What Should Tell Students about Diplomas?

One of these days my daughter was awarded with the diploma "For excellent studies". This first award of my first-grader and therefore she is extremely proud and happy with her reward. At the same time she kept asking about the diplomas, their history and purpose. It was necessary to us with the wife to recollect everything, that we know about the diploma and to tell to it.

The history of the diploma dates back many centuries and dates back to the times of Ancient Greece, where the diploma could certify the fact of heroism or that its possessor is a messenger of God.

Later, the diploma was given to the peasants when they were given a free certificate. At the same time, my daughter had to explain that there were times when every peasant had a master and to prove his right to freedom, it was necessary to present the relevant document. For this purpose he also served as a diploma.

For her daughter, this was a real discovery - she received for a good study a document that previously confirmed the right to freedom. And there was a mistrust in his eyes.

I had to explain the modern interpretation of the meaning of the word "diploma". I told that the diploma is a book without sheets, only with the cover, which is issued to those who entered after school to college and graduated from it. The daughter asked if she would get a diploma if she went to university. I explained that the diploma is a document summarizing under a long-term study at the institute, academy, college, technical school. In this case it will be necessary to write a thesis and protect it. For excellent students there are diplomas of red color. The daughter said she would try to get a red diploma.

I continued the story and explained that there are diplomas awarded for achievements in sports. Musicians and artists are also awarded diplomas for their successes and victories in competitions.

The daughter asked, and what do they give out for graduation from school? I replied that the document, called a matriculation certificate, in which points indicate the subject.

The wife supplemented my story with the fact that earlier children could be trained not in schools, but at home, where they were taught by tutors, who were given the appropriate diploma. But the diplomas were very different from the modern ones.

So, to the best of my knowledge and skills, my wife and I tried to tell our daughter about the diploma, its history and meaning.