May 30, 2012
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The principal of a Connecticut high school is defending her decision to end the longtime tradition of allowing students to vote for a prom king and queen over fears that the winners might be bullied.
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But students at Kaynor Tech High School in Waterbury, Conn. have accused Principal Lisa Hylwa of bowing to political correctness.
In the past, the prom court was selected by a student vote. But Hylwa said she wanted to keep drama out of the prom and stop bullying. Instead, students who attended prom were invited to put their names in a box and the court was selected randomly.
“A lot of kids just think it’s unfair because you know, it’s a prom tradition,” student Jennifer Buonocore told television station WTNH. The station reported that it was flooded with comments from students wondering why the tradition was changed.
The principal said that all the students deserve an opportunity to participate as prom king and queen.
“This method gives everyone the same opportunity o be a member of the prom court and it supports the positive spirit of our school, period,” Hylwa wrote in a terse email to Fox News Radio. “There is no hidden agenda with this, no reason for ‘hurt feelings’ or adding another issue on to a teenager’s full plate that could ‘spark’ jealousy, ‘mean behavior’ or bullying.”
The principal said the new way of selecting a prom court “eliminates the avenue for the pressure to vote for members of the clique in charge or for any other issues that could open the door to amplified drama which may lead to any type of ‘mean behavior’ or equity controversy.”
She said the traditional method of voting for prom king and king was “beyond obsolete.”
“There was no option for the student or students who did the most for the class to win or a ‘noble’ reason such as a child who was terminally ill winning the prize,” she wrote. “This was a popularity contest with no criteria. The fact is, there are enough popularity contests in high school so why sponsor another one that may have negative consequences?”
“Cliques are real bullies by the way,” she added.
Hylwa said she feared a “Carrie” incident at this year’s prom, referring to the 1976 horror film.
“A student did complain on Facebook and to the school staff that she/he could not sleep the night before because she/he feared being bullied by being selected as prom queen,” she wrote. “It was going to be a mean spirited prank. She was not sure.”
“I was not taking a chance,” the principal said. “Sounds like ‘Carrie’ but we can’t brush it aside in today’s atmosphere. Connecticut has the CT Bullying Law and we are not playing in the Nutmeg state.”
But students like Buonocore said there’s no bullying at the prom.
“I don’t feel like anyone in our class would ever do something like that or in the junior class, that’s just mean and we’re not mean,” she told the television station.
But the principal said the new rules won’t be changed.
“I have no more time to waste on this ‘non story’,” she wrote. “I have a serious job to do.”
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Very typical of the liberalist idioms that go on in this state. We elect Governors that decide to pass laws whether we want them or not just like Czar Obooby does. Our schools and Universities spout propaganda rather than teach the "3 R's". This state has no concept of reality.
What about the last two CT governors that were Republican and passed laws that we all didn't want? Does that make them liberal too? How about Joe "I'll sell my mother to stay in the Senate" Leiberman who ended up being a moderate? Have you lived anywhere in Fairfield County, the "Gold Coast" with more Republicans than you can shake a stick at? I know many people who have gotten very good educations at UConn and gone on to very successful careers. I think you are a bit off in your assessment of this state. It is by no means perfection around here, but I don't think it is as "wacky lib" as you are making it out to be. If it were, I'd be moving in a heartbeat.
If they were anti-democratically passed that makes those Republican governors fascists. Just like this principal is a fascist within her school. Tell you what, if the students vote for this hat method then i'll gladly accept it. If they vote to keep the traditional method, then this method has to go.
Look up the definition of fascist. These terms are getting so overused they are absolutely meaningless. The governors can't pass laws without a vote of the state house and senate first. I don't see any laws in CT being "passed" by the governor alone. How does that constitute fascism? And in school settings, sometimes administrators need to make rulings without popular votes. That is why they were hired. Who is running the school, the principal or the kids?
Isn't it the prom king and queen who usually do the bullying? Oh, well. It could have been worse. The tradition could have been changed to two prom queens of no specific gender.
Didn't the teacher state that she didn't have time for this "non-issue"? If so then why did she start this in the first place?
Welcome to Socialist CT…
Right, Socialist CT which has had more Republican governors than Democrat, has moderate Joe Leiberman for a senator, and is getting ready to kick current governor Malloy to the curb because he is too liberal even for the Dems in the state senate. Get a clue.
