Prom Queen??? Really??

[FraeYah]

My niece was voted Prom Queen. She is a really lovely girl, kind and clever, and I wrote something lovely on the FB post.
But, come on. Why are schools promoting this nonsense? I'm not objecting because it's an American idea, and not because its aimed at girls (there was a Prom King...and a Prom prince); but because it's completely unnecessary and about as relevant as Miss World. They could have had a fun celebration in fancy clothes for everyone, without having to run an outdated "popularity contest" pitting children against each other.

Oh great. So the cool kids have voted in 2 on-cool ones as a joke.

Maybe not, but it so easily could be like that a way of laughing at them in plain sight with plausible deniability.

Yes because attractive popular people don't get enough awards/rewards in life already. 🙄

We had an end of 6th Form dance. Percy business teacher was in heaven he got off with about 3 6th formers at the club after.

I got to slow dance with my history teacher and got told off by my English teacher as she said my History teacher is a married man!

@lunar1

That's the part I really disagree with, and the poorer area schools seem to have more of a culture of lavish prom traditions (mine went to years 9, 11 & 13 proms relatively recently and were fairly down to earth, dresses from quiz or Amazon suppliers, own make up, parents drove them, one of my DD's switched to private and that was no more elaborate

Totally agree

We don’t need to import that bit of American culture

I try not to sweat the small stuff that doesn't affect me (although DS is Y10) but the pics friends have put on FB recently of their kids going to proms in designer gear and Ferrari's/Limos/police cars really made me eye roll. If the kids enjoy it then fair enough but I dread to think how much money is spent on it, and for clarity we are not in a wealthy area at all.

This ^

Yes- there's a lot about prom that is fun and I'm not against it all. It's just the Prom Queen/ King business. I can't see it has any redeeming qualities.

My goodness the misery! I really think you are over thinking this. It’s fun, proms are for fun, the kids have something to look forward to, to enjoy planning with their school friends. You know, in a way they haven’t been able to for the last two years….

Prom King and Queens are meaningless and I’d be surprised to find a teenager who would take it to heart. Most of them would probably just be embarrassed tbh but it’s certainly not going to damage anyone!

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

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.

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.

@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.

Despise it.

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

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.

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

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.

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".

YABU

Its a bit of fun

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.

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

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.

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".

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.