Congratulations to the Class of 2008 on your graduation from high
school! We here at the Express are confident that you will
succeed at wherever life takes you in the future. In the
meantime, here are some fun graduation-related tid bits:
• A graduation ceremony is a cultural tradition termed as a “rite of
passage.” Belgian anthropologist Arnold van Gennep coined the phrase in
1909; he believed that passage rituals had three steps: Separation from
society; transformation; return to society in the new status.
• Harvard University held the first graduation ceremony in America in 1642.
• Sir Edward Elgar composed “Pomp and Circumstance” in 1901. The title
comes from a line spoken by Othello (“Pride, pomp, and circumstance of
glorious war!”). The march was first used for the coronation of King
Edward VII, but became associated with graduations in 1905, when it was
played as Elgar received an honorary doctorate from Yale University.
• The term “mortarboard” for the square hats donned by graduates first
appeared in the mid-19th century. The name derives, not surprisingly,
from its resemblance to the board upon which bricklayers place mortar.
• Until the second half of the 20th century, mortarboards were often worn by schoolteachers.
• Salutatorian is the second highest ranking graduate. The title comes
from the salutatorian’s traditional role as the first speaker at the
graduation ceremony.
• Valedictorian is the highest ranking graduate. The word comes from the valedictorian’s traditional role as the last speaker.
• In Australia and the United Kingdom, a diploma is known as a
“testamur” or “testimonium.” In Ireland, it is generally known as
“parchment,” probably because parchment paper is still used.
• The largest high school in the United States, G. Holmes Braddock
Senior High School in Dade County School District, Florida, had a
senior class of 852 students. This year, DHS graduated a little over
200.
Whitman-Hanson School Committee 5.20.08
EPA ruling against Dunham Farm contractor
