Proms. What's all that about ?

duchy

When my son left primary school I thought the rest of the parents had gone bonkers when they decided to have a Prom for the kids.

Tuxes for the boys - formal dresses for the girls - a disco and a magician and a formal meal waiter served by the teachers.
Limos (It was a tiny school with just one class per year so 2 limos brought they in relays from a central point)

I thought it was absurd but if I'm honest the kids all had a wonderful time (and so did the parents -we were banned from the building so had our own party with picnic food and champagne on the school field) and the photos are fab to look back on. They were a close group and not competitive so it worked as their first grown up party and no-one went OTT . Fortunately my son's secondary school had no interest in a Prom and saw it as pretentious rubbish though

missbiggles1

lostinrates wrote: »

No, I don't think it says anything about America or Americans that we are taking the Worst aspects of customs and making them more vacuous. How can it reflect on them when its us doing it?

Celebrating achievement, learning yo present yourself as an adult, individually etc......nothing wrong with that. The consumerist aspect I agree with, vehemently, but that's the people doing it, where ever they are.

I think that most of these habits are consumerist in the States before they ever make it over here though. Whether we make them more or less so, I wouldn't like to say.

missbiggles1

duchy wrote: »

When my son left primary school I thought the rest of the parents had gone bonkers when they decided to have a Prom for the kids.

Tuxes for the boys - formal dresses for the girls - a disco and a magician and a formal meal waiter served by the teachers.
Limos (It was a tiny school with just one class per year so 2 limos brought they in relays from a central point)

I thought it was absurd but if I'm honest the kids all had a wonderful time (and so did the parents -we were banned from the building so had our own party with picnic food and champagne on the school field) and the photos are fab to look back on. They were a close group and not competitive so it worked as their first grown up party and no-one went OTT . Fortunately my son's secondary school had no interest in a Prom and saw it as pretentious rubbish though

Why would anybody want to have a "grown up party" for 11 year olds?

Zinger549

We had three proms at my high school. One in year 9 (leaving lower site and moving to uppersite). It was just a simple disco. Year 11 one was a bit more formal. Boys wore suits or tuxido and girls wore dresses. Evey one came in limos. After the prom we went on a tour round London in the Limo for a bit which was fun. Didn't go to year 13 prom as I went to college after GCSE.

GlasweJen

We had a ceilidh for kids who did well in their coursework for 5th and 6th year. If you weren't predicted for A-C in at least 3 subjects then you didn't get to go. That was across all levels from access to advanced higher so didn't discriminate by ability, you just had to be in 5th or 6th year and passing 3 out of your 5 or 6 courses.

I didn't want to go as it was held at a local hotel and I didn't like the idea of a sit down dinner and ceilidh dancing with the PE teachers chaperoning, turns out most of the year group felt that way so it was mainly attended by what we called the "orange order" in school i.e. the girls who wore far too much fake tan and make up and boys who used more hair product than their girlfriends.

lostinrates

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I think that most of these habits are consumerist in the States before they ever make it over here though. Whether we make them more or less so, I wouldn't like to say.

I still don't see how what WE do reflects on Americans. In truth I find the knocking of America, a country as broad as ours in depth and approach, and rich in culture from its many roots rather.....xenophobic and indeed, a little ignorant often.

Mrs_Ryan

there were no proms when I left school. I think we all just signed each other's shirts and a bunch of us went out after exams and that was it.

Madmel

DD1 did her GCSEs last summer so they had a *Prom* organised by one of the other girls. They all take their exams in year 10 in her school so were 14 or 15 years old and there was definitely no alcohol.

Some girls spent a fortune on their outfits, and some were IMHO completely inappropriate. DD is very money-savvy and her entire outfit came in at less than £50. The dress was £6 from a charity shop and she has worn it on other occasions since. The shoes were £6 from a different charity shop. She did her heir and make-up herself - the main expense was a strapless bra, which sadly I had to buy new for around £30. The photos were lovely and they all had a fantastic time.

I don't like the idea of them much, but it was a lovely event, and DD really enjoyed it. The next one will be a formal dinner at the end of year 13 to which all staff are invited. I have been to a few of these as a teacher and had a great time.

missbiggles1

lostinrates wrote: »

I still don't see how what WE do reflects on Americans. In truth I find the knocking of America, a country as broad as ours in depth and approach, and rich in culture from its many roots rather.....xenophobic and indeed, a little ignorant often.

A country shows its nature in its customs, both good and bad, as well as its politics and what it does in the wider world.

Being critical of the USA frequently comes from knowledge whereas adulation often stems from Hollywood images. (The last point not being aimed at you.):)

lostinrates

missbiggles1 wrote: »

A country shows its nature in its customs, both good and bad, as well as its politics and what it does in the wider world.

Being critical of the USA frequently comes from knowledge whereas adulation often stems from Hollywood images. (The last point not being aimed at you.):)

Hmm. Well, many of us distance ourselves from our own governments' actions and policies at times. Indeed, knowledge is important. Living there for a while helps. Having family living/ working there helps. Having lots of friends who hail from there gives insight, I agree, far greater than gloss of tv or films ( which increasingly represent global aspiration ) .

The cohesive whole picture of information, social, political, educational, historical, and indeed cultural including modern culture is really the jigsaw for full picture though.