Prom Queen??? Really??

This. The children who won would have been entirely aware that it was essentially a pity vote. Like those groups of men in night clubs who have " who can pull the fattest / ugliest/ geekiest woman competitions". .

I think that's a bloody awful thing to celebrate. A young man bereaved and in shock, being praised for stuffing it down and taking exams rather than being encouraged to take time to process the loss in a healthy way? Appalling.

They did best dress, best suit and best couple at DDs prom. It wasn't voted by the kids though it was the teachers who decided.
The only people who seemed to care was one couple who thought they were going to win and didn't. When I asked my DD what she thought she said it was okay but since no one really cared a bit pointless.
I do think Prom King or Queen is actually worse. What are the criteria for winning the tittle?

Reading this thread, something good came from lockdown... no prom.
DD was devastated, I was glad, I didn't need to spend £££ on a dress!

You checked with everyone did you?

Oh and that is total bullshit

Ask the kids. They love the prom. Doesn't have to cost a fortune. At my school we allocate free tickets to those who can't afford them and we have loads of donated suits and dresses. We have worked with the local college in the past to get hair and nails done for some. We do the Prom as the kids (and parents) who attend love it.
It was ours last week. Only about 20 kids in the year chose not to go (over half were on holiday making the most of it being cheaper). Some were in dresses from ASOS and some in designer suits. Lots of girls in trousers this year, and lots of frocks and trainers. So many parents turned up to watch. Very few fancy cars.
We have awards, voted for by the kids and we try to be as inclusive as possible - sport/dance/music/cooking etc are voted for. No 'best looking' or 'best dressed'. We do have a 'most likely to be on TV'. Thing is - the kids themselves want this. They also want Prom King and Queen. Interestingly never goes to the popular kids. They tend to vote for a couple who have been together for ages. I am not a fan of it but the kids want it.
Just because we didn't have it doesn't mean they shouldn't. It's part of our tradition now

We had prom King and Queen at my school leavers prom 15 years ago. It was a bit of fun and none of us are mentally scarred from it 🙄

Those schools who are voting for the "unpopular" kids - how bloody humiliating can you get. So glad I've got a son too.

No, it's not. For the kids who are never ever going to win a popularity contest, it's yet one more reminder of the fact.

It's horseshit.

Don't approve.

It's very Mean Girls and the ones who say "It's a bit of fun," are the same kind of people who call bullying "banter".

Is it any different from May Queen back in the day? I can remember really wannting to be May Queen but never chosen. I am talking about the late sixties early seventies.

"It’s not a bit of fun if you’re the ugly cunt in the corner with no mates …"
😂

It’s not a bit of fun if you’re the ugly cunt in the corner with no mates

Compare and contrast:

It's just a bit of fun, isn't it? Prom in general is an American thing so it's not that weird to include prom king/Queen.

Hell, my village does a king/queen for the summer fete. Harmless fun.

No, it's not a bit of harmless fun.

YABU

Its a bit of fun

This. There are many generations of British people for whom the prom was a very, very American thing (it is) and best known from Brat Pack films/Buffy/ Carrie et al. It is an import, in a way Halloween never was (especially if you come from more Northern regions) Why not just have a flipping end of year party?, where no one is competing with dresses and transport and all the other other lala nonsense that seems to go with it, like "Kings and Queens".

This doesn't explain why Homecoming Queens should ever become a thing in British schools, unless American football has actually become a widely played sport in them ? Don't think it has.

When someone mentions Prom Queen, I think of the final scene in the horror movie Carrie ...

The whole prom stuff is ridiculous. Throw a leavers disco and be done with it.

Also 🙄 at the posters here working in schools thinking it's good fun to have awards for "most likely to go on Love Island".

It's all so divisive.

This happened in my dds class. Prom king and queen are both disabled and in wheelchairs

Despise it.

@Florenz They’ve had “Homecoming Queens” in the U.S. for literal decades, in big cities and tiny towns during American football season.
They’re teens, and Homecoming is the biggest game of the year — the most exciting.
If you don’t like the “prom thing” either, and think they’re ridiculous, and think they “should be abolished…” then forbid your kids from participating in them. Simple. Your kids might be disappointed, but you’ll have stood up for yourself and your strong views — to hell with your kids.

No school that has it can be considered an outstanding school in my opinion. Or you could argue it is unfair to any child who does not fit into normal ways of dressing etc.

A bit shocked at the support for this from teachers. Most likely to be on Love Island? Seriously? Year 11/ 13s? Even if kids who've worked hard/ had a tough time are voted for by the teachers, I'm sure they're not the only ones in an entire year. Horrible idea, and divisive imo.

We had a leavers school party in 1991 not a new thing. Think it’s nice having an end of school bash. Dds school did it well most dresses were ordered online anecdotally all cost under £100 lots of girls wore their mums old dresses. They all had a good dance and shriek. Seemed great fun not sure why the angsting