When I originally thought about starting this blog, I thought I would use it to post my musings about teaching and the education world. After all, in this day and age a little levity is always welcome, and while I certainly love my job, you just can't deny the comic value that is inherent in dealing with large amounts of teenage children.
But, as we all know, sometimes things don't work out the way you plan. Which is one of the many reasons I refer to my first period class as my "experimental class."
Recently, left-minded people all over the country have been up in arms about Constance McMillen, a high school student from Mississippi who was originally denied access to her senior prom on the basis that she wanted to bring her girlfriend. A few days ago, the story broke that McMillen attended her "prom," only to find that she was one of only a handful in attendance, while the rest of her classmates enjoyed their diversity-free rite of passage.
While I certainly feel for Constance, I can't help but be seriously concerned about the mental well-being of the parents and administrators who orchestrated (rather efficiently) both a secret "real" prom and a fake prom. Even more bizarre are the reports that the other students sent to Constance's fake prom were the ESE students ("special ed" for the lay folk). Really? I'm rather tempted to make a joke or two at the expense of the fine state of Mississippi, but even cracks about the deep South wouldn't explain the pure evil that had to be released in order for these machinations to come to fruition.
It's important to note that it was the adults who plotted and carried out this evil master plan, though the involvement of the students hasn't really been addressed. Call me an optimist, but I have seen nothing but acceptance from the hundreds of student who have come through my door. These kids would never even think about excluding someone for being gay or different or whatever. They're used to it, they've grown up with gay characters on T.V. and no doubt friends, family members, and neighbors who are gay. They recognize that there is nothing to be afraid of, no chance that the gay might rub off on them or whatever it is these backwards people think is going to happen.
And if that is the mentality of Constance's classmates, I see an ever bigger danger there. What sort of example is being set for them? "Oh, sorry honey, you can't go to that prom." "Why not?" "Because a girl might be dancing with another girl!" What do they think that the prom is, an orgy?
Every prom I've been to featured the couples grinding with each other on the floor to terrible music while the single men sat at tables and the sigle girls all *gasp* danced with each other. Prom is traditionally the night where girls decide to give up their innocence to whatever dude was nice enough to buy them a corsage and pay for dinner at the Olive Garden, at least until they get to the hotel room and realize that their dream date has turned into a noxious mess as a result of the contents of that super-awesome flask he had hidden in his jacket pocket that he thinks you don't know about. Prom is not a debutante ball, not an innocent dance where all the attendees will get dropped off at home before curfew and with their maidenhood intact. Prom is nasty, it's barbaric, and it is all just one long night of foreplay for a disappointing sexual experience, whether you get any or you don't.
So, why then would anyone want to deprive Constance of this same experience? What exactly could she do to tarnish the name of Prom, god of virgins and awkward Saturday mornings in a beach hotel? What exactly are these people trying to teach their children?
I know it's a stretch, considering the fact that this is Mississippi we're talking about (see what I did there?) but think about the poor children who will end up going to a large University next year? How will they cope when they find themselves surrounded by the invading homosexuals at every turn, even in their own dorms! Oh the humanity!
Part of me feels terrible just for giving this whole debacle more attention. You, who would be readers of my little blog, forgive me for my angry ranting, and let's all congratulate young Constance on her gumption and her wonderful poise during this whole ordeal. If only we could be as zen about the whole thing as you.
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