To think that school proms are just American imported nonsense, and not to see the point?

[EmeraldThief]

When I left school in 1998 we had a leavers disco on the last afternoon in the school hall. Music was supplied by one of the teachers on a CD player, food was sandwiches and crips on paper plates and we wore our uniforms. I don't remember if we had photos taken, but if we did they'd have been on a disposable camera!

So I missed the whole "prom" thing by a few years or so, and I have to say that I'm glad because I just don't get. Several hundred quid on a dress that's only going to be worn once? What about parents on a tight budget? Then there's the fake tan, professional make up, transport, photos etc. Once again, ok if your not on a tight budget? What about kids who've had a bad time at school and just want to leave and forget about it? The whole thing feels fake and so un British to me, I'm amazed they've taken off over here actually.

AIBU to think that they should have stayed in America along with Baby showers, Bridal Showers and these silly pre school graduation ceremonies? We'll be celebrating the 4th July next ffs.

Celebrating Christmas as we currently do is also largely an import albeit one in the - if I recall - 19th century. At what point would you wish to draw the line, OP?

I think proms are daft but then I think most modern 'hen' celebrations and 'showers' of various sorts are daft as well. They seem to be popular and meet some kind of need though.

Things change.

i left school in 1990 we had 'a leavers do' it was a meal and a disco in a local restaurant we all got dressed up but no limos, special nails,makeup etc .

Don't agree with primary proms but afyer gcse's - yes!

My dd had a wonderful evening with her friends, most of which were off to different colleges so it was really the end of an era for them.

I can't speak for the others but my dd's whole outfit was less than £50 (dress, shoes, bag), jewellery and pretty silver hairband was from Claire's (probably about £20 tops), our share in the limo was £25 and the actual prom ticket was free due to dd's good attitude and helping in the school. We did hair and make up ourselves and took the photos ourselves.

All in it was less than £100 for her to have a wonderful night that she'll remember forever.

Looking forward to doing it again with the next dd

If you think that's bad, you should see the "graduation" stuff they do for pre-schoolers here. Really. They have the cap and gown and have pictures taken to mark their start of formal education. At the age of 4!

Totally makes me but it makes the kids happy. I just think that by the time you get to high school/college the cap and gown thing is done so many times that it doesn't really mean anything!

My British upbringing makes me a bit antsy and bluthering about Proms but I think it's no different to an end of year disco but with an American name. None of the people I know did the limo thing, but the dresses were brought and gifts for graduating were given, like a special piece of jewelry etc.

But then we have the student honor roll bumper stickers here too and frankly if my kids grow up aiming to be the best they can be and value education then I'll go along with it.

I left in 1996 and we had a leavers' ball (for year 13) at a 4* hotel in the nearest city. Maybe you just missed out.

We'll be celebrating the 4th July next ffs.

Well, maybe you should. Considering the anti-American flavor of some of this thread, celebrating the day you got rid of us well after a bit of a war anyway might seem like a good idea.

Professional makeup, fake tans, expensive dresses are all a matter of choice, as is attending the prom. Some kids enjoy the dress up and sense of occasion, those who don't can choose not to attend.

Not a massive fan of proms - the year our DS had his there was a lot of one-upmanship with parents vying to outspend each other on clothes and rides. Must have been a nightmare for less well off parents.

However, I do like the USian "year book" tradition which wasn't around when I were a lad (mind you neither was running water and electricity ). It's a lovely keepsake, and we'll treasure it forever.

The point Is purely to have a good time. And that is all the point you need, whether you be in Wyoming or Woking.

spend the last afternoon down the park with your mates, a bottle of Thunderbird and 20 B&H.

same here. Except we had a bottle of Pink Lady. Ahh, the memories. It feels like a life time ago.

As for proms, I think they're a fun way to celebrate the end of school. You don't have to go OTT with it. If people are silly enough to spend hundreds, then that's their look out

My friend's DD has just been to hers. The ticket was £15, her dress was £30 in a sale, fake tan out of a bottle and her and her friends did each other's make up. I don't think anyone had a limo, a group of boys rocked up in shopping trolleys decked out with balloons.

Bloody Americans

You're entitled to your opinion of course, but the reality is different.

I don't know anybody who's paid a fortune, even the hire of a limo Comes in at under £20 a head.

I'm organising limos for our Y6 Achievement Ceremony. Asked a few of the mum's after being told by DD that her friends were all getting limos so garnered opinion from parents..I was amazed that so many were interested. 20 so far, every one invited to avoid it being a popularity competition.

School aren't happy but meh, I've spent less on "prom" than I would taking DD to Alton Towers for the day.

My eldest left school 3 years ago. He loved his prom. Al the pupils that went had a fantastic time.mthe lads looked so smart and all the girls were so glam.

It was great seeing the different modes of transport they turned up in for a laugh.

I'm looking foraward to my younger sons next year.

Just because a previous generation had a basic disco doesn't mean that things can't move on and develop! In fact I wish we had them when I left nearly 35 years ago!

DD1 just did her y11 prom. She loved it. Going to 6th form college so no prom end y13. Unlikely to have a university ball as unlikely to go to university.

Several hundred quid on a dress that's only going to be worn once? No - pre-owned from ebay

Then there's the fake tan, No

professional make up, No - did own

transport, No - friend with nice car drove

photos, 1, £10 with her friends

She did have some new shoes and a new bag, but they will last for many years to come. At the end she wore my shawl that I wore to May balls in the late 80s.

You have to opt out of the one-upmanship.

YANBU.

They have got completely ridiculous.

Don't get me started on cheer leading being a 'sport' taught in schools.
Another import from USA.

My ds had 2 proms and dd 1 andca 6th form to come. None have costcs fortune. Dd had a nive new suit which he wore to school in 6th form and the 6th form prom.
Dd had a lovely dress from ASOS which was about £80 beaded skater style but you can pick lovely dresses for £20 or £30 in ASOS or Boohoo. The tickets were about £25.
DS wanted to arrive in style but found out the price and relied on taxi cab called DAD.

But I do hate this whole "American imported nonsense!" that gets bandied around so much in relation to proms, baby showers and Halloween - it's a cheap shot and its very tiresome.

Just because you don't want to celebrate it, don't tar an entire nation with the "ridiculous" brush.

I'm no fan of baby showers that involve stupid ass games, but I love baby showers that involve spoiling my friends and buying gifts for them and the baby. If you don't want to get a gift before the baby comes because you're superstitious or you feel it "grabby" (hate that word!) then just don't! I don't get the angst, or the miserable scoffing.

If its fun and it makes a collective group of people happy then I'm all for it - there needs to be a little more fun in this miserable world!

So what if it is an American import? So what we didn't have a prom?
They've worked damn hard and they deserve to go and have a lovely night out.

TBH I don't mind rebadging the leavers events as "proms" if it makes everyone happy and it isn't costing an arm and a leg. So what if my 11yo DD goes to a leavers' disco or a leavers' prom - they seem to be one and the same thing to me.

I have been shocked by one local state school that has a "leavers' week" with all sorts of exciting trips and activities everyday (theme parks etc.) over the course a single week at the cost to parents of a couple of hundred pounds. Plus the leavers meal and the leavers disco as well. Now that seemed OTT.

I think having them for leaving primary school is a bit ridiculous, but we definitely had a prom by another name when I left secondary school in 1989 - hired hotel function room, fancy frocks, etc.

Sorry - forgot to say that was primary aged.

30 years ago in Ireland I went to my debs and the boys schools had grads dances - black tie, sit down meal, band. Having a formal dance to celebrate the end of secondary school is certainly not a purely american thing.

Like wedding nonsense, I suppose you navigate it the best you can in a way that doesn't compromise your beliefs too much.