This is in relation to a boy who got barred from his senior prom in Shelton, CT, for the way he asked his girlfriend to prom. His name is James Tate, a honors student, who attends Shelton High School. Now I have to give him major props for creativity. He cut out 12-inch cardboard letters to spell out:
"Sonali Rodrigues, Will you go to the prom with me? HMU -Tate." HMU means hit me up, or call me.
That takes some major dedication to cut out all those letters and then tape them to the side of the school. That's right... he put it on the front of the school so everyone could see it.
School officials apparently decided to make an example of Mr. Tate by suspending him from his senior prom. Their reasoning? Trespassing! And to top it all off, the administration has said very little about this but the issues quickly made national headlines as more and more powerful players got involved.
The mayor of Shelton has said that the crime was too harsh... The governor of Connecticut has weighed in with the same sentiment! James Tate was even invited to talk about this whole ordeal on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Connecticut lawmakers are trying to pass a bill that would make it difficult for schools to ban students from after school events because of discipline issues. Their reasoning actually makes some semblance of sense. By banning students from after school activities, your putting them at risk to be involved in other potentially dangerous actions.
People are campaigning right and left to get this boy to his senior prom but the school administration won't budge. The students took it into their own hands starting protests, wearing t-shirts and even doing a sit-in in the school gymnasium. There's even talk of hosting an alternative prom away from the school. There is even a Facebook page for this kid with over 100,000 supporters.
Making an example of an honors student who is going to an Ivy League school in the fall is crazy! He doesn't deserve special treatment but barring him from prom because he asked a girl out in a creative way is absolutely ridiculous! What does this teach our students about free speech?
They teach us in history class about the bill of rights but apparently that only applies to adults. I believe every American, no matter what age, has the right to speak what's on their mind. People may get hurt by the words but you still have that freedom. There was been court cases about this kind of stuff. The Supreme Court ruled that students have the freedom of speech... even at school. It's freakin' CONSTITUTIONAL!
All the punishment does is crush creativity, which is always a sad story. Crushing creativity in kids and teens is terrible. Nothing good comes from it. Conforming is never good. He tries to stand out and is told to get back in line.
He came before school and posted the letters not causing a disruption during classes or even harming the BRICK school building. He put them up and took them down. Nobody was harmed in the process.
Personally, I don't see what was wrong about any of this. He was simply asking a girl to prom. I bet that most of the teachers got a kick out of it. The students thought it was adorable and romantic.
When I was in high school, half of our football team got caught at a party doing drugs. Their punishment? Suspended for 2 football games. That crime was much worse and the punishment a slap on the wrist. I bet you if it had been an all-star athlete instead the school braniac, they would still be going to prom. All it really does is force these kids into accepting those stupid high school stereotypes. So BOO ON YOU Shelton high school administrators for killing creativity and forcing your kids into stereotypes. This also makes me wonder about our educational system.
Also, when the governor and state politicians start stepping in... maybe it's time to reconsider? Especially if they're siding with the boy. I support you James Tate. The school board hasn't proven you guilty of anything except romantic creativity. Besides, if guys can't ask girls to prom in creative ways, what's the point of having prom?
Here's a clip from a local news station about the whole ordeal.
And let us not forget my useless Youtube video... dedicated to all the coffee lovers in the world! Kristin Chenoweth singing an arousing version of "Taylor the Latte Boy."
Well, I can't really say if I'm for or against what happened. To be honest, both sides have there points. Should Tate have been excluded from prom...no, "let the punishment fit the crime" as Gilbert and Sullivan would have said. No, it seems like it was a minor "vandalism" all in good fun and should have been treated with a slap on the wrist. On the other hand, he did go on school property late at night and that is against the school rules. Likewise, there is a set of school guidelines that have to be followed, and the school should reserve the right to discipline their students. The state should involve itself, with caution. Let us not make a mountain over a mole hill. While its unfair that a boy can't go to prom, it really isn't the end of the world. Tough call.
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