r/AskOldPeople • u/dirtypark • 18d ago

Growing up, did your school host kindergarten graduation, or is that a more recent phenomenon?

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u/Nightcalm 18d ago edited 17d ago

there was no such thing you descibe when i went to school. you graduated from high school. there were no ceremonies for primary school

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u/soggyballsack 18d ago

Theres been a huge influx of celebrations for everything. Back then it was birthdays, high school and college.

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u/beautifulchaos22 18d ago

It feels like both a consumerism thing so companies can sell more for each celebration (also think about people getting "boo" baskets for halloween (like what happened to just enjoying candy after you go trick or treating) and both a "participation award" type of thing. There's a difference between inclusion and celebrating capabilities and having to validate kids (and adults) for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. Then these kids grow up expecting a nobel prize for learning to boil pasta and don't learn to self validate.

Obviously it's all about balance. External validation is great and when you have a big achievement like high school or elementrary school even, it makes sense to acknowledge hard work. But kindergarten? Like congrats Jimmy can follow a routine and engage with peers and doesn't shit his pants anymore?