Woman fights to attend prom after being told she s too old

The Kingston Whig-Standard | 6-5-02 | By Sean McGrady

[Temple Owl]

Congratulations to Mrs. Mercer. And thumbs down to the idiots who tried to ruin her special night. This is in Canada so apparently stupidity does not at the border when it comes to school officials.

[Cicero]

Canada refuses to take second place to the United States on issues of political correctness. So it's really amazing that the school officials backed down.

[teletech]

Way to go Robin!! Shame on the school officials that wanted to ruin her once in a lifetime event.

[Mrs.Liberty]

Stupid. I could see if she was some hot single 37 year old woman who was going to take a regular-aged senior boy to the prom, but she is going with her husband, for Pete's Sake.

[claptrap]

Excuse me but this woman hasnt grown up, I hope she doesnt have a drivers permit, I also hope shes spent her $500 for nothing. Does the term "Get a life" mean anything anymore she deserves only derission and embarassment! Why would you want to broadcast what a doofus you had been for however long it took her to get her diploma? How freaking childish to then throw tantrum for the brain dead media to exploit!

[geaux]

So in Canada, a Catholic school can be forced to allow a gay student (who is a minor) bring his boyfrined (who is a major) to the prom, but a woman who tries to set her life straight is banned.

Well that certainly makes sense. /sarcasm

[Temple Owl]

Your are tough Claptrap. She may not be as mature or as smart as you, but if she has a good time, who are we to complain? At least she is going with her husband and not a 15-year-old football player.

[TomGuy]

How freaking childish to then throw tantrum for the brain dead media to exploit!

Sounds like she found a "cause" she could use for a lawsuit.

Or midlife crisis - trying to relive her teen years.

[pt17]

I think it's great that she's sufficient young at heart to go to a prom many years late. Doing so would send a number of positive messages that the principal, and others, are too grown up to understand.

[Smartaleck]

In contrast....the Texas legislature has granted a high school diploma to all eligable veterans who were unable to complete their schooling from 1940 to 1951 because of service to their country.

Such a veteran not only received one during my daughter's graduation, he recieved it along with his grandaughter also graduating and....

attended the prom held at Union Station were he left on a train in 1944 to serve his country.

Don't Mess with Texas!

[Rockiesrider]

Hey I'm with Claptrap. It's not the prom issue thats at point. She was a gratuate in a minor way associated with the high school (didn't attend there). At 37 living out a dream she should have had 15 years ago. "If I can't have my way ...Ill sue"! I'll bet she votes Democratic.

[SerpentDove]

This lady is sorta creepy. Have you ever seen "Whatever Happened to baby Jane"?

[Frohickey]

Mercer, who is 37, went back to school this year to obtain her Grade 12 through correspondence at the local adult learning centre, which became affiliated with Sharbot Lake High School this past fall.

Maybe they are afraid that Mercer will buy booze for everyone at the prom.

[afraidfortherepublic]

My husband and I went to our oldest daughter's prom in Texas.

In her school district there was a tradition that seniors could "try out" to provide special entertainment at the prom, appropriate for a formal occasion -- singing, instrumentals, etc. My daughter and a male friend prepared a duet (they sang "Evergreen" from A Star is Born, if I remember) and another young man accompanied them on the piano. The pianist went on to be Liza Minelli's accompanest in NYC within just a few years. My daughter earned two higher degrees in music, and I don't know what happened to the baritone. The parents of the kids providing the entertainment were invited to the dance to watch the entertainment and to stay for the dancing.

We wore formal attire, and we had a wonderful time. We didn't feel too old -- there were lots of teachers there, after all.

All I've got to say to Robin is, "You go girl!" I hope she has a wonderful time.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Somehow, I found it rather regrettable that she would WANT to go the the "prom" at her age........

And even more regrettable that the adminstration would DARE fight her desire.

But, as mentioned, congrats on finishing school, and on having the guts to return.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Don't Mess with Texas!

Agreed. See #15.

[Paul Atreides]

What's next? People wanting to have another prom because they didn't like who they went with the first time, or what they wore? She sounds just like a Ricki Lake guest.

[Osinski]

Talk about raining on somebody's parade. There's a lot more screwed up sh*t in this world than a woman wanting to go to the prom.

This is nuttin compared to the social engineer who wants to barr those from entering the trades as opposed to going on to college from attending their high school graduation ceremony (Southern California). Now that's dangerous.

[gcruse]

"I was a hooker, a boozer, a no-account loser."

Jerry Blank.  Strangers with Candy.  Hilarious series.