Cardboard Letters Get You Banned From Prom

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As the title says. A high school senior thought he'd ask his date to the prom by taping cardboard letters with that message to the side of the school building. The school suspended him and banned him from the prom, which seems like a very heavy-handed punishment for the infraction.

I mean, it's not like he spray-painted the letters on the side of the school - that would be vandalism - he just taped the cardboard letters to the side of the school and took them down the next day. No harm no foul to me.

Linky

 

Back in the Day this would've been considered sweet or inspirational. And of course followed by some scolding and cleaning up.

But in 2011 its considered trespassing and a terroristic act. tststs.

Bah, glad I went to school when things were less idiotic.

 

Acts like that should be encouraged. It's promotes creativity. As long as you are not vandalizing the school. We do live in ridiculous times. I remember banners and such things being hung in school by kids doing very similar things. Asking a girl out. Showing your undying love for someone. Any number of things. The teachers would often help.

 

Yet another example of why "zero tolerance" is a foolish policy. When you take away the ability of rational adults to use common sense, you end up with results that only a bureaucrat could agree with. The latest I heard on today's news was that some Republicans in the state senate/house were trying to pass a law that would allow alternative punishments so the kids could go to the prom.

The other problem I have with this is that there is a reason why the word "stupid" goes so well with "kid". I think too often as a society we want our children to behave and think like thirty year olds and then we are shocked when they act like a stupid 17 year old.

 

Rules that apply to kids (or generally ) should be morally flexible to a point.
To abide to the them to the letter and in such a absolute manner, is ridiculous, and absurd at best.

@Snook;

I think that the word 'stupid' goes even better with 'grown-ups' There's little left in todays elder, that could shine as an example of character.

 

Ah yes, clearly the handwriting of principal Concretus Cranus.

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Infractions must be punished. Always. The kid broke the rules, thus he must be punished. That's the iron law of zero tolerance. The rules are an end in itself, their raison d'etre is their existence.

Heaven forbid they would have treated it as the silly idea that it was and left it at it. That would have violated the iron law. Motives, proportionality, adequacy and details play no role in this; they are irrelevant. The punishment is a mere reflex of the rule infraction. Mindless.

But on the flip side, it allows for cost cutting since all a principal now needs to do is to check his rules for infractions, and then apply, almost mathematically, the sanctions (i.e. if you can flip burgers, you can be principal). Clearly, that's what being a teacher and a principal is all about. Also, since no discretion is exercised (more, the very point of zero tolerance is precisely to eliminate any discretion), the principal doesn't risk sticking his neck out, protecting him from liability and the unwelcome burden to take responsibility.

 

That's right, because what if the next student put up cardboard signs that read, "Praise Allah?" but still took them down the next day. Then you would have hysterical parents complaining about Islamic terrorists, demanding the extremist be removed from the school. By not having "discretion" the school avoids confict of what is OK to "let slide" and what is not. They have a set rule and apply it evenly to everyone. In my opinion this is how schools and our society at large are more and more reflecting "corporate think." This kind of policy can come right out of an employee handbook, regarding the use of company property.

 

"Oh, boy! I can go write whatever I want on the walls of the school as long as it can be easily cleaned up!" Easy being relative of course ... after all they have sand blasters in shop class....

The kid was stupid. I think the punishment fits the crime.

"OH MY GOD! Those bastards aren't going to let me go to a dance with my one true love! This is cruel and usual punishment! It's a violation of my inherant right to make gyrations at a rhythmic ceremonial ritual!"

 

Well, that's a pretty good point: turning the side of a school building into a public billboard isn't a great idea.

 

What kind of sellotape do YOU use?!

We sellotaped giant novelty bloomers to the side of our school saying "PROPERTY OF <NAME OF HEAD MISTRESS>" in large felt lettering sewn onto them

I think "Will you go to the prom with me?" is much less offensive depending on the spelling and grammar, of course.

Trespassing onto the school grounds though is another matter entirely.

 

The trespass charge is bogus unless the school has gates that are locked at night to prevent entry to the school grounds (which I've never seen in any high school).

 

To pull the 'Praise Allah' thing, would be a bit over the top, in the US. And a ballsy move!

But the 'askin' for Prom and hopefully a shag later' is hardly the same league!

Woodstock is over!

 

Nevertheless, it would not be considered over the top by a muslim. That's a judgement call and one a principal is reluctant to make, since a school is a public place. Still, no doubt it would be a ballsy move.

Snoopy still lives!

 

To be honest, I don't think the kid was stupid. It was actually romantic. And memorable. Is everyone out there that uncaring anymore?(not refering to you T2, just school officials in general..) I know, I know "if everyone did it..." or " If they used it for a forum..." arguments are valid, but to remove them from the prom is excessive. It is a one time chance. You only get one senior prom. Most people have some very fond memeories from that night. It's usually a virginity -buster!

Detention for a week would be a more fitting punishment, if any is deserved. Taping cardboard letters is hardly defacing. Spray painting on the other hand would require a more severe punishment, like removal from the prom, but taping cardboard and then actually removing it right away as well? I graduated in 91, no one would of been in trouble for that in my high school. Maybe a principal or advisor would of spoken to those involved, but that would of been the extent of it.

 

Prom? What took you guys so long?

 

Banning him is a pointless overreaction. This was a silly, fun, romantic gesture, that's all.

I can't help but wonder when the Head's hubby last did something like this for her. Jealousy, methinks.

 

We don't know the whole story. What I do know is that high school kids these days seem to think they can brazenly flout rules and conventions at will without ever facing any consequences. I for one am glad the little piece of fecal matter was punished. God knows administrators with the cohones to actually enforce rules on the spoiled little bastards are few and far between.

And youth is no excuse. We do the young a disservice by teaching them that they can say "I'm just a kid!" when they flagrantly, knowingly break a rule. That sort of hippy crap doesn't benefit society or the student in the long run.

 

Had he spraypainted the wall or something i'd agree with you LKD, but at the end of the day this was harmless. People should do stuff like this more often, the world would be a better place for it.

 

In the articles I've read the kid got a one day in-school suspension for the incident -- which seems to be pretty reasonable to me. Unfortunately, a suspension does not allow participation in school social events for 30 days (also reasonable). Perhaps if the male bundle of hormones thought -- even for a second -- about his actions and what the results might be we wouldn't be having this thread.

 

About his actions and what the results might be ???! You make it sound as if he nearly burned down the school. No, he didn't do that. He taped cardboard letters to a brick wall.

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From what I understand the cleaning costs must have been negligible. If the principal was smart he or she or it would have let him remove them, but, yeah, that one wasn't in the rulebook. There are no consequences, but personal ones for him, for that action. Maybe the school janitor who probably had to remove the cardboard letters from that brick wall was late for dinner. Thinking of it, Tate probably owes him a six pack.