[Warwithwheels]

We have seen how many Educational institutions across the globe are reinventing themselves to beat the COVID 19 pandemic thru' online learning, virtual classrooms etc. However, Canadian International School, Bangalore has taken it to a different level altogether. They have organised a Drive through graduation ceremony, which is a first in many ways!

Here are few excerpts about the event:

Donning the traditional gowns and hats, these students hitched a car ride to their school in Bengaluru for a very special reason – to celebrate their graduation. However, given the current circumstances, a traditional event was out of the question, so the school came up with something ingenuous – a drive-through ceremony.

Source: Hindustan Times

“Today, CIS held Bangalore’s first drive-through graduation ceremony! Graduates and their parents drove around our football field and as each car passed by, teachers cheered them on as they received their certificates,” the school wrote. “This year’s graduation theme of “We’ll find a way or make one”, really shined through!” they added.

Source: Facebook

[Thilak29]

More than celebration, this to me seems like blatant display of elite-ness.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

More than celebration, this to me seems like blatant display of elite-ness.

And this was perhaps the only occasion where the parents learnt how to park their cars in an orderly manner too.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

More than celebration, this to me seems like blatant display of elite-ness.

Even if it is a display of eliteness, this is a very practical way of having a graduation ceremony in the current scenario. Kids have gotten very unique memories of a once in a lifetime day.

Who are we to question someone for spending their own money? Can you assume that everyone who is rich is a crook? No. Is it the kid’s fault that their parents drive BMWs and Mercs? No. Is it a crime to drive around in premium cars? No. As long as nobody underage is behind the wheel, I don’t see any problem here.

[akhil_007]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

More than celebration, this to me seems like blatant display of elite-ness.

Agree 100%. Schools should treat kids uniformly. They could have done this by keeping a social distance of 20 feet. And handing over certificates via a slide/barge pole :-)

And what's with "Graduation". It's class 12 or maybe class 10. Not even a degree

[libranof1987]

Wow; I'm amazed at the flashiness of this ceremony. But then, as a friend keeps saying, you can't blame someone for the privilege they're born with.

Not the best example to set when world over, there's a desperate fight for equality.

Originally Posted by akhil_007

And what's with "Graduation". It's class 12 or maybe class 10. Not even a degree

I hope this is 12th; there's a kid on a Ducati getting the certificate! Also, the in thing today is to call it a graduation even when a kid goes to Sr. KG from Jr. KG.

[androdev]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

More than celebration, this to me seems like blatant display of elite-ness.

To be honest, this is an interesting idea and the school should get a pat on the back. There is no secret that majority of the families that can afford these schools would certainly be owning high end cars and any regular day would look like this in the parking lot. However the school administration should have gone though the process of pre-approving the vehicles used for the event just to avoid all the obvious negative press for such an interesting idea. I am sure everyone would have enjoyed the event with modest cars also.

I know my suggestion may seem absurd to many but we live in a world where political correctness is very important. No one freaks out if a family sends 2-3 kids to such schools with yearly fees upwards of 10L per student but become uncomfortable if they are seen in a 50L car.

[srini1785]

When you can ( i mean papa can) spend close to 5L /year ( and i am guessing) on your education. It makes some sense to pass out in style. Some folks know how to have a party even in the middle of a funeral. I hope they did not have any restriction on the minimum length of the car - car distance. I mean M800 - M800 (B2B) distance would be less than normal social distancing norms.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Is it the kid’s fault that their parents drive BMWs and Mercs? No. Is it a crime to drive around in premium cars?

I don't see anything wrong with parents driving such cars because tomorrow it can be you but given the fact that most of such gatherings (of certain number and above) is still restricted, the same parents could have declined to such an event. There is nothing proud of what the school or the parents did anyway and not even unique if the school is thinking so.

And there is always someone working for a certain media house either known to parents or the school management who would simply publish such events as news! This one is no exception.

