Why don't they dress up anymore?

Last week Megan finished Head Start. They of course had a ceremony to celebrate the occasion. They didn't call it a graduation, it was called a Stepping Up Ceremony. It was absolutely adorable. The children sang songs and they did recieve a diploma. I was a little suprised though. Besides Megan only one other little girl was dressed up. When I was a kid I remember any graduation, whether it was kindergarten, middle or high school, was an occasion to dress, not just nicely, but dress up. The other kids were wearing regular school clothes, nothing shabby, but certinly not fancy.

This week Debra will be graduating from Elementary School. She informed me she was going to wear jeans and a nice shirt. She said that was what her teacher told her to wear. She and I fought for days. I told her she was going to wear a skirt or dress, or she wasn't going to the graduation. Finally, she had her teacher write me a letter informing me that they have in fact, asked the students to wear regular school clothes. Can you believe that? Isn't this a special day? Shouldn't we always wear special clothes on special days?