Right, Socialist CT which has had more Republican governors than Democrat, has moderate Joe Leiberman for a senator, and is getting ready to kick current governor Malloy to the curb because he is too liberal even for the Dems in the state senate. Get a clue.
I remember at 17 taking a summer job among real adults. That was a real awakening. When I went back to school for my senior year, all those kids seemed so petty and childish. Nothing they did or said even bothered me at all because I knew that in another year, all of them will see themselves as little kids who need to grow up fast. Many of these people they work with are adults with families and have no time for their school games!
Maybe one day Americans will wake up to the fact that if these teachers and administrators are such looney tunes, we shouldn't be letting them teach our children. What a concept. (My wife and I homeschool our four children).
Maybe one day Americans will wake up to the fact that if these teachers and administrators are such looney tunes, we shouldn't be letting them teach our children. What a concept. (My wife and I homeschool our four children).
Everybody gets a trophy – there are no winners or losers!
Everybody gets a trophy – there are no winners or losers!
I have family members who are teachers and you will never meet a bigger group of herd followers.
http://www.TheTrueProphetSpeaks.com
Nobody goes through life without having their feelings hurt. It's just part of life. Also, it builds character. Kids need to learn that they can't have everything. If you shelter children, how are they going to respond when they are on their own? Are they going to ask the taxpayers to pay for all their goodies? Oh wait…
Great! Another NO winners ONLY losers radical ideology put into effect!
What a douche of a principle.
What a douche of a principle.
Well, I'll get flamed, but that is ok. I think this was a good idea. It gives the poor kids a chance to be king or queen. How has being a 'spoiled brat whose daddy has money' equates you with being a 'hard worker' in the workplace as some comments have said on this post? When I was a kid it was the 'popular' kids who were on the ballot for king and queen. Most of us didn't even vote since we weren't ever going to be represented at the school level. So just how is giving the poor, unpopular kids a chance wrong? Or are we really that superficial in America?
Nice post Samuel. I know we don't always agree, but I think you've hit it on the head. I've seen so many posts here equating Prom King/Queen with the workplace and other academically hard-earned positions in school, like honor society officers and valedictorian. When did Prom King become something to put on your resume or to get you into college? Putting one's name in the hat is voluntary, and the drawing random. Everyone gets an equal chance, and guess what…most people still won't be picked! So no, this isn't a feel-good ending for everyone, but at least everyone is on equal footing to begin with. For a meaningless, supposedly fun title like this, I don't see the issue. For something more important that takes hard work to achieve, it would not be appropriate.
Since everything has to be so PC maybe that's how we should vote for our next president, too. For crying out loud it's not a friggen lottery.
Did everyone get participation ribbons and orange slices too?
This principle thinks she has to make every one equal. Like Communism and most socialist policies it never works because there is always someone more equal, like this principal who thinks she knows all. Reminds me of our current president who sees himself as a benevolent dictator when actually is an un-American despot.
"This was a popularity contest with no criteria"… quite the oxymoronic statement… POPULARITY is the criteria.
Bottom Line – Life is a popularity contest and the sooner students learn to function effectively in that sort of environment the better. Sheltering them from reality doesn't help anyone.
Really? Does popularity get you enough votes to be promoted? Does popularity go on one's resume to make sure they get a job? Sorry, I wasn't the most popular person in any of my schools, and I have done quite well for myself. I have been steadily employed since college, promoted several times on my merits, not my popularity, have a wonderful family and friends, and have never been "outvoted" for anything I tried to accomplish. And so you don't think I'm being self-centered here, you can take my entire paragraph and substitute the same scenario for millions of Americans, most of whom I'm sure were not part of the "in" crowd in school. In my experience, most of the "in" crowd members have been less successful in life than those deemed "average" or "unpopular". So, how again, then, is life a popularity contest?
Guarantee you would have succeeded even more if you were popular with your credentials.
Well Brad, I guess that depends on your definition of success. Based on what I wrote above, I couldn't be happier with my life and my success. I doubt you are correct. What defines success for you? More money? More friends? Hotter wife? Those are all shallow to me. Much like popularity.
In your post you completely disregard popularity as a factor in job acquisition and promotion. Do you realize the major component of popularity is being well-liked? There are many different factors that result in a person being well-liked. Some major factors in the workforce are; work ethic, respect shown towards coworkers and bosses, respect received by coworkers and bosses. Combined with excellent job performance, which also will result in receiving respect, these factors contribute towards the likelihood of progressing through the workforce in order to arrive at a point where you are satisfied with your life.
Prom King/Queen selection should reflect the positive traits of popularity, but instead there are people like this principal who associate prom king/queen (and popularity) with bullying. There is no ill-intent through the existence of prom king/queen selection. It is simply allowing the students to ideally select two people whom they believe best characterizes charisma and leadership. I suppose the argument many are trying to emphasize is that physical beauty plays too big of a role in prom king/queen selection. I would argue that many aspects of physical beauty are linked to traits that people can admire. Diet and exercise in particular tend to increase any individual's physical appeal. Holding a proper diet and exercising show that a person practicing these two health-related activities posses a certain discipline that many others admire and strive for.
It is my opinion that this principal is doing a disservice to the school she is supposed to be leading. Instead she is dictating. Taking away the right to vote on a subject that has always been subject to voting seems anti-democratic. You're free to disagree with me; that's your prerogative. I'm simply expressing my opinion in a public forum in order to expose my opinion to others. I do want people to agree with me and I would like this principal's decision reverted. However, my feelings will not be hurt when others disagree with me. We will just have to agree to disagree and hopefully this situation can be solved civilly and democratically.
We need to grow up as a nation about these things. This principal is ridiculous and should be relieved from her position. I know my son would never be elected anyway, but it's not like it's going to hinder him from being a success in life and he needs to learn the difference between winning and losing like everyone else. Kind of like a school commencement ceremony at the HS in the town I live in last weekend. Afraid of hurting someone's feelings, the stupid administrators chose 8 valedictorians…. Dumbing down of America has already been said, but it's the truth and we cannot hide from it.
These are the types of insane situations that develop when you have a squishy leader who preaches "fairness" everywhere… everyone suddenly decides to make things "fair". You want fair, then set the rules and live by them… don't change them as it suits you like this principal did with Prom or Obama did with the General Motors bankruptcy!
You know, this stuff has got to stop or sooner or later we'll all be stuck in little pigeon holes unable to say or do anything out of fear that we may potentially offend someone, somewhere. People need to grow up and accept the fact that not everyone shares the same likes, dislikes, tastes, opinions, etc. We're raising a bunch of wimps in this country today – little, crybaby wimps who can't handle any form of rejection or disapproval.
How many of the kids at this prom can find Connecticut on a map?
Is everyone a loon in Conneticut and Massachussetts?
I'm telling you now people. We need to really take a hard look at these school administrators. This "hurt feeling" bullshit has got to be squashed. Common sense has flown the coop and it may not be returning anytime soon. We are raising our kids to be a bunch of PC pussies.
as long as we have liberals this mentality will exist.
Right. Because only liberals pass ridiculous rules.
STUPID! So the principal wants to end "popularity contests" in high school? Well, life is full of them. I don't agree with bullying, but principals like this are trying to turn all kids into wusses.
It is unfortunate that our schools think everything should be equal and fair. They should be helping to teach our children that life is not always fair, there are winners, there are losers and how to be good at handling both.
She said the traditional method of voting for prom king and queen was “beyond obsolete.”.
I wonder if she feels and taught the same for the Republic's tradition of voting for their reps and countries leaders?
Tradition? We had many traditions here in the U.S., that have become obsolete, like working for a living, paying your debts instead of looking for bailouts, marriage before children, respecting our elders and the troops, etc., and now we don't. Get over it kids…you sound like old fogies. Get with the program…tradition doesn't cut it when you've got liberals in charge.
Welcome to the "New America".
These idiots go out of their way to make kids feel good and attempt to eliminate bullying (the new liberal trendy word) but they'll be lost when they get into the real world. We are raising a bunch of sissies all in the name of political correctness. Wake up parents. The indoctrination goes far beyond history and civics.
These idiots go out of their way to make kids feel good and attempt to eliminate bullying (the new liberal trendy word) but they'll be lost when they get into the real world. We are raising a bunch of sissies all in the name of political correctness. Wake up parents. The indoctrination goes far beyond history and civics.
These idiots go out of their way to make kids feel good and attempt to eliminate bullying (the new liberal trendy word) but they'll be lost when they get into the real world. We are raising a bunch of sissies all in the name of political correctness. Wake up parents. The indoctrination goes far beyond history and civics.
Connecticut continues it slide over the edge! No bullying in the school except by the adminstrators! We really mean it! Damn that Steven King and Sissy Spacek! It's a popularity contest get over it!
