My friend needs help. I do, as well.

[Rhiannon12866]

I got the following e-mail from a long-time friend of mine today. He is asking for me to do some on-line research for him, which I would be more than glad to do, but I just have no idea where to start. Maybe I should call him and ask for some more specifics, but I just got the chance to log on today and it is really late. Any ideas would be appreciated. BTW, he is a teacher and Lindsay is his daughter. Thanks so much. Rhiannon :-)

"I hate to be a pain in the ass. But I need you to do something for me. You are very good with the internet, etc. I need some information and will not have time to get it as we need to go pick up Lindsay today, etc. Plus, I am really quite inept at this. So anyway PLEASE. Here is the deal. After eight years the school is pondering having a court at the prom. I am appalled at such an archiac and divisive practice will be reinstated. Could you find me research, data, anything that tells how in this age of anti-bullying and Columbine and getting rid of "queen bees" how totally wrong it is for them to even consider this. Please. I would be so appreciative. If you can't, or don't want to I understand. But if you could, you would be doing a lot of good, as this is a fight that shouldn't be lost. THANKS in advance."

[EstimatedProphet]

1. Hmmm...

About a year ago Newsweek ran an article about "beta-girls" or "b-girls" or something, which was in response to the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes". You might start there.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Thanks. I just think that he thinks reverting to this archaic practice

might lead to trouble and he would like to avoid it. I have looked up info on proms, but just couldn't find anything, yet, that I thought might be helpful. :shrug:

[Cloud]

2. Come again?

We had a king and queen at my high school prom and there was no problem at all or anything. Nobody really seems to care who the king and queen are anyway. I graduated only 2 years ago.

I have no idea where you can research anything negative or positive about a prom court though. :shrug:

[Exultant Democracy]

16. Now I feel guilty

I was a member of the court at my prom, the Duke to be precise. A least the whole thing is democratic to some extent, but I can see why parents might feel uncomfortable with the practice.

[Rhiannon12866]

19. I don't think the problem is with the parents, though congratulations

I am sure that you enjoyed this, as many of us did. It was a lot of fun. I think my friend's problem is with the reverting to the whole scenario of a school popularity contest, which might really set some marginal kids off, a real concern in today's Columbine and school violence environment. This has never taken place around here, but why take chances? If the school has done away with this eight years ago, why bring it back now? My friend is just looking for some solid support to back up his feelings on this. I appreciate all I have gotten on DU, since I couldn't find very much on-line.:shrug:

[MichaelHarris]

3. Is the issue a

King and Queen prom kinda thing? I'll be glad to help although I have no position either way on this issue.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I'm not exactly sure what he wants, but I think, as a teacher, he believes

that this is a bad idea, as it promotes the concept of an elite group of kids, which has been the root of so many instances of school violence across the country. Thanks.:-)

5. School Bullying

I can't say I know any sites on the prom...
But a great site for bullying is http://www.ravendays.com
Least I think that's the URL, the link to the site,
If not, try .org instead and it might.

For those who were bullied, or teased or harassed,
Raven Days is a site where one deals with the past.
For parents of students, now days who are hopin'
to help with your kids, your eyes will be opened!

School is a danger, a place next to Hell
Specially for those who don't do "social" well.
Lest you think that it's only "kid strife"
Let me tell you, this crap can SCAR ya for LIFE!

Schwannzeichen

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Thanks so much!

And welcome to DU, Schwannzeichen! Glad to have you with us!:hi:

[MichaelHarris]

8. links

http://home.uchicago.edu/~sbjensen/pk.html

http://www.siue.edu/ALESTLE/library/spring99/apr.06.99/annual.html

http://www.youthnoise.com/site/CDA/CDA_Page/0,1004,818,00.html

http://orion.csuchico.edu/Pages/Volume35Issue7/Opinion/Edi.html

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Wow! Thank you so much, Michael! This is really excellent

Just what was looking for! I am very grateful, my friend!:D

[MichaelHarris]

12. y/w

I looked high and low for a history but all I could find were links to individual schools.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. This is just great, much better than what I was able to find

and my friend, I know, will be delighted with this. Just, I think, what he was looking for. Thank you.:-)

[Skeptical Democrat]

9. I don't have any idea what he's talking about??

A "court" at the prom? "Queen bees"??

My kids never mentioned any of this to me. I seriously don't have a clue.:shrug:

[Rhiannon12866]

10. What this means is that the elite of the class are somehow elected to

"the court." From those, a "king" and "queen" are chosen. A popularity contest, as it were. A bad idea in the age of Columbine. Maybe your kids' school is more enlightened.:shrug:

[Skeptical Democrat]

13. There was a king and queen chosen back when I went to the prom

Yes, it was a popularity contest back then too. As I recall it was voted by the students, but I'm not sure about that.

I never knew the practice was done away with, much less a problem. I guess I can see why it could be, now that you mention it.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. I had not thought about it much, either. But my friend is, obviously,

concerned, in this age of Columbine and school violence. We do not live in a large city nor a particularly dangerous area, but I understand his concern. Why tempt the fates, especially since this popularity contest practice was done away with so long ago? All it takes is one angry kid.:-(

[Skeptical Democrat]

17. Now I am curious

to find out if this practice was done away with where I'm from, and if so, when?

I will be quizzing my kids about this the next time I talk to them.

Back to your original question, then, I don't know if it is possible to "research" this issue on the Internet the way your freind asked you to. I'll have to review the previous responses in this thread again.

They don't nominate a queen or king anymore?? Well, I'll be damned! LOL! I'm out of the loop!

But, I was then, too.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. I was then, as well. I went to mine, but didn't pay much attention, either

I have looked for info on this on the internet, but, so far, have only found one article I thought was worth passing on. That's the only reason I finally asked for help, which I haven't done before on DU, but I have tried to help others, before, and know what an incredible brain trust we share here. And this is a really good friend who wouldn't ask for help without a good reason. I share his concerns, though it doesn't affect me, personally. I just cannot imagine my small town becoming the next one in the national headlines. Thanks for your concern. It's an interesting question and I have really appreciated all the advice and responses. It was much more than I expected, especially at this hour.:-)

[Rhiannon12866]

20. One kick, then I sleep. Thanks so much, guys.

:-)

[liberalitch]

21. Don't remember much about my prom...

As we were all tore up from the floor up...
No driving though.... A friend's older bro worked for a limo service.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. I remember very little from mine, either

Except that my shoes hurt and the guy who I ended up marching around the room with was a good friend, rather than my date. There was no thought of violence back then, but I can understand my friend's concern. There is no need to turn back the clock if it could lead to something unpleasant...

[Rhiannon12866]

23. Kick!

Thanks, again.:-):kick: