Posted on 10/17/2005 7:21:55 AM PDT by Millee
Brother Kenneth Hoagland had heard all the stories about prom-night debauchery at his Long Island high school: students putting down $10,000 to rent a party house in the Hamptons; pre-prom cocktail parties followed by a trip to the dance in a liquor-loaded limo; fathers chartering a boat for their children's late-night "booze cruise."
Enough was enough, Hoagland said. So the principal of Kellenberg Memorial High School canceled the spring prom in a 2,000- word letter to parents.
"It is not primarily the sex/booze/drugs that surround this event, as problematic as they might be; it is, rather, the flaunting of affluence, assuming exaggerated expenses, a pursuit of vanity for vanity's sake - in a word, financial decadence," Hoagland said, fed up with what he called the "bacchanalian aspects."
"Each year, it gets worse - becomes more exaggerated, more expensive, more emotionally traumatic," he added. "We are withdrawing from the battle and allowing the parents full responsibility. (The school) is willing to sponsor a prom but not an orgy."
The move brought a mixed, albeit passionate, reaction from students and parents at the Roman Catholic school, which is owned by the Society of Mary (Marianists), a religious order of priests and brothers.
"I don't think it's fair, obviously, that they canceled prom," said senior Alyssa Johnson of Westbury. "There are problems with the prom, but I don't think their reasons or the actions they took solved anything."
Hoagland began talking about the future of the prom last spring after 46 Kellenberg seniors made a $10,000 down payment on a $20,000 rental in the Hamptons for a post-prom party. When school officials found out, they forced the students to cancel the deal; the kids got their money back, and the prom went on as planned. But some parents went ahead and rented a Hamptons house anyway, Hoagland said.
Amy Best, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology at George Mason University in Virginia and the author of "Prom Night: Youth, Schools and Popular Culture," said this is the first time she has heard of a school canceling the prom for such reasons.
"A lot of people have lamented the growing consumption that surrounds the prom," she said, noting it is not uncommon for students to pay $1,000 on the dance and surrounding costs: expensive dresses, tuxedo rentals, flowers, limousines, pre- and post-prom parties.
Edward Lawson, the father of a Kellenberg senior, said he and other parents are discussing whether to organize a prom without the sponsorship of the 2,500- student school.
"I don't think they have a right to judge what goes on after the prom," he said. "They put everybody in the category of drinkers and drug addicts."
Some parents picking up their children on a recent afternoon said they support Hoagland.
"The school has excellent values," said Margaret Cameron of Plainview, N.Y. "We send our children here because we support the values and the administration of the school, and I totally back everything they do."
Alcohol abuse was, sadly, prevalent in both schools.
It doesn't really matter in this case, I think.
Alcohol abuse was, sadly, prevalent in both schools.
Sadly, too many conservatives subscribe to the "greed" creed. I would rephrase it to, "Desire is the engine of prosperity."
Greed, another word for avarice, is one of the seven deadly sins. Conservatives ignore that at our peril. Greed, according to my dictionary, is "wanting more than one needs or deserves." Greed entails trampling on others to fulfill one's desires; greed entails hoarding.
To call that man "greedy" who works hard and disciplines himself so that he can earn a better living for himself and his family, is an insult. The word is better applied to the person who hoards material wealth, stomps on others to get it, and gages the value of his wealth only in terms of how it compares to what others have or don't have.
Affluence doesn't have anything to do with Godliness. It neither guarantees Godliness nor negates it.
Because it's not FAAIIIR to the poor kids at school that cannot afford to go.
(/sarcasm in Michael Savage voice)
unless you know something about this particular school and what they have or haven't done, i would say that is an unfounded criticism. parents are the ones primarily responsible for their kids. to expect the schools to discipline their children for them is unrealistic.
So true. Just think how great things would be if everyone listened to us!
Something tells me Mrs. Cameron's children have been raised right.
all we can do is parent our own kids. i at least feel confident that my kids are able to spot irresponsible parenting going on around them. my 17 yo drove herself to school today for the very first time. her friends parents attitudes is: as soon as you have your license, i am done taking you anywhere, you can drive yourself. i told her that it was selfish and irresponsible of those parents, who were only interested in not being inconvenienced by driving their kids places and they wanted to get back to their OWN lives. i told her that she is lucky that her father and i don't HAVE LIVES and that we live to parent her, and her two siblings.
Try not to get lost within a thread.
The initial discussion that brought about the "Catholic bashing" charge was from another poster on #161 which was about smug, hypocritical Catholics (ring a bell?) from another Catholic poster -- not about Catholicism. but those who call themselves Catholic.
You come along with the
After all, did the faith fail the people or did the people fail the faith?
Well, duh.
No, not even close. Liberty is the engine of prosperity, and where you find Liberty you find the face of God on earth.
I'll take your word for it, in our suit-happy society.
"I don't think they have a right to judge what goes on after the prom,"
It's a private school, Dad, they have a right to make up their own rules.
Why would someone bother spending the money for a Catholic education and then encouraging behavior that goes against everything that education stands for?
the fact that this concerns a catholic school is largely irrelevant, as the problem is irresponsible parenting which crosses all religious boundaries. to fixate on the particular denomination is to miss the point.
No surprise there. Which is another reason why we homeschool 8-)
Bring back the nuns!
I graduated in 1972. It was considered a badge of honor if you got to second base after the prom!
Having money was not the problem. Spending on teenagers it in ways blatantly antithetical to values of humility and modesty was the problem.
Noting the subtle difference is vital. Socialists and liberals have an agenda built on class warfare and envy. This school's agenda, and I believe any moralist who considers avarice a bad thing, has an agenda built on humility and modesty.
And on top of all of that, it's being so open and unashamed about it. It seems to me like a few too many kids and parents think that cause they have money the law and the Catholic moral code don't apply to them.
Why would anyone in their right mind rent a party house to a gaggle of teenagers?
SD
The bases are loaded now days.
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