This Saturday Bremerton High School students will kick up their heels at their Senior Prom.
And where else would Bremerton seniors want to party, but Tacoma.
The Museum of Glass, to be specific. Which is understandable, because Bremerton doesn’t have a museum of glass. It has a Naval history museum, a Kitsap County museum, a Pyrex museum and we here at the Bremerton Beat have been lobbying for a Seagull Guano Stains That Resemble Boy Bands from the 1990s museum. But no glass museum.
The idea of students driving 34 miles one-way to prom isn’t sitting well with all parents.
Consider this letter written by a parent. It’s short, so we’ll print the whole thing.
BREMERTON HIGH: Senior Prom Shouldn’t Be in
Tacoma
As concerned parents, my wife and I try to guide our children to
make responsible decisions. Bremerton High is having its senior
prom in Tacoma. The school says this is a decision the senior class
has made.
At home, if our 17-year-old or even 18-year-old made a decision to drive to Tacoma for a dance then drive back at midnight or stay in a motel, we would consider this a bad decision.
The high school has so-called responsible adults that over see class decisions; this is not a responsible decision.
Gordy Hanberg of Bremerton
Krista Carlson, spokeswoman for the district, did not return a call Thursday evening asking for comment. However. Bremerton High School Parent Teacher Association President Dave Milligan did.
And he said that he wasn’t crazy about the idea, noting that last year the prom was held at a local country club, and he thought the kids had a great time.
However, like the letter writer noted, it was the students’ decision.
“It’s not the best thing,” Milligan said. “It would be fair to say the adults of the community would rather have them more close to Bremerton.”
Milligan said he spoke to Principal Aaron Leavell, and said he shared the same reservations.
“The students have some sort of say in this, it is their dance,” Milligan said.
However, Milligan said the school has been making accommodations, offering a charter bus for students to and from the dance.
“Of course, they have to sign up for it, and pay for and go along with it,” he said.
Milligan said the decision was made by the students in a vote. Democracy in action.
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all other forms,” he said.
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Andy’s Shameless Editorial: Every kid is different, and at 18 I couldn’t be trusted to check the oil in my car, but to add perspective to this debate, consider that less than a year from now some of these students will be at war, operating million-dollar pieces of equipment, holding people’s lives in their hands and being exposed to horrors beyond our reckoning. In five months most, if not all, will be eligible to vote for president. I’m not saying prom in Tacoma is a good idea, but I am saying that they have to grow up and be trusted at some point.
It is correct that the students should have a say in where they would like their prom to be held. The Glass Museum in Tacoma is a beautiful facility. Part of the process includes their responsibility to speak up and vote for what they wanted. This is fine. It is also the school and parent responsibility to make the chosen event fun and safe. It is their responsibility to put safeguards and policies in place to ensure that there is as much fun and safety as possible. My child is not involved with Bremerton High School yet, so I can only comment from afar as an involved PTA parent from another school within the same district. My first question would be where is the PTA in helping to implement or pay for safeguards for the event such as the charter bus? Where is the school in making riding the bus a mandatory requirement for attendance? Andrew is correct in the fact that these kids are close to adult status and do need to “grow up” and be “trusted at some point”. I just think that rolling the dice and throwing caution to the wind should not happen at any SCHOOL sanctioned event.
I know I get very frustrated at the school my child attends, when PTA is asked to pay for a bunch of self congratulatory school staff expenses such as “Certified Week” or “Classifieds Week” so that when something important comes up that needs funds there are none to be had. I am personally working hard to make a change to that mentality.