Lon Guyland Proms
I have a new hero.
His name is Brother Kenneth M. Hoagland, and he's the principal of Kellenberg Memorial High School in Long Island.
The story at abcnews.com begins:
Brother Kenneth M. 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 this fall.
"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. (Kellenberg) is willing to sponsor a prom, but not an orgy."
Read the full text of both of his letters to parents on the matter at the school's web site.
I am just so impressed with this man's willingness to talk directly about the greedy and vain way people treat events that were once fairly humble, such as sixteenth birthdays and prom. He calls everyone out, starting with the parents who finance these over-the-top, unnecessary extravaganzas.
And then he just closed down prom, because it is so out of hand! I love it! He's not afraid of the parents, and he is absolutely doing what is right. I admire him so much.
Posted by Amy at October 16, 2005 08:57 PM
