American schools have plenty of unique traditions that divide parents. While some moms and dads embrace these customs wholeheartedly, others question their value—they might even call for them to be banned. Here are eleven school traditions that most parents are split on. We’re not here to judge so it’s okay if you celebrate these or not!
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Early School Start Times
Lots of schools ring the first bell bright and early in the morning, which is great for some parents as it fits with their own work schedules. But not everyone agrees—some parents worry that kids aren’t getting enough sleep & are too groggy to focus in class. They argue that teenagers do better when school starts later so there’s no reason for them to begin so early.
Mandatory Volunteer Hours for Graduation
A number of schools require students to complete community service hours before they’re able to graduate, which is meant to encourage teens to contribute to their communities. It also teaches them valuable lessons that they may not get elsewhere. Of course, there’s also the worry that these hours are an added burden on students who already have packed schedules—figuring out how to fit in volunteer work is quite difficult.
Valedictorian Honors and Class Rankings
Naming a valedictorian to honor the top student is a classic part of graduation in America—it’s a way to recognize students’ academic achievement & hard work. However, opponents argue that strict class rankings create unnecessary stress and competition among students that stops students from enjoying school. They worry it might discourage kids from working together or may even make them focus too much on grades over learning. School becomes much too tedious for some children as they miss out on the job of simply learning something.
Dissection in Biology Classes
Dissecting frogs or other animals in biology class has been around for ages because supporters claim it gives kids a hands-on way to learn about anatomy & science. Opponents don’t think it’s right to use real animals, especially since some kids might feel squeamish about doing so. Instead, they support using virtual dissection programs—they’re a lot cleaner for starters and they don’t involve dealing with real animal carcasses, which is always a bonus.
Electing Prom Kings and Queens
High schools everywhere have prom seasons that include crowning a prom king & queen. It’s a tradition that’s existed for a while, with supporters claiming it makes the school year exciting and gives students something to look forward to. At the same time, critics argue it’s more of a popularity contest that leaves many kids feeling left out. They also worry that prom reinforces stereotypes while putting too much emphasis on social status, instead of being an individual.
Participation Trophies for All
Many schools give out trophies to every kid who takes part in sports & other activities because they think it encourages kids while making them feel good about themselves. However, some parents argue that handing out awards to everyone lessens the meaning of winning. They argue that it doesn’t teach kids about healthy competition—instead, it makes kids expect rewards just for showing up.
Competitive Fundraising Events
Schools love to organize fundraisers like bake sales or walk-a-thons, with some parents jumping right in, happy to help raise money for new equipment or school trips. But others feel swamped by the nonstop asks for donations and the pressure to sell stuff to friends & neighbors. Turning fundraisers into competitions pits kids and even parents against each other, which doesn’t always feel great!
School Resource Officers on Campus
Having police officers, or school resource officers, on campus is meant to keep students safe—some parents feel better knowing there’s an officer around in case something goes wrong. But others are uneasy about their kids interacting with law enforcement every day since they worry it makes things too tense. In fact, they fear it could lead to unnecessary disciplinary actions against children.
High-Stakes Standardized Testing
Standardized tests have become a normal part of the school experience and some parents think they’re important for measuring how well kids are learning—they also believe they show how schools are doing overall. But others feel these tests pile on too much stress since they don’t really capture a child’s true abilities. They also worry that teachers spend more time preparing for tests than on real learning, making for quite a heated debate.
Mandatory School Uniforms
Numerous schools have strict school uniform policies that some people support since these rules cut down on distractions & help make everyone feel equal. Yet other parents think uniforms remove kids’ sense of individuality—they’re also quite costly, especially if students need specific items. There’s also the hassle of keeping uniforms clean and ready.
Open Campus Lunch Policies
Certain high schools allow older students to leave campus during lunch, which is supposedly a way of teaching teens responsibility & giving them a sense of freedom. On the flip side, some parents worry about safety—how do they make sure students will return on time for afternoon classes? There’s also the concern about where kids might go & what they might do off-campus.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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