The School Prom - For or Against?

American twaddle!

We call them school valedictories or formal nights here and some still call them the Deb’s Ball. Good chance for grandparents to go and see their lovely grandchildren and have a good evening out ,at least until the dreaded Covid. They give the kids ballroom dance lessons at school in preparation, can’t go astray. Most girls hire their gowns but some actually buy them.

I think it’s got completely out of hand and is inappropriate when some of these kids’ parents may be struggling to feed them. I would like to see schools stopping these events and substituting them with something low key and accessible to all.

In the school where I taught, the pupils were in charge of organising the prom. The actual school had little to do with it nor did they have any say over how much it cost. There was a bank of suitable clothes gifted by previous pupils which were available. I attended a few but it was spoiled by some kids getting drunk and becoming a nuisance. I spent one prom in a girls bathroom making sure alcohol wasn't consumed in secret. It was not the way I wanted to spend a very expensive evening or remember a year group! Rules were tightened up but I stopped going. I think the whole thing has got out of control and far too expensive.

Think they are one of the more horrible Americanisms that have arrived here. What was wrong with the Disco night that used to beheld for school leavers.

I also really dislike the stupid idea of babies (nursery schools) have 'graduations'

I was so very proud of one of g.daughters, who totally refused to go to her school prom after GCSE's.. Her Mum did say she would cover any costs without problems, her many friends kept trying to get her to change her mind - BUT she opposed the idea of these things and was adament about not attending. Wonderfully principled and strong minded.

Her Mum went out and purchased top price tickets for musical she knew her daughter wished to go to in London's West End for that day and kept those as a surprise for her until that day came. She had a wonderful time.

(Silly) fancy dress?
Paintballing?

The whole thing has got completely out if hand !!! Ridiculous.

Hyped up occasion; very stressful and expensive for many. Think the end of term days out at theme parks were a better idea!

The best way to control them is to stop schools or associated groups from putting on any leaving event that requires a child to pay more than £5-£10 to attend or requires any clothes that a child would not normally have in their wardrobe - jeans and T shirt, for example.

When DD graduated from drama school, I think they all made their own dresses and DDs involved an old sheet and lots of paper hankies.

Actually, why not insist that all prom clothes, boys and girls, should be recycled from something else, like the second round on Sewing Bee?

I’m very, very against. How I would have hated it! So competitive about the unimportant things.

Do all schools have them? Surely not.

We did an end-of-school review, written by ourselves and quite funny. Much better,

Another ridiculous American (money making) event.

Definitely against.
Lots of chances for the haves to laud it over the have nots.
Dresses costing £100’s, limo hire, even daddy’s helicopter has been known.
Teens should be learning about social equality not inequality in these times.

It's become another financial burden for parents and competition between the girls ... and probably between the parents too.

Some in my granddaughter's year not only had a prom dress but professional makeup, false lashes, false nails, hair styling and the hire of a limo to arrive in style! Then there are the photographs!

Fortunately my granddaughter just wanted the dress (which was enough hassle and expense in itself), and did her own nails and hair.

Personally I think it's got out of hand.