High school proms are a major event. I think they have gotten a little out of hand since my day, but even then they were a major event. Today they may include hotel rooms, limousines, and hotel ballrooms. We had the high school gym and my future husband’s ’53 Ford convertible. That was it. I do think that high school proms have gotten out of hand, but to me that is an issue the parents need to have to courage to deal with.<\/p>\n
Yesterday The Daily Caller<\/a> posted an article about a new policy at Lakeland Regional High School regarding the senior prom.<\/p>\n The article reports:<\/p>\n Students and parents at a New Jersey high school plan to protest a new policy banning limos and party buses as acceptable transportation to and from the senior prom, CBS New York<\/a> reported this week.<\/strong><\/p>\n Under the new policy, Lakeland Regional High School prom-goers will be required to take the bus to the once-in-a-lifetime event on June 4.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe have students from various. . . socioeconomic backgrounds, \u201c Superintendent Hugh Beattie told ABC 7\u2019s <\/a>Eyewitness News this week.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAnd we wanted to provide an even playing field for all students,\u201d he added.<\/strong><\/p>\n The superintendent said the group decision by the administrative team was \u201cbased on the concern over the safety of all our students and in providing equity for all students so that they all could enjoy a shared \u2018prom experience\u2019 despite socio-economic status,\u201d according New Jersey 101.5.<\/strong><\/p>\n Students will reportedly pay $15 for a 45-minute, chaperoned bus ride from the Wanaque, New Jersey school to Rockleigh Country Club.<\/strong><\/p>\n Parents and students have objected to upending the traditional pomp and circumstance of renting limos for transportation to the prom.<\/strong><\/p>\n The article concludes:<\/p>\n \u201cA prom is a school-sponsored function, a school district has the authority to make rules concerning the event,\u201d New Jersey School Boards Association spokeswoman Janey Bramford told New Jersey 101.5.<\/strong><\/p>\n The school does have control of the event, but do they have control of how the students arrive and depart from that event?\u00a0 It is unfortunate that they are using that control to seriously curtail the fun for the seniors. I can’t imaging climbing into a chaperoned bus in a prom gown and being excited about it. I would also think that renting limos or party buses might avoid some of the consequences of teenage drinking and driving (which unfortunately does happen during prom season).<\/p>\n This ruling is a perfect example of how socialism works–since not everyone can afford this, you can’t have it. What about the kids who worked all year to save money for the limousine? Aren’t they entitled to the fruit of their labor? High school seniors are old enough to understand that not everyone has the same amount of money. Seeing kids in limousines at the prom might encourage them to work hard to become successful. I think this decision by the school board is ridiculous. If parents don’t want their kids to have limousines at the prom, they need to band together with other parents to discourage the practice. I think the school board is overextending their authority when they attempt to control how the students get to and from the dance. Again, would you want to climb on a school bus in your prom gown?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" High school proms are a major event. I think they have gotten a little out of hand since my day, but even then they were a major event. Today they may include hotel rooms, limousines, and hotel ballrooms. We had … Continue reading