We parents of a certain school declined to collect the books for the next academic year despite the school allowing one parent at a time with predefined slots. No, not that everyone was overly paranoid about the situation due to the pandemic but for sure here was a case where each of the parents was thankfully thinking alike that if the school can deliver the books home at a cost, it will avoid visit to the school. And this school is elite by its parking lot standards if we are benchmarking certain category of vehicles.

And the school agreed! We had the books delivered to our gate right via the school van itself with 2 men inside sanitizing their hands while wearing gloves and masks.

Regarding the graduation ceremony itself, well these days my kid graduates every year to the next one with such events, except the last year!

[moralfibre]

My niece's school in California did something similar. Parents had to drive through their kids in the school campus for thanking the teachers. Was quite a heartening video to watch where all parents drive their kids through the school parking lot with various teachers stationed at some distance for #socialdistancing norms.

I hope this doesn't become the new norm and we are able to have our kids attend school in person soon. (Desperate plea of a parent )

[ValarMorghulis]

And now we know the reasons behind the popularity of a sunroof/ moonroof in cars in India

[srishiva]

Kids in cars without sunroofs might be feeling bad

Its a good way to do as it was safe. They could have seated them maintaining proper distance and managed it too. But this is less expensive way of doing it. Hope the gentleman did not shake everyone's hand. He could be safe but not the kids by using the same glove.

[Raghav96]

I believe in these high end schools, display of wealth(papa’s/mumma’s wealth) is a part of curriculum.

I hope the ducati riding guy has the required skills and maturity to handle the power of this bike.

He must be the talk of the school( assuming parents being parents will not get their child a superbike at 18 year age, irrespective of their bank balance.). This Statement may not be 100% right but in majority cases, parents are more comfortable giving their kid a car than a bike.

[landcruiser123]

I saw something similar in my neighborhood in the SF Bay Area.

Originally Posted by Thilak29

More than celebration, this to me seems like blatant display of elite-ness.

I don't understand the shaming when one displays his/her wealth. Not every wealthy person is a crook. Most of these parents must have established their roots in a foreign country and possibly hold high paying jobs. They've been fortunate to get the opportunities and have a high standard of living.

People like the glamour and glitz to celebrate such milestone events. Let us not spoil the moment of celebration for the children.

[Thilak29]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Who are we to question someone for spending their own money? Can you assume that everyone who is rich is a crook? No. Is it the kid’s fault that their parents drive BMWs and Mercs? No. Is it a crime to drive around in premium cars? No. As long as nobody underage is behind the wheel, I don’t see any problem here.

I did not hint that there is any crime or crookedness here, I stated what I felt when I looked at these images and optics seemed bad to me knowing the difficulties society is enduring under current tough times. Of course I can stay muted and wonder who am I to pass a comment! That is still an option.

Originally Posted by androdev

we live in a world where political correctness is very important. No one freaks out if a family sends 2-3 kids to such schools with yearly fees upwards of 10L per student but become uncomfortable if they are seen in a 50L car.

The inequality is society is not the topic this forum should discuss, I concur we live in a society of stark realities.

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

I don't understand the shaming when one displays his/her wealth. Not every wealthy person is a crook. Most of these parents must have established their roots in a foreign country and possibly hold high paying jobs. They've been fortunate to get the opportunities and have a high standard of living.

People like the glamour and glitz to celebrate such milestone events. Let us not spoil the moment of celebration for the children.

Call me old school but wealth can serve better purpose under current times than since last many decades. Nobody is shaming anyone here but only calling out spade a spade.

No intention to spoil anyone's happiness here but since education and wealth is a concocted topic here, it reminded me of a snippet from age old Sanskrit text named 'hitopadesha'

vidyA dadAti vinayaM, vinayAdyAti pAtratAM |
pAtratvAddhanamApnoti, dhanAddharmaM tataH sukhaM ||

Translation : knowledge gives monastic discipline, from discipline comes worthiness, from worthiness one gets wealth, from wealth (one does) good deeds, from that (comes) joy.