I never thought parents like this existed until my wife became a teacher

[disykat]

People seem to be forgetting that schools are liable if they don't provide rules and supervision.

Parents and kids can do what they want, but not at school functions. Waaay too many risks.

 

[Rora]

Wow...

I think people should have to take a parenting test before reproducing.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

People seem to be forgetting that schools are liable if they don't provide rules and supervision.

Parents and kids can do what they want, but not at school functions. Waaay too many risks.

I guess it begs the question, what risks are arriving from a couple of 18 year olds "sandwiching" another between them and dancing? Especially during an event that will be supervised. I can see having chaperones manning the dark corners, the bathrooms, etc., but to dictate what kind of dancing? Seems a little too "Footloose" for my tastes.

 

[mamacatnv]

People seem to be forgetting that schools are liable if they don't provide rules and supervision.

Parents and kids can do what they want, but not at school functions. Waaay too many risks.

I get rules and supervision, a detailed list is extreme. What "liability" occurs over a bit of dirty dancing and making out on the dance floor or a dress that shows too much cleavage as deemed by who?

 

[mamacatnv]

Wow...

I think people should have to take a parenting test before reproducing.

I don't understand this statement in regards to the current discussion.

 

[Aisling]

I guess it begs the question, what risks are arriving from a couple of 18 year olds "sandwiching" another between them and dancing? Especially during an event that will be supervised. I can see having chaperones manning the dark corners, the bathrooms, etc., but to dictate what kind of dancing? Seems a little too "Footloose" for my tastes.

I don't think there are any risks, but if I were a chaperone and saw them grinding and sandwiching, it would make me uncomfortable.

 

[Rora]

I don't understand this statement in regards to the current discussion.

I should be more specific... to determine if they'll be fit parents. What parent would encourage this type of behavior from their teens? Would anyone really want their child dancing like this?

Of course, teens are teens but I've never heard of parents encouraging this type of behavior.

Not sure how recently some of you were teens or what your prom was like but I'm 23 and I've seen some very interesting/scary stuff happen at prom. Parents should be thankful there are rules in place AND that there are chaperones there, whether the teens like it or not.

 

[mamacatnv]

I should be more specific... to determine if they'll be fit parents. What parent would encourage this type of behavior from their teens? Would anyone really want their child dancing like this?

Of course, teens are teens but I've never heard of parents encouraging this type of behavior.

Not sure how recently some of you were teens or what your prom was like but I'm 23 and I've seen some very interesting/scary stuff happen at prom. Parents should be thankful there are rules in place AND that there are chaperones there, whether the teens like it or not.

Thank you for clarifying. I don't think anyone here was saying, cart blanche do whatever they want to and encouraging the behavior. I think several of us were commenting on the example that suggestive behavior leads to pregnancy, drunk driving etc.

Also, several of us commented on the fact that the school feels the need to regulate every touch, move etc.
I as a parent, who didn't take a test prior to becoming one, but have done a decent job and consider myself "fit" takes offense to the fact that the school district feels it must regulate every move a person makes at a prom. IMO schools have gone overboard in their regulations.

I am 44, let me assure you, we were doing "interesting/scary" stuff at our proms too! Your age group did not create the concept.

 

[beck0321]

ITA here. We had a huge after-prom sleepover (mixed couples), and then we all went to the beach for the weekend. IIRC everyone was 18 at the time. At that time I had a serious girlfriend, and we'd been together for 2 years. We were good kids, and both sets of parents allowed us to stay overnight at each others' house frequently. Even though most would consider that very lax, we loved that our parents respected us enough, and, in turn, we never did...well...you know...until after we had moved off to college. It was the whole show us respect, and we'll show you respect.

Crazy! Sounds just like my and DH's high school story. We were together for 2 years when we were 18, and are still together 10 years later (and still not pregnant!)

 

[Rora]

Thank you for clarifying. I don't think anyone here was saying, cart blanche do whatever they want to and encouraging the behavior. I think several of us were commenting on the example that suggestive behavior leads to pregnancy, drunk driving etc.

