Years ago, when my Tacoma middle school decided to celebrate our 8^th grade graduation with a nice dinner and a borderline dowdy ceremony at a local improvement club, I felt a bit sheepish. Not just because I was 14 and wasn’t exactly comfortable wearing a dress, the whole thing just felt anticlimactic. Wasn’t graduating from 8^th grade a given? Wasn’t graduating from high school supposed to be the worthy “achievement,” which still loomed four years away?

This morning, the New York Times explores the growing controversy surrounding 8^th grade graduations. Some schools find the over-emphasis on 8^th grade graduation an antiquated throw-back to an era when 8^th grade was the highest level of education those headed for blue collar work attained. Other schools highlight the rite (often including mini-proms and limousine rides) for students whose parents may not traditionally celebrate educational achievement.

In a speech last Sunday at a Chicago church, Barack Obama took on the pomp and purpose of these ceremonies. “Now hold on a second — this is just eighth grade,” he said. “So, let’s not go over the top. Let’s not have a huge party. Let’s just give them a handshake.” He continued: “You’re supposed to graduate from eighth grade.”

“Mr. Obama was wading into a simmering debate about eighth-grade ceremonies and their attendant hoopla. Do they inspire at-risk students to remain in high school and beyond? Or do they imply finality?” asked the Times.

Me? I tend to hover somewhere in the middle. While I do think finishing 8^th graders deserve slightly more than a handshake, I don’t think the event should resemble a high school graduation. The emphasis of 8^th grade graduation should be looking ahead to success in high school—and frankly, starting to plan where a student’s path will head afterward (may I suggest college brochures placed strategically between the punch and cupcakes?).

Parents? Teachers? Hallmark cardmakers? What do you think?

Do we need to rebrand finishing 8^th grade as the, “Congratulations! You’ve-got-four-more-years-to-go -so-start-thinking-about-your-future?” graduation?