FINDLAY, Ohio – A student at a fundamentalist Baptist school that forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing will be suspended if he takes his girlfriend to her public high school prom, his principal said.
Despite the warning, 17-year-old Tyler Frost, who has never been to a dance before, said he plans to attend Findlay High School's prom Saturday.
Frost, a senior at Heritage Christian School in northwest Ohio, agreed to the school's rules when he signed a statement of cooperation at the beginning of the year, principal Tim England said.
The teen, who is scheduled to receive his diploma May 24, would be suspended from classes and receive an "incomplete" on remaining assignments, England said. Frost also would not be permitted to attend graduation but would get a diploma once he completes final exams. If Frost is involved with alcohol or sex at the prom, he will be expelled, England said.
Frost's stepfather Stephan Johnson said the school's rules should not apply outside the classroom.
"He deserves to wear that cap and gown," Johnson said.
Frost said he thought he had handled the situation properly. Findlay requires students from other schools attending the prom to get a signature from their principal, which Frost did.
"I expected a short lecture about making the right decisions and not doing something stupid," Frost said. "I thought I would get his signature and that would be the end."
England acknowledged signing the form but warned Frost there would be consequences if he attended the dance. England then took the issue to a school committee made up of church members, who decided to threaten Frost with suspension.
"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God. (Frost) chose one path, and the school committee chose the other," England said.
The handbook for the 84-student Christian school says rock music "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds."
England said Frost's family should not be surprised by the school's position.
"For the parents to claim any injustice regarding this issue is at best forgetful and at worst disingenuous," he said. "It is our hope that the student and his parents will abide by the policies they have already agreed to."
The principal at Findlay High School, whose graduates include Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, said he respects, but does not agree with, Heritage Christian School's view of prom.
"I don't see (dancing and rock music) as immoral acts," Craig Kupferberg said.
___
Information from: The Courier, http://www.thecourier.com
18 comments:
My momma says that rock music is the devils music and that
dancing is the devil's work.
I feel that this is insane. The school should not have that much control over there students outside of the school setting. Also, if you prevent somebody from doing rebellious things, would it make that person want to do those things even more?
I guess the school retains the right to suspend Frost, yet I don't agree that it should apply to things off of school property. This is absolutely ridiculous. Now I know which factions Madison was afraid of :)
This is horribly funny and it also sucks. I don't think the school should be able to control what he does outside of class. Also since he goes to this really strict school he probably has good morales and won't get involved in anything bad. I feel sorry for the him, because he probably didn't choose to go to that school either.
That is absolutely rediculous...I mean I can see banning kissing and maaaybe handholding in school but this? It's totally absurd to forbid someone from going to prom especially when he followed the rules and got the needed signiture. The school's jurisdiction should not go beyond the classroom, end of story!
Umm, does this actually happen, or is Frost being Punk'd??
This is so dumb, and I would REALLY argue this if I was Frost (which it's good that he went to the media to draw attention to this).
And just wait Mr. Bretzmann, Kevin Bacon WILL come and dance this mess away to the tune of "I need a hero."
Thats crazy.
I disagree with the schools position on the issue. I think that if the dance took place on school grounds they could have more control but they should not be able to suspend the student for expressing freedom of choice off of school property. Ridiculous to the nth degree
I think the rules are very strict and ridiculous, but the student signed the agreement. So its his own fault. Plus, we have no rights when we enter the school, so the student shouldn't be alarmed! And how are they going to know if he particiopated in sex or drugs? It's not like he is going to go out of his way and tell them if he did, because that would be weird and he wouldn't want the extra punnishment.
If the officials of the school are that controlling and narrow-minded I would never even consider sending my child to school there in the first place.
Regardless of how ridiculous the rules are the school has the right to do it. It does not matter if it is at school or not it is a school function. If the people were smart they would have boycotted the dance if they wanted, then they could have went and starrted their own prom in another place in protest to the rules. It gets the point across and costs the school a lot of money. Solves the problem if you ask me.
I would like to mention how the parents send their kid to such a "holy and perfect" school yet he has a stepfather... how moral are his parents? lol. There is nothing wrong with that. I just find it ironic how his parents are sending their child to such a strict baptist school and then cannot even play by the rules of marriage.
I learned in buisness law that a minor can cancel a contract whenever he/she wants to, without any consequences :)
To miss this is insane. I mean ok he did sign the paper, but how can this stop his outside of school life? it seems like it violates sum law sumwhere. But we will see what his lawers have to say about it...i hope for his sake and fairness he can walk with his class.
I guess I'm going to hell. Oops.
Actually, Addie, I don't think there was any legitimate rock music or dancing at our prom.
I think that Frost going to a different schools dance shouldn't have consequences at all, unless the principal can prove he did have alchohol and had drugs then they can't suspend him. its just a dance, Yes there is music and dancing BIG DEAL its the same as every other dance. I also agree with Kyle K. the school shouldnt' have control of its students outside of the school setting.
I do think that since the rules of the school clearly say they can suspend or dicipline Frost, he should be diciplined. But, I do not agree with why. There will always be temptations in life to do wrong or to do what you think is morally incorrect. But, if you have a good beliefs system, you should be fine and it sounds like Frost does since he was raised in a really strict religious setting.
This is completely ridiculous, and actually pretty funny, and even though i disagree with the schools standpoint, they still have the right to do this. If this kid is enrolled in this private, crazy religious school, they do have the right to suspend him if he does this. I personally think the parents are crazy for having a kid in this type of school but this school does have authority over its rules..
Post a Comment