NYC principal won't let kindergarteners sing 'God Bless the USA' at graduation

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. They are not called 'graduations'

Indeed, even in the article, it's called a "moving up ceremony." I went to my daughter's on Wednesday, and it was just called a kindergarten celebration. They do not receive diplomas, and it was explicitly never referred to as a graduation.

Neither are these new. I had a kindergarten "celebration" or moving up ceremony when I completed kindergarten in a NYC public school...in 1979.

It's just an opportunity for the kindergartners to have a nice year-end assembly and recognize a few for good performance (spelling bee, attendance awards) and the like. I see nothing wrong with it. Remember, for kindergarteners, this is perhaps the first time through the school rhythm - they are being acclimated to the idea of summer break, the fact that they may be in different classes next year, and all that. Very obviously, elementary school educators have decided this is a good idea - across the country and for quite some time. I'm not in primary education at that age level, so I really don't have the expertise to judge that decision.