Red State School Board Says Marine can't attend girlfriends Prom

[BOSSHOG]

The 21 year old Marine has orders to Iraq. His 18 year old girlfriend is a senior at Pearl River Central Mississippi High School. They have been dating since he was a senior and she was a freshman, they are contemplating marriage. The schoolboard says he can't go to her senior prom because of his age.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/14348850.htm

"Support the troops?" True love, a value? Since the story ran in the paper on Saturday there has been a cacophony of opposition to the school board's action. We'll wait and see.

[DS1]

1. There is an equally simple and obscene way to be allowed in.

and that's all I have to say about that

Semper Fi, brother!

[AbbyR]

2. I think that's pretty common

for schools not to allow graduates or people over 18 in as dates. I know it was true in my school and my kids' schools.

[greenbriar]

5. I am prom sponsor for this years prom and we are allowing 21 and under

in.

[eyesroll]

3. Don't most schools restrict over 21s from attending prom?

I know mine did. It was supposed to keep both alcohol and 40-year-old predators out.

I don't think this is a matter of supporting troops. If this guy wasn't a Marine, but, say, a high-school dropout with an ex-wife and a kid, would anyone be rushing to this couple's defense?

I think it would be nice to make an exception for this couple, but it wouldn't surprise or disappoint me if they didn't.

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. That's astoundingly similar...

to the sort of logic that makes a 19-year-old who has sex with a 17-year-old a 'sex offender'. And both parties here are of legal age. This isn't a balding thirty-something dope dealer with a jailbait girlfriend we're talking about here; to make that sort of comparison really just defies common sense.

[eyesroll]

6. A school rule is different from a sex-offender law.

.It's a PROM. By definition, it's an event for teenagers.

Schools can, and do, set arbitrary rules all the time. Setting a cut-off age of 21 is less arbitrary than a lot of school rules because 21 is the legal drinking age in the United States, and also the age at which one's right to a free public high-school education ends.

I'm not a fan of zero tolerance, and as I said, an exception to this rule would be nice. But I understand where the school board is coming from. They do have a vested interest in keeping adults out of an event for teenagers.

There's a difference between banning someone from prom, and branding someone a sex offender for life.


And, on edit: The comparison I made -- between the dropout with the ex-wife and kid and the Marine -- assumed they were both the same age, and without criminal records. Do we allow some 21-year-olds into prom because they're model citizens or military or sports stars or whatever, and probit others because they've got some baggage?

[MADem]

10. Well, I went to school back in the dark ages

But we had a few "slow" kids in the student body, who were 21 when they finally graduated. What do they do in those cases?

I guess they'll have to tell the freshmen to leave the juniors and seniors alone, and vice versa!

[eyesroll]

13. The policy is for guests, not students.

Heck, some schools prohibit non-students of any age from attending dances. Would we be up in arms about that, simply because the 21-year-old is a Marine?

[MADem]

17. Well, back in the day when Georgie Geek or Wilma Wallflower

wanted to go to the dance, often a cousin (sometimes older) would go with them out of the goodness of their heart. Guess those days are long gone, ya can't even help out a relative anymore!

[juajen]

15. My daughter's boyfriend was 20.

They started dating when he was a senior and she was a sophomore. No one ever even questioned how old he was.

[ChoralScholar]

20. Aah... the rational thought I've come to expect from you :)

Good call.

[MADem]

7. Well, the only reason they KNOW how old the kid is, is because he WENT

...to a neighboring school. Are they planning on ID'ing every single person at that foolish dance? What's the cut-off? Is it JUST AGE? How about Little Freddie the Lengthy Schooler, who was held back three years because he isn't the brightest bulb, or was sick, or had a learning disability?? How about the helpful cousins who go together, because someone cannot get a date and does not want to go alone? Don't they realize they are both ADULTS, of voting age, and the young lady could enlist if she so chose???

Idiots. Complete and total idiots.

The kids should find out what the age differences are between the administrators, teachers, superintendent of schools and THEIR spouses--and see if the cloth cuts according to the measure. I hope some of the talk shows grab ahold of this and make that school district look like the ASSHOLES that they are.

Is R chirrin learnin', indeed!

[BOSSHOG]

8. The school board is getting a lot of flak

in the soundoff and ltte section. I think this is one exception that can be made. And if the marine shows up in uniform that would be a great PR story for the school. I'm sure if he gets killed later this year in Iraq the school board will turn out en force to attend his funeral to show their "support."

[wakeme2008]

9. The Marine Formal Dress is sharp....

If he attends in that I would OK it in fact OK for all people showing up in military uniforms. :)

[DRoseDARs]

11. My hs restricts attendees to highschoolers and >20 year olds.

While we don't have to like it, if that's this high school's policy, I don't see the problem here. :shrug:

[BOSSHOG]

12. I think the school board could make an exception

The problem I have is that members of this community are all flag draped "patriots" supporting the troops by god. A one time exception would be a classic case of "supporting" a troop.

[Flavin]

14. Prom

If you all are chaffing at the rules for that school, try ours on for size:

Regular dances = your date must be enrolled within our district and have their student ID card. This is to handle disciplin if there is a need for it.

Prom - you AND your date must be upper classmen (11/12th gr) AND you must both attend our school. If you are from another school within our district, you can't come. Prevents fights, etc.

Flavin

[hayu_lol]

16. Not to throw a monkey wrench into this discussion...

But would he be an acceptable date if they were married?

Seems to me that the girl is being discriminated against in this particular case.

[MADem]

18. That's a valid point...wonder how they'd handle that problem?? nt

[guidod]

19. Contemplating marriage at 18 years old?

What a mistake! My wife and I met when we were 16 years old and got married when we were 24. We're 58 years old now and both agree we made a mistake. If this girl was wise she would get a different date for the prom.

[underpants]

21. Ain't 18 in Mississippi an "old maid"?

:yoiks: