to think kids should leave school without all this fuss?

[Newcupboards]

Leavers' Assemblies where every last ounce of emotion is wrung out of kids, parents and teachers with Year 6 murdering singing 'Slipping Thru My Fingers' whilst photographs of them from Reception to current day are projected onto the wall.

Then there's the Leavers' Proms! Bloody tacky American import

In my day we had a quick mention in morning prayers (primary) and a disco without a limosine and the same at secondary. Now it's squeals and emotional incontinence.

Can't we just get back a bit of British stiff upper lip and get on with life changes without making such a drama.

[Newcupboards]

"they all sang 'Memories' from Andrew LLoyd Webber's 'Cats'"

Nooooooo! I hope DD's music teacher isn't on MN - that'll inspire her for next year's mawkish Leavers' Assembly.

Apologies to Americans for blaming this nonsense on them; but you do have to take responsibility for "prom" and "year books".

Nearly all of the year 6ers at DD's school will be going to the high school up the road, where they can carry on bitching and bullying seeing each other. So no need for big carry on and fond farewells.

[Greydog]

a nursery school near us had a graduation ceremony, with caps and gowns, for the children going to primary school. They had awards and certificates ("Best at colouring in") and pics in the local paper. Made me feel queasy.

[Jinsei]

Oh, what's the harm in kids marking the events that seem to them like major milestones in their lives?! Why shouldn't they look back fondly and celebrate the good times they've had. What a bunch of miserable people! The stiff upper lip is totally overrated in my view.

[Oldandcobwebby]

I'm glad I'm old (and cobwebby). I would have absolutely hated all the prom crap that kids are press-ganged into nowadays.

[Vagndidit]

Another American here and very little if anything is done to mark the end of primary school in the US. If anything, it's more a celebration than the weepy, sappy thing Britain has turned it into. Gah!

Proms are an upper high school thing only and an utter waste of money

[JoInScotland]

Yearbooks have been around in the US since the 1860s. It was a Victorian idea, to collect poems, signatures, little reminiscences from your friends at the end of school - people moved around a lot on the frontier, etc and might never have seen their school pals again.

So while the idea of the "yearbook" might have come from America, it is by no means new there.

I grew up in the States, and nothing was done at the end of primary school. No dance, yearbook, etc - that's for when you're 18 and graduating from High School after 12 years of schooling.

[Bakingnovice]

Forget year 6, my dd aged 3.5 is having a full graduation ceremony (been measured for hat and gown!) next week as she leaves for reception! This includes speeches by staff, a short performance if twinkle twinkle and a photographer. Don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Newcupboards]

But why do we parents stand for it? Cos some absolutely love it! There's a thread over on Chat where the mums are trying to out do each other with their stories of how frequently they have blabbed at various school events over the years and how much they sobbed at Leavers' Assemblies! They've got to be stopped! One school sang "to sir with love" cos the Head was leaving too. Another school are going to inflict 'eidleweiss' (can't spell it) on the poor caretaker!

[Newcupboards]

*blubbed

[AChickenCalledKorma]

DD1 is currently learning "We don't need no education" for her Leavers' assembly. I like her teachers' style!

She also went to the local cathedral for a massive service, when they sent the kids out with their heads held high, ready to take on the world. Yes, I cried. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world, and she has the photographs to remind her for years to come.

[BegoniaBampot]

What's wrong with the idea of a special last assembly and a yearbook for the kids? It is a big deal for them, my son will be saying goodbye to kids he's been in class with for years and won't see some of them again as our school really splits up for high school.

And just a disco on their last day, nothing fancy. All sounds fine and FREE which is ok by me as the money spent on proms (especially the girls) is outrageous.

[AnotherWorld]

YABU - and very grumpy too. It's harmless and affects no-one else. Each school does their own thing. Leave them be.

[SoupDragon]

Some people are utterly joyless.

It not for you, it is for the children.
Who seem to enjoy it.

[SoupDragon]

But why do we parents stand for it?

Because not all "we parents" are miserable fuckers.

HTH.

[paulapantsdown]

Here here soupdragon! Lets just have every day of our lives the same as the one before shall we? Lets not go overboard and celebrate the milestones in our or our kids lives with a bit of fun and nonsense - no that would be silly and we must all be sensible at all times. You bunch of bloody miseries.

I for one am looking forward to next week; school production that loads of work has gone into, leavers disco that parents go to too and have a laugh. Then after the assembly, the kids are going off to TGIF's in limos for a meal together (total cost of that was £30).

It will be great fun and will create great memories for all of us.

[Newcupboards]

There's no joy in singing dreary dirges to mawkish parents.

School disco = fab. Sob fest = cringed.

HTH

[Feminine]

When I left Primary...I received a bible.

back in 1983

My dd's Pre-school even does a little ceremony!

[Panzee]

I always cry at One More Step too

[Ledkr]

We've had the BIG LEAVERS SHOW.
Roughly ten children with fab parts,great scripts and lovely costumes.
The remaining 80 had crappy background roles and had to go in every hot night this week till late then stand and watch their mates revel in the glory.
Ten sets if parents sat glowing with pride whilst the rest of us sat and sweated and yawned and waited for a fleeting glimpse of our own child.
Last night dd developed a migraine during the final night and was refused a call to me to come home.
She vomited as soon as she got in (his I wished she'd done it at school)
Next week leavers service and leavers party (some in limos)
Peppered with a sodding swimming gals.
I'd prefer to be out buying uniform for September or packing for our holiday.

[Foundapound]

I'm from Glasgow, and we had at my primary school (in 1980) what was generally known round about as "the Qually Dance". We learnt Scottish country dancing at school for months before, got dressed up, got collected by boys from home and walked up to school (in a big giggly gang). Was quite a big deal. From what I understood this had been happening for decades. Can't remember if there was any food. Was great fun.

Qually is from Qualification - was from that being the Qualification year I think.

Leaving secondary, there was the Prefects Dance. Same deal as prom, but held in school - most round here seem to be at "venues".

It's all fun till they get limos involved, imho.

[Newcupboards]

Same at DD's school, Ledkr. Every year at every assembly/church service/fete/excuse to fleece the parents, it's the same handful of kids given the "starring" roles and it ain't down to their talent

And before anyone accuses me of being bitter, I'm not - I'm quite happy watching Dd standing there looking gorgeous and happy.

[Whothefuckfarted]

As long as it's not called a fucking prom it's okay with me.

[OctopusWrangler]

The year six lot at school this year had an assembly. Same as usual. They also did a play, but every year group do a play in the summer term, so its not really a 'leavers' event. There was no specific party for them either, they went along to the KS2 almost end of term disco last week and rocked out to crap music while eating hot dogs and drinking slightly warm pop. Job done.

Apparently one of the mums tried to get school to agree to a proper prom because her daughter is an overindulged spoilt brat thought it would be nice. She was shot down at the first hurdle and school have reiterated that proms will never be happening:o

[Ledkr]

Well I was a tad bitter because a. They promote it as the big finale to their time at the school and b. the level of cost and commitment was the same across the board which for some was a lovely experience and others massively underwhelming.
There must be away of involving all the children who want to be involved.
I just felt jealous a bit sad that for a few it was a memorable time but for the majority a bit humiliating and exclusive.
Glad I wasn't there last night when there were big speeches singling out all the main roles for big praise while the others just stood there.
Not right surely.