Why Do We Still Do the Graduation Project at Carson?

This blog was written by Mrs. Missy Hager, an English Teacher at Carson High School. Mrs. Hager also coordinates the graduation project with other English Teachers and our School Counseling Department.

Every year there are rumors that the new batch of freshman aren’t going to have to do the graduation project.  Every so often a student complains that his sister/cousin/friend at (Insert Local High School) doesn’t have to do the project.  I’ve even had parents complain that the graduation project is a waste of time.  Since this is graduation project season at Carson as well as other places, I thought I would use my turn on the blog to defend the continued use of the graduation project. 

When word got around that the state was going to require a graduation project, sometimes called a senior project, many schools implemented their own projects to get up to speed before the project became a state requirement.  When Carson started using the graduation project, the entire thing was done in English IV classes.  That’s right, the whole thing-  paper, product, work hours, presentation- was completed in one semester, so I can attest that it can be done.  One crazy year, 2010 I believe, we had students do the project on their own under the guidance of their CATS teachers with English teachers grading papers.  While we had some success that year, those in charge decided that the whole thing would be more orderly if the paper was written as part of English III and the project was completed under the supervision of English IV teachers, and that’s how we operate today.  

The graduation project is almost universally despised by students, but we keep it because the skills they use to complete it are relevant.  Some benefit by learning what it takes to complete a long term assignment.  Others benefit by learning formal writing and research skills.  Still others learn that they can stand up in front of a group of adults and give a presentation without fainting.  For some students, the graduation project is the first time they’ve had to call and arrange a meeting with an adult for themselves.  I’ve had to coach students on what to say when they call about volunteering at the animal shelter.  I realize that some students don’t embrace the learning stretch and that others may exaggerate their work hours, but for the students who do the project, the benefits are there.  Most feel a huge sense of accomplishment and relief after they present and a bit of pride when they get their scores the following day.  When students do not pass their presentations the first time, they learn from that experience too.  

The willingness of our faculty and community members to help with our presentation night makes it more real for the students.  This is different than presenting in front of their buddies in class.  We ask them to dress for the occasion, either dressing up a bit or dressing the part- for example, a nurse in scrubs.  We try to get them to interact with the judges as young adults, and we expect most of them to be a little bit nervous.  When your turn rolls around to judge, I hope you don’t dread it; I hope you see some presentations that make you proud of our students.  Maybe you’ll see a student who fools around in your class do impressive work in masonry, mechanics, coaching, etc. I hope you’ll be kind and encouraging to students who are truly nervous wrecks doing the best they can, but I also hope that you won’t pass a student who doesn’t seem to have done the project or a student who is clearly capable but ill prepared. I think graduation project presentation night is a night for our students to shine, and when they learn and grow and improve, we’re living our motto - Students First.  

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