Each school has its own traditions, which after decades remain relevant for the new generation of students. And this is not only the classic events held by teachers from year to year, but also the rules of behavior, customs, moral principles that have been carefully stored in the walls of the school for a long time.
What are school traditions?
Each tradition is an entrenched order that relates to social life, moral standards, and cultural heritage. Each school operates according to the rules established in the state. But besides these rules, there are still their own traditions that are passed down from generation to generation, from older to younger. Whatever traditions are present in the school, they appeared on the initiative of the team, under the influence of time, with the participation of people who are not indifferent to school life. Over time, traditions can change, creative principles give new life to old foundations, events become interesting for the younger generation. Some traditions disappear, as they become irrelevant over time.
Classification of school traditions
The stories and traditions of the school, depending on its scale and area of distribution, can be divided into several categories.
- School-wide traditions. This category includes events such as the school line, the last bell, graduation.
- The traditions of the primary team. First-graders, having come to school, begin to get acquainted with the new team, the class teacher, so it is very important to provide all the necessary conditions for this. In order to unite the team, joint events and competitions are held in which all the parallels of the first classes take part.
- Events. Holding traditional holidays is aimed at the formation of students' responsibility, patriotism, discipline and organization.
- Deeds. In most schools, it is customary to congratulate each other on their birthday, March 8, February 23.
It may be traditional to collect waste paper or a community work day on school grounds.
Each category includes events and concerts, the content of which is aimed at the development of skills, the formation of worldviews, the development of physical culture, and the rapprochement of intra-collective ties.
September 1st line
Every year on September 1, all schools in our big country have a line. The principal delivers a speech, gives instructions to the students, and sets them up to work. Children are dressed smartly and give flowers to their class teachers. Parents of first graders take part in the celebration and accompany their kids. A photographer who takes class pictures is invited.
There is one very interesting tradition in most schools - a high school boy picks up a girl from the first grade, together they make the first bell in the school year, holding the bell together.
After the ceremonial part, children and teachers disperse into classes. The class teacher provides instruction on basic issues related to the new school year. In high school, classes begin. The tradition of elementary school is a concert dedicated to the Day of Knowledge.
Teacher's Day
This is one of the traditions of the modern school. On this day, students meet their class teachers with bouquets of flowers, give teachers gifts. On Teacher's Day, a concert is held, which is prepared by children with the participation of mentors and parents.
On a holiday dedicated to teachers, as a rule, Self-government Day is held. The most responsible students with a high level of achievement accept the duties of teachers. Children should prepare for such an assignment in advance, because they will have to spend several lessons in elementary grades. Teachers should control the educational process, which will take place without their active participation. The best student teachers are awarded with gifts or certificates.
School playground
With the start of the summer holidays, children have a long three-month rest. Some schools have a day-care program for a children's wellness area. Every year, the elementary classes come together in groups and take part in the life of the summer camp.
Three meals a day are organized for children, teachers and counselors are appointed. The role of the latter is taken by high school students. They are active participants and organizers of children's events, contests, competitions and holidays.
The life of the school site is no different from the life of a children's recreation camp. Each unit comes up with its own name and motto. Children take part in daily activities, develop and just relax from the school year.
May 9
On this day, the entire school curriculum should be saturated with patriotic themes. School holidays are canceled. The school hosts a concert dedicated to Victory Day. Pupils sing war songs, stage performances, read poetry.
War veterans are welcome to attend such an event. It is necessary to prepare flowers and certificates for them. In classes, you can organize meetings of war veterans with children. During such meetings, veterans answer children's questions, talk about military life, share their memories. Children can also prepare their stories that they heard from their great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers.
On the board of honor you can hang photos of war veterans who distinguished themselves during the battles. Each region has its own heroes, their memory must be respected on this day.
School traditions in education play a big role. It is on this significant day that every child should be imbued with the atmosphere of wartime, understand the benefits and appreciate the merit of the brave participants in hostilities.
New Year's party
Before the New Year holidays, school mornings take place, in which all classes participate. As a rule, in the elementary grades a holiday is organized separately. Children, together with their parents, choose holiday costumes, the event is held in the form of a carnival.
The holiday must be attended by a dressed Santa Claus and Snow Maiden. Parents contribute money for which the school purchases gifts. New Year's carnival is an event that all children are looking forward to.
In high school, New Year's discos are held. Some schools exhibit large New Year mailboxes in which each student can drop a postcard or note indicating the name of the recipient and his class. Before the New Year holidays, the box is opened, postmen give out cards with congratulations.
School customs
The concepts of "tradition" and "customs" are very similar, but have fundamental differences. Traditions are certain knowledge that is transferred from generation to generation, they do not have a binding to a specific territory. Customs is a tactic of behavior, stereotypes about the rules of behavior in a particular life situation. They are also transmitted from the older generation to the younger and are a set of rules.
If the presence of school traditions is characteristic of almost all schools in the country, then customs can be characteristic of only one school.
As an example, we can consider the following situation: a great and world-famous cultural figure studied in one of the schools. Every year, on his birthday, the school team organizes a festive event in his honor. This is a school custom. Each school has several such interesting customs that the staff of the educational institution will always remember.
New school traditions
A striking example of such new products is the management of a class group on social networks. Innovative technologies bring new traditions and customs to school life. Some of them are immediately picked up by the younger generation, others remain forgotten.
Classmates and teachers can communicate with each other online, raising questions not only about school life, but also after-school activities.
Another innovation for the school is the use of electronic devices. Many educational institutions have already switched to training, which requires students to have tablet computers. Educational innovations are fundamentally new school programs that are aimed not only at learning, but also at the comprehensive development of the individual. New programs contain new goals and methods for working with children and their parents.
Another interesting tradition has come to us from across the ocean: children of all classes are handed out A4 leaflets. Each child must draw or describe how he sees the world of the future. Against the background of general impressions, a letter is being compiled for residents of the future. The sheets are folded into a metal flask called a time capsule. Time capsules in many cities of Russia were laid in 1967, when the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution was celebrated in the USSR. These capsules have been buried in the ground for several decades. In 2017, they began to dig out the capsules and open them. It was very interesting after such a long time to consider the drawings and read the words of their predecessors.
Relationships within the team
The tradition of maintaining friendly relations in the team and the manifestation of attention and tolerance towards each other came to us from the distant past. Competition and rivalry must also be present, but their manifestation should not be negative. Pupils, parents, teachers and other employees of an educational institution should be in a partnership relationship. Only this form of communication will allow you to achieve the objectives of the curriculum.
Mutual assistance should be encouraged by educators, negativity should be suppressed. A culture of communication is part of a culture of behavior that is verbal. It is necessary to teach children to say hello, say goodbye, ask questions correctly, engage in polemics, and prove their point of view.
It is traditionally believed that the elders should protect the younger ones, and the younger ones should respect the elders. These norms and traditions of the school demonstrate to students a pattern of behavior, an example of actions in a particular situation.
Finally
Everyone will be able to name the many traditions that were characteristic of his school. Surprisingly, many of them have survived, despite the fact that many years have passed. Of course, new traditions have appeared, which, in turn, may remain or disappear without a trace. It all depends on the needs of our society and its desire to move forward. What are your traditions at your school?