Reasons Not to Have a Senior Prom

Some students might want to sit out their senior prom.

Fancy dresses, boutonnieres, limousines and dancing may sound like a prom dream for some; yet for others, it all seems like a waste of time. There are a few reasons students might not want to throw a senior prom, including the costs of the event, safety and participation concerns and plans to do something else. But before canceling the event altogether, make sure you're not taking away seniors' prom dreams.

Expenses

One of the major reasons not to have a senior prom is the cost of throwing the elaborate event. Most classes' prom committees should have begun fund raising for the prom freshman year. If these funds came up short, the students and faculty might not have enough buy decorations, hire entertainment or rent a venue without charge a lot of money per ticket. Also, it costs students a lot to attend prom, including buying a dress or renting a tuxedo, getting their hair done, eating a fancy dinner and hiring a limo.

Small Class

Some schools might not have enough seniors to throw a proper senior prom. For example, a smaller school might have only 20 people in its graduating class -- and there is not a guarantee that all these students would even attend the dance. Some people might think throwing an entire party for this few people is not worth all the time, money and commitment that goes into planning a prom.

Other Activities

Some graduating classes might agree to do something different than a dance altogether for their high-school sendoff. These students might choose to instead use the money set aside for the prom to host another activity in its place. Students might prefer to have a school-only carnival or even just a pizza party. They could also plan a class trip to the beach or a day at a local amusement park.

Safety

A prom is a party, and parties can sometimes get out of hand. Students might want to cut loose on this high school send-off and experiment with drugs, alcohol and risky sexual behavior. Even if not every teen is engaging in this behavior, it can effect others. For example, a drunk driver could crash and injure an entire carload of prom-goers, or a few teens could get in a fight.

On the Other Hand

While prom may not seem like a good idea at the time, it is a high school tradition that some students will probably miss. Make sure every student in the senior class agrees not to have a prom. If any of them do want one, consider throwing at least a small dance and party. Prom is one of the last times to create high school memories with friends and an event that can't be recreated once it's passed.

References

• Lynn Police Department: Prom: PROMise to Keep It Safe
• KIROTV: How to Save Money on Prom Night