Actually, the principal is probably right. I don't know about their school, but electing anyone in high school for almost any post has become a chance to target someone who has accomplished something worthwhile. Losers used to hide in the shadows, now they form cliques and intimidate kids who are trying to do their best. Our local high school suspended the prom king and queen after groups of kids began intimidating other kids to vote for one of their own. Unfortunately, my son was one of the intimidators and I pulled him from the prom. He spent the weekend washing cars. Times have changed. Carrie is real.
The principle should not get involved in the debate – it's the kids prom and they can choose whomever they like for king and queen. She sounds like she wasn't too well liked in high school and is taking it out on her students.
What the hell is wrong with these 'educators'? God forbid some students get their feelings hurt or bullied. What happens in the real world? Does he think that companies put all the candidates in a hat and pull out a name to decide who gets the job? In the real world there are winners and losers. Losing sucks. But you need to learn to accept that. In school some kids are more popular, and its probably for stupid reasons. The popular kids aren't always the smartest or nicest. Just like in the real world. Good things happen to bad people, and terrible things happen to good people. That's life. You can't sugarcoat it. Maybe this principal has some childhood issues he needs to deal with. I think the students should say to hell with his system, and have their own.
Isn't the winner usually in the group that does the bullying?
Isn't the winner usually in the group that does the bullying?
Political Correctness = Legal Pettiness.
If you can't trust the kids to vote now, you're not going to do it later.
I coimmend this administrator, she has saved the prom from an ugly telekenetic / pyrokenetic tragedy and the ruining of a perfectly good prom dress with a bucket of blood. (What an idiot!)
I'm all for selecting the Principal from a random selection out of the phonebook.
And then we wonder why our education system is such a dismal failure, it's lead in too many cases by social zealots. If she did her job as principal of the school for the past year, bullying wouldn't be an issue, there would be no reason for her to micro manage the prom and the kids could learn, develop and have a good time.
Instead, they're all "special" no winners, no losers, nobody is pretty or handsome, nobody is popular, nobody is smarter… they're all just nobody.
Losing is as important as winning, both develop character… something our school system lacks due to poor leadership…
Nice job! "Principal Skinner" should be thankful she doesn't work in my district. She would soon learn about being a LOSER…. losing your job because you're not smarter than a High School Senior.
It is just a prom. These whining teachers, principles, and administrators should discontinue this total waste of funds. The reason I say this; parents are being asked to provide toilette paper, paper towels, copier paper, the list goes on and on. Due to the fact that they have a shortage of funds for the school year, if they would cancel the “prom” that would save the average school between $7500 and $12000 a year. That would go a long way towards buying the needed supplies. If the student body wished to have a prom, have several fund raisers throughout the year; like cheerleaders, band, and any other special group do to raise needed funds for their projects.
It is just a prom. These whining teachers, principles, and administrators should discontinue this total waste of funds. The reason I say this; parents are being asked to provide toilette paper, paper towels, copier paper, the list goes on and on. Due to the fact that they have a shortage of funds for the school year, if they would cancel the “prom” that would save the average school between $7500 and $12000 a year. That would go a long way towards buying the needed supplies. If the student body wished to have a prom, have several fund raisers throughout the year; like cheerleaders, band, and any other special group do to raise needed funds for their projects.
It is just a prom. These whining teachers, principles, and administrators should discontinue this total waste of funds. The reason I say this; parents are being asked to provide toilette paper, paper towels, copier paper, the list goes on and on. Due to the fact that they have a shortage of funds for the school year, if they would cancel the “prom” that would save the average school between $7500 and $12000 a year. That would go a long way towards buying the needed supplies. If the student body wished to have a prom, have several fund raisers throughout the year; like cheerleaders, band, and any other special group do to raise needed funds for their projects.
Wow, how do you feel about it, Bill?
She is entitled to her opinion, but, she interjected HER way into something that should have been the student's way. She is out of line.
What happens when a randomly bad choice for prom king or queen (or both) is made? How will the previously likely candidates react concerning the new totally qualification free, random system of selection? Seems a little like a teenaged hormonal recipe for destruction and humiliation just waiting to happen…How politically correct will that be?
This is anti-democracy!
How she going to feel now when the kid that wins is boo'ed because they didn't deserve it..I can see her clique theroy..but geesh..this is a student led event…take it some where else and tell the principle to kiss off….