Prom age limit needed, but put it in handbook
No one is disputing the right of school officials to put age restrictions on after-school events such as the upcoming prom.
Age restrictions are appropriate and in many cases necessary. School officials are perfectly within their boundaries to establish what that age limit may be.
In the case of this year?s Warren County High School prom, principal James Bennett has ruled no one over 21 shall attend the prom ? period.
Truth be told, it?s a sensible age limit. High school students, who are normally no older than 18, don?t need to be bringing grown adults to the prom. It?s a high school event intended for high school students to enjoy and officials are being gracious to allow people up to 21 to attend in the first place.
That said, school officials would receive an F if grades were being given on how this so-called rule has been publicized and enforced. For starters, prom age restrictions are not listed in the school handbook so dubbing it a rule isn?t entirely accurate.
Many students weren?t made aware of what?s being called a ?prom policy? until a few weeks ago. This is after several students with over-21 dates had already made plans to attend.
As most of us realize, attending a senior prom is not a last-minute decision. Dresses are picked out months in advance and tuxedo and limousine rentals are involved. It doesn?t take long before prom expenses become considerable investments of both time and money.
That?s why school officials shouldn?t be so lax in establishing something as important as prom age restrictions. Instead of plainly posting the prom guidelines in the student handbook, or making a blanket announcement at the beginning of the year saying no one over 21 will be admitted, the high school administration instead relied on what Bennett called ?word of mouth? to let students know the rules.
That?s a policy that shows shallow thinking and leaves the door wide open for misinterpretation.
For argument?s sake, let?s see what would happen if the Southern Standard allowed word of mouth to determine what stories appear in the newspaper.
? Earlier this week, the newspaper was informed by word of mouth that a special waiver has been granted to one student to allow a guest over 21 to enter this year?s prom.
? A couple weeks ago, it was suggested to the newspaper by word of mouth that the teachers union is against random drug testing because a number of teachers would fail.
? Earlier this year, the newspaper was told by word of mouth that a special education student brought ? and shot ? a gun at the high school.
Fortunately, the Standard relies on a good deal more than word of mouth when determining which stories to publish. That?s our responsibility because so many rumors we hear by word of mouth don?t turn out to be accurate.
Likewise, school officials have a responsibility to students to clearly convey the rules they are expected to obey. To say students must abide by a policy they should of heard through word of mouth is careless.
For a milestone as important as the senior prom, students deserve better.