Fears of teen drug and alcohol abuse and other dangerous behaviors have prompted a high school in New York to schedule junior and senior proms for school nights. Students who do not show up for school the day after prom will be unable to make up their academic work, and will not be allowed to participate in sports.

• Pearl River High School administrators scheduled junior prom for a Wednesday night, and senior prom on a Sunday.
  
• This extreme measure is an attempt to curtail excessive partying and drinking that can often last an entire weekend.
• Principal Bill Furdon said after-prom parties were overshadowing the prom itself. Students were leaving the school dance as early as 10 o'clock to go into Manhattan and hit the nightclubs.
  
• Many students enrolled in other schools near New York City do the same, and parents worry about prom events involving too much drinking and excessive spending.
  

Most students at Pearl River High School are unhappy with the new policy, telling administrators that they believe they are being punished for behaviors of classes that went before them.

Furdon noted that this year's juniors and seniors will be treated to a breakfast of eggs, sausage, and bacon the morning after prom, courtesy of the PTA.

Labels: high school, prom, prevention

Posted By: Aspen/CRC