way.

[Roger Kettle]

I wrote a huge response to this, talking about the Americanisation of U.K. culture when the computer cut out. Suffice to say I mentioned how my daughter had to get a ridiculously expensive "Prom Dress" and a limo to take her and her pals to the bash.
When I left school, we had a "school dance". The boys smoked in the toilet, drank smuggled bottles of beer and then threw up before asking if we could walk one of the girls home.
We were cool, we were.

[Malc]

Same here, Roger, only in Oz they call it the "Formal". Our older boy is due to have his at the end of the year prior to him going to Schoolies Week on the Gold Coast, where they are exposed to the pleasures of the flesh, drink, drugs and whatever else at the age of 16.
Many Australians actually accept this as a rite-of-passage thing and no longer comment on it, but I see it as the continuing Americanization of Western economies, where our kids and the more boneheaded parents enthusiastically lap up the worst aspects of US society, whether that be WWE wrestling, Sex In The City, McDonalds, whatever, whilst rejecting the more positive things to emerge from America, such as....er...

[Diamond Lil]

whilst rejecting the more positive things to emerge from America, such as....er...

...NCIS??

My friend and I gave up waiting to be walked home from the school dance and headed off on our bikes.  My posh dirndl skirt got caught in the spokes and I just about did an Isadora Duncan over the handlebars...and not even an illicit beer to soften the fall (that was just for the cool crowd)

[Vulture]

whilst rejecting the more positive things to emerge from America, such as....er...

...NCIS??  AND CSI with Grissom ........

My friend and I gave up waiting to be walked home from the school dance and headed off on our bikes.  My posh dirndl skirt got caught in the spokes and I just about did an Isadora Duncan over the handlebars...and not even an illicit beer to soften the fall (that was just for the cool crowd)

[Malc]

Which prompts me to post my old avatar...

[Diane CBPFC]

Here is a picture of my beautiful boy...

[Diamond Lil]

What a handsome young man...you must be so proud, Diane

...and Malc's not bad, either!

[Malc]

Yes, good looking and intelligent with a big future.


Diane's son, I mean.




I must add that avatar pic is about five years old. I'm a bit more grizzled now, but still worth a squeeze, I reckon.

[Jack]

Did the whole cap-and-gown thing for university... not school though. Don't recall anything resembling any kind of graduation. Went to schoool, did exams, went back a month later to pick up our results, and that was that.

I don't think we ever had a "prom" or anything remotely similar at age 16. There was some kind of do after A-levels at 18, but frankly they charged £60 a go, and I didn't bother with it. Went elsewhere with mates instead.

Certainly there was none of the things you see in the local paper every summer now, with the big Proms, tuxedos and fancy frocks. Very American.

[Vulture]

Here is a picture of my beautiful boy...

There doesn't appear to be anything there!

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

What Jack said.

I decided to stay on to the bitter end of my final year, but midway through the last week, exams passed and results in the bag, I just got bored one morning and walked home after lunch, made myself a cup of tea and watched Trumpton on kids TV. Massive anti-climax to my education years. Less than two weeks later, I walked into my first full-time job  on The Beano comic.

I've never been back, but my youngest daughter is now attending the same high school, and I'm hoping to get to at least a couple of her parent contact evenings over the next few years (sadly, we live 300 miles apart). She's not one for proms or the like, but she's only 12 and so far uninterested in boys, so it may all change. I'd have loved to go to one, and I'm delighted they're doing them to mark the end of not only secondary school education, but also in many primaries. These are very special years for many kids (although not for all, of course), and most won't realise just how special until they are gone. Well worthy of a big fuss at the 'end'. I can only dream of that fancy frock...

[Feather]

I know you must be very proud of your son, Diane. I hope he had a fun graduation celebration!

My graduation from high school was a blast. We wore caps and gowns like Diane's son. Ours were red because the school colors were red and white. The party afterwards was an all-nighter at one of the nearby lakes. It was a wild night. The cops showed up at one point.  I went to Prom and it was okay. Because I lived in a small town, there were no limos. You went in your date's car. The Prom was held at the school, but there were all-night parties afterwards at either someone's home or at the lake.

Malc, great new avatar!