Not having an in-person graduation ceremony no small matter
The Class of 2020 is missing out on important milestones because of COVID-19.
Recently, CTV News published a story quoting the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) “calling for support from provincial governments in allowing in-person ceremonies and instructions on how to safely facilitate them, especially in Ontario.” The piece explained the importance of marking graduation milestones, especially in-person and suggested ideas to make them work.
Looking back, I recognize that although I have a master’s degree, it is high school graduation that I remember most fondly. I attended the ceremony for my BSc/B.Ed. because it marked the beginning of my professional life and I knew many of my fellow graduates. I opted to receive my M.Ed. in the mail.
Grade 12 graduation was the one I marked with close friends and beloved teachers. It was the one my girlfriends and I eagerly anticipated from the start of Grade 9. It was punctuated with family parties and prom.
After I became a teacher, I recall arrangements for graduation being the topic at a staff meeting one year. As a junior high school, the graduates would be marking the end of Grade 9 as the transition to high school. The talk turned to how elaborate a celebration would be appropriate given that the students would still have high school and post secondary graduations ahead of them.
The principal reminded everyone that none of those was guaranteed and for some students, this might be the only graduation they would have. That meeting was over 20 years ago and the principal was not envisioning COVID-19, but other life circumstances. However, the pandemic response means the entire Class of 2020 will miss many customary high school graduation rituals.
In light of this, people are doing their best to create ways to mark the milestone for the graduates in their lives. I’ve seen lawn signs displayed to congratulate graduates. My household has already received one delivery of graduation cupcakes from a thoughtful uncle and aunt. There will likely be some kind of email or online acknowledgment from school boards near the end of the month, but none of these is a satisfactory replacement for the in person experience.
Universities have started to announce their plans for the fall and many of them have indicated classes will likely start online. Cambridge University has already announced that all lectures will be online until summer 2021.
What should be a summer of milestones and transition is in limbo for these young people. Surely we can do better than inform them that “the Ministry of Education has indicated diplomas and certificates will not be distributed during school closure due to COVID-19. Students’ graduation dates will not be impacted. Diplomas and certificates will be distributed once schools reopen. Additional information will be shared with families as it becomes available from the Ministry of Education via email.”