Also, several of us commented on the fact that the school feels the need to regulate every touch, move etc.
I as a parent, who didn't take a test prior to becoming one, but have done a decent job and consider myself "fit" takes offense to the fact that the school district feels it must regulate every move a person makes at a prom. IMO schools have gone overboard in their regulations.

I am 44, let me assure you, we were doing "interesting/scary" stuff at our proms too! Your age group did not create the concept. ;)

I don't doubt it! We must have learned it from someone!!

I should also be a bit more sensitive, there are MANY great parents out there. Really, I believe that. I'm a teacher. But I have seen so many ridiculous accounts of parent behavior (truly, unreasonable behavior) from simply being in a classroom for a short 2 years.

I wasn't trying to point fingers at anyone on the thread-- more just to the parents referred to in the article.

 

[mamacatnv]

Crazy! Sounds just like my and DH's high school story. We were together for 2 years when we were 18, and are still together 10 years later (and still not pregnant!)

Pssst.... It's okay now if you want to

 

[beck0321]

Pssst.... It's okay now if you want to

Not before December!

 

[disneyjunkie]

My son graduated from a Catholic high school last year. They had a ton of rules. As a result, most of the seniors left the prom after a few hours. They ate, took pictures and then left. The group my son was with (most of them did not go as couples) only stayed there for 2 hours. Instead of staying at the prom, they had the limos take them to one of the party cruises that sails around the city.

These prom cruises are making a killing due to the crazy rules the schools feel the need to impose. Proms here tend to be geared toward seniors, not juniors. Most prom goers here are 18, not 16.

 

[mamacatnv]

I don't doubt it! We must have learned it from someone!!

I should also be a bit more sensitive, there are MANY great parents out there. Really, I believe that. I'm a teacher. But I have seen so many ridiculous accounts of parent behavior (truly, unreasonable behavior) from simply being in a classroom for a short 2 years.

I wasn't trying to point fingers at anyone on the thread-- more just to the parents referred to in the article.

I always tell my kids, "don't even try it, we invented it or at least your Dad did!"

Interesting not a single responder supported the alternate party - there is hope! I so don't agree with that type of behavior either, that does send a poor message to their own kids.

Just because I don't agree with it does not mean that I will look for a way around it or plan an alternate event to be spiteful.

Thank you again for clarifying, I appreciate it and totally understand where you are coming from

 

[clarabelle]

I guess it begs the question, what risks are arriving from a couple of 18 year olds "sandwiching" another between them and dancing? Especially during an event that will be supervised. I can see having chaperones manning the dark corners, the bathrooms, etc., but to dictate what kind of dancing? Seems a little too "Footloose" for my tastes.

I think there is a danger of a child being put in an uncomfortable position. Being pressured to do something that they don't want to- having someone touch them somewhere they never wanted to be touched.
Also a danger of someone giving out signals -that in their inexperience they never meant to give out. Does that make sense?

 

[shortbun]

b4 I judge the parents, I'd like to see the guidelines.

 

[disykat]

I get rules and supervision, a detailed list is extreme. What "liability" occurs over a bit of dirty dancing and making out on the dance floor or a dress that shows too much cleavage as deemed by who?

The liability comes when someone is unhappy with the lack of supervision and causes a stink. If anything unfortunate DOES happen, what is seen by the community as a lack of supervision could really hurt a school's credibility. It starts in elementary school. When anything happens on the playground parents are very quick to say "how could the teacher not see..." "aren't they being supervised..." "why were the children allowed to run..." etc. People EXPECT supervision from a school. It doesn't stop because the kids are older - it's still a public school. It is not the same as if the students are in their own homes, etc.

 

[MrsPete]

Well yesterday, one of the PARENTS called the school and complained about this. They said the guidelines were stupid and they were hosting a dance, the same night as prom, at an alternate venue, so the kids could do what they wanted.

Hey, I've heard of parents renting hotel rooms for their kids (and their dates) on prom night. Insanity.

 

[LuvLDM]

Hey, I've heard of parents renting hotel rooms for their kids (and their dates) on prom night. Insanity.

I know someone who did this, I worked as her personal assistant for several years. That same (school) year she handed me her credit card and asked me to take her 17 yr. old to the local beer distributor to go shopping for her graduation party. I told her she was out of her mind.

 

[klacey1]

Wow. Some people...