July 16, 2003
Graduation Ceremony
We are off to Cardiff to participate in the ceremony called graduation. Jena participates in that she gets doffed or docked or whatever it is they do in Cardiff. Her mother and I participate by watching and clapping more enthusiastically than we clapped the others. I wonder if Jena is doing this just to please her parents? What is graduation day all about?
Is it a target, something to motivate the student through the years of lectures, tutorials, essays, projects and examinations? Hmm. Its winter cold and raining and dark at 8.30 in the morning and the student has a 9.00 lecture. Will anticipation of the graduation ceremony have much effect turning her out from under a warm duvet. I don't think so. The different classes of degree might be motivators, but not the ceremony.
Perhaps its long term marketing. An acceptance into the club of Cardiff graduates, that should be remembered with fondness and pride, so that when the student isolder and a little richer, she will make generous donations to her alma mater. Perhaps, but is it the ceremony one remembers? I remember my university city, Thins the bookshop, the brisk march to Kings Buildings because I enjoyed what I was doing, the friends and the long walks through Morningside in the wee sma' hours when I couldn't sleep. All I remember of graduation day is my father being displeased that I did not thank him adequately for the support he had given to help get me there. If its marketing, its not aimed at the students.
So perhaps it is a ceremony with the same cause and purpose as other ceremonies such as marriage, coronation and the state opening of parliament. Marriage and coronation seem to be about public affirmation of a new state of affairs. The marriage ceremony is about making a promise to society, and perhaps to God, that in past times was a pre-requestite for sex. Coronation is a pubic affirmation of a new state of state affairs, made to members of society and to other nations. They are also a chance to show off wealth, status and power.
The above was written before we went. Having attended the ceremony, there is another aspect to it. It is about performing a process, and doing so in public, where it can be seen to be being done properly. The relevant professor proposes that his student be accepted by the university into the community of graduates with a particular degree, and the university accept the recommendation.
Whatever the social role of ceremony, Jena graduated from Cardiff university with a first class honours degree in Psychology. Well done Jena.
Posted by bwm at July 16, 2003 09:19 AM