Debating Eighth-Grade Graduations

Debating Eighth-Grade Graduations
Are the ceremonies a good way to recognize success in school? Or do they waste money and send the wrong message? Transcript of radio broadcast:
02 July 2008

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

In the United States, middle school is the period between elementary school and eighth grade. Often this is a difficult period of change for children. If all goes well, four years later, they are high school graduates.

Graduation is a term traditionally connected with high school or college. Yet there are even kindergartens and preschools that hold "graduations." These might be mostly for fun. But some people are concerned about the popularity of eighth-grade graduations.

Some families may have trouble paying for costly celebrations organized by parents or schools. Yet they may feel social pressure to take part.

The same criticism has been made for years about high school graduations and senior proms. A prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance.

But critics say that, more importantly, eighth-grade graduations may send the wrong message -- that an eighth-grade education is enough. They are concerned especially about poor communities where many people never finish high school.

The subject has even entered the presidential campaign. Democratic candidate Barack Obama talked about it in a recent speech at a Chicago church. The senator from Illinois said children should be expected to finish high school and college. He reminded people "you're supposed to graduate from eighth grade."

"Let's not have a huge party," he said, "let's just give them a handshake."

A growing number of middle school administrators seem to agree. They are making changes. For example, instead of graduation, some schools now call it a promotion ceremony.

James Williams is the superintendent of public schools in Buffalo, New York. He is urging the schools in his district to hold "moving up" ceremonies at the end of eighth grade. Families would celebrate that students are moving up to the next level of their education.

The school chief says graduation from high school should be the goal. And the ceremony then, he says, should be an important, special and serious event in students' lives.

But some parents in schools that are trying to limit eighth-grade graduations say administrators are overreacting. They say graduation ceremonies are a good way to celebrate success in school. And they say the recognition might make some students more likely to complete their education.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report, written by Nancy Steinbach. I'm Steve Ember.

----------------------------Google Translate

辩论第八级毕业典礼
是仪式的一个好办法承认的成功，在学校呢？或做他们浪费金钱和发出错误的讯息？全文电台广播：
2008年7月2日

这是美国之音特别英语教育的报告。

在美国，中学是间小学和第八级。往往这是一个困难的时期，改变为儿童。如果一切顺利，四年后，他们的高中毕业生。

毕业是一个长远的传统与高中或大学。然而，甚至还有幼儿园和学前班说，举行“毕业典礼” 。这可能是大多为乐趣。但有些人关心的普及第八级毕业典礼。

一些家庭可能会遇到困难支付昂贵的庆祝活动，举办了由家长或学校。但他们可能会觉得社会压力采取的一部分。

同样的批评已经取得了多年来关于高中毕业典礼及高级系统PROMS 。 1胎膜早破，短期内为长廊，是一个正式的舞蹈。

但是批评人士说，更重要的是，第八级毕业典礼可能会发出错误的讯息-一个八年级教育是不够的。他们所担心的，尤其是关于贫困社区的情况下，很多人从来没有完成高中。

主题甚至进入总统竞选。民主党候选人巴拉克奥巴马谈及它在最近一次讲话中在芝加哥的教堂。参议员由伊利诺州说，儿童应可望完成高中和大学。他提醒市民， “您要毕业的第八级” 。

“让我们不要有庞大的党， ”他说， “让我们只是给他们一个握手” 。

越来越多的中等学校行政人员似乎都同意。他们正在改变。例如，与其毕业，有些学校现在请它推广仪式。

詹姆斯威廉姆斯是警公立学校在布法罗，纽约。他敦促学校在其区举行“移动”仪式在年底第八级。家庭会，庆祝学生正在向明年的水平，他们的教育。

学校行政说，毕业从高中应的目标。和仪式，然后，他说，应是一个重要的，特殊和严重事件，学生的生命。

但有些家长在学校里是试图限制第八级的毕业典礼说，管理员是反应过度。他们说，毕业典礼是一个很好的方式，庆祝成功在学校。他们说的承认可能会使一些学生更容易完成他们的教育。

这是该美国之音特别英语教育的报告，写的南希斯坦巴克。我史蒂夫ember 。