Easter Prom

“Disrespected”

“Back Stabbed”

“Ignored”

All these words come to mind when I think about the recent Loganville High School Prom. Why? Did something happen? Was the music tawdry? Did I get kicked out? No, I don’t know, and no. In fact, I’ve heard just the opposite about the prom. It went really well, was a blast and the Fox Theatre was a great venue.

So why do such harsh words come to mind? The LHS prom was planned for the Saturday Night before Easter Sunday. What! When my son first told me that he wanted to attend I said yes without really thinking about the date. I was sure that it was just a random Saturday Night in spring. Boy was I wrong.

I admire teachers for the ways they master a subject, handle large classes, pull the best out of students and volunteer to lead clubs, teams, and dance parties like a Junior Senior Prom. I’m sure that Mr. Franklin and the administrative staff at LHS. are fine, well-intentioned folks who are as burdened with balancing family, finances, life, work and faith as any of us. Local schools and the teachers who lead them need to be supported by parents and others in the community daily. I have valued my partnerships with teachers over the years. Several have been heroes in the lives of my children. Don’t trash teachers, but do raise concerns when merited. Sometime, even the best of people need to be challenged because of bad decisions.

I’m not one to protest a lot of things or make a big stink about anything… and that’s not my point here. This is not an attack piece, but it is an opinion piece.  Sometimes we just need to say that we disagree with something so that those in charge will think twice in the future. In my opinion, the LHS 2011 Prom was planned on the wrong night. When I asked my son why the prom was on April 23rd he replied, “That’s the only night they could get a good place.”  Hmm…  What’s more important, a swanky place to hold a prom or honoring families, faith, and local churches by planning it on a weekend that is more suitable? I think that decision is pretty easy one, but the wrong decision was made in this case.  Holding prom on the night before Easter puts a large school event in direct competition with the biggest weekend of the year for local churches. I’m sure that was not the intent, but it was the reality. 

And I was saddened that several families were unable to participate in the Orchard’s annual Great Egg Hunt at Blue Spring’s Sports Ranch and missed Easter worship due to after parties that sometimes lasted until 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. Easter morning, I would also like to give big props to the students and families who showed up to Easter worship anyway… even if a little bleary eyed and pale from a lack of sleep after a long exciting day. Your commitment to God in a culture where he is often forgotten is admirable. Way to go!

Easter Eve… it’s the wrong night for Junior-Senior Prom.  What do you say?  I would love to know below. 

Just sayin’