Conn. Principal Criticized for ‘Politically Correct’ Prom That Bans Voting for King & Queen
- Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:11pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Political correctness (PC) is often dubbed an out-of-control societal phenomenon. Oversensitivity, which can come from fierce enforcement of this sentiment, sometimes leads to some bizarre decisions and situations. Some are claiming that this is exactly what’s going on at a Connecticut high school following its decision to swap traditional festivities surrounding prom king and queen for a more PC method of selecting the winners.
According to frustrated students at Kaynor Tech High School in Waterbury, Connecticut, the principal went too far in making some key changes to the school’s prom. Rather than allowing a student vote for winners, Principal Lisa Hylwa, citing fears that the king and queen might be bullied, came up with a different plan. Students who attended were encouraged to put their names in a box and the high school royals were then selected at random.
While some of the students believe that the change in policy is not fair and that it fails to honor tradition, Hylwa says that it’s important to allow every student the opportunity to be prom king or queen, according to Fox News’ Todd Starnes.
“This method gives everyone the same opportunity to be a member of the prom court and it supports the positive spirit of our school, period,” Hylwa apparently wrote in an e-mail to Starnes. “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.”
Proponents of this mindset may sympathize with the principal’s views, but others will certainly highlight that there are some potential problems with this thought process. Unfortunately, life does not generally offer the same fairness that Hylwa is seeking to instill. If students find themselves getting used to having opportunities to be so painlessly handled, they may be less prepared to deal with the harsh realities that sometimes emerge in the post-high school world.
The principal went on to claim that the traditional voting mechanisms that surround the selections of prom king and queens are “beyond obsolete.“ Hylwa also lamented the fact that the old way of doing things was based in cliques and that it ”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?,” she continued. “Cliques are real bullies by the way.”
Now, while the event’s handling is certainly going to irritate its critics who believe that political correctness has truly run amok, Hylwa shared one of the reasons behind the regulatory change. A student had apparently complained on Facebook, citing fears that fellow classmates were going to pick her for prom queen in an effort to prank and poke fun at her. Rather than take a chance, the principal made the change.
While being careful is often a prudent way to handle these scenarios, it’s certainly possible that the individuals whose names are randomly selected could also end up being the focus of jokes. However, Hylwa could argue in this case that submitting one’s name is optional and that doing so opens one up to this scrutiny. Either way, some students simply don’t understand the thought-process behind the prom change.
“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,” student Jennifer Buonocore told WTNH-TV.
But the principal isn’t backing down.
“I have no more time to waste on this ‘non story’,” she wrote. “I have a serious job to do.”
(H/T: Fox News)
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stotlaat
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 6:07pmthis makes me uncomfortable. And you know what’s worse? these couples each bring one date. ONE! as if picking that one guy or girl out of the whole school. that’s just mean. What mean spirited kid only wants ONE? Why can’t everyone just show up and do square dancing. I mean, that’s fair. No one gets singled out. No one goes out to dinner afterward unless it’s a potluck. And for heaven’s sake, they should all wear the same outfit. Pretty girls and handsome guys want to come? fine. As long as there is an equal number of uglies. one for one. Vote on it. Blondes, brunettes, black hair – equal numbers or call it all off. Just like the real world.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:54amPathetic.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 1:06pmThis means the school average grade was probably a C- or a C+. How did all those A and B students appreciate giving up their grades so everyone would make the same grade?
Report Post »lesters1
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 10:48pmIf that is a criteria for king or queen, maybe we should do that for public office,school principals and the presidency. It would save billions of dollars, eliminate special interest politics since it would be a lottery. It would take the parties out of the picture and I’m not so sure anybody could make anymore of a mess of our country as those who get elected. Our President preaches FAIR he should be the first to agree.
Report Post »BumperMorgan
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 10:41pmIt is only going to get worse people.
Report Post »paying-for-freedom
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:45pmAnother liberal pc idiot with no understanding of human nature or reality. She probably failed miserably in high school society as a youth and now wants to take it out on everyone else. I was a total loaner but have no Ill feeling toward those that were more social and liked. Especially now that most of them are fat and discusting and I have spent most of my life as a body builder and become successful. I owe it all to those who looked down on main high school for success today!
Report Post »Czynik
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:21pmThat is why our schools are failing our students – Oh, my mistake, I should said “succeeding less well” so we don‘t traumatize students by telling them they FAILED to pass a test because they didn’t LEARN the material.
Report Post »JimL
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:26pmstuff the ballot or rig the selection– still plenty of opportunity to practice thug politics
Report Post »ChivalryandHonor
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:01pmOne must remember, this principal most surely runs his home as he does his school.
Report Post »nolefan2
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:43pmI will have to assume that this principal was never a prom queen or one of the “popular kids” in school Whaaaaa! I hate to say it, but I dread the day that these pampered “everybody gets a trophy” brats run the country. At least there will be a great need for psychiatrists to deal with their little hurt feelings when they realize that the real world can be a scary place when one is not prepared to deal with it.
Report Post »Abigail Adams
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:29pmOne of these pampered people already does run the country. Ever seen an Obama-tantrum when people don’t cater to him like he feels they should?
Report Post »These pampered everyone-gets-a-trophy people are the people who feel everyone should make the same amount of money & have all the same stuff in every home.
Bruce_Almty
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:53pmGive them all a job at Burger King where they can all be kings; then give them all food stamps and put them on welfare.
Report Post »lcltcc
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:51pmSame state that will arrest you for anti-obama bumper stickers.
Report Post »happ77
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:27pmReally ?? Is that true ?? I lived most of my life in CT
Report Post »and it wouldn’t surprise me but I have a hard time
believing that you can be arrested for anti-obama
bumper stickers. Your car would be wrecked by
the tolerant libs but arrested.
georgepatton
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:22pmHey Lisa ,
Report Post »YOU ARE A FRIGGIN’ MOONBAT!
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:17pmThe prom queen for my senior class ended up a drug user and alcoholic. The prom king deserted the USMC and fled to Canada. I heard this at my 20 year reunion. In 2016, I can catch up at my 50 year reunion. Funny thing, I haven’t thought of those people beginning the day after the prom.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:10pmGreat, and in that “spirit” mr. principal, you and all the teachers should give back every dime you make more that the janitors and kitchen staff.
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:50pmSounds like the technique Obama uses to ‘vet’ his cabinet and other top advisers!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »toto
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:03pmThis is beyond short sighted. What kids need to learn are coping skills for the real world. America has always been a meritocracy with free choice as to who to choose to represent you, including choosing the prom king and queen, until liberals and racists decided that just existing was merit enough. It is not taking this country to a good place.
Report Post »Portwine
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:52pmNHWINTER, exactly what I thought. All traditions have been and are being attacked.
Report Post »LLATPOH
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:43pmSerious job indeed. These school administrators can get away with a huge amount of nonsense under the guise of “protecting the children.”
This bullying war has gotten seriously out of hand.
Report Post »leasecommander
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:40pmGeez, I’ve had enough of this PC stuff, some people are gooing to win and some are going to lose, that is the world out there, might as well grow up now, this is just idiotic !!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:39pmKeep doing this by drawing names from a hat and the winners will be “Mike Hunt and Phil McCrackin” every year…..
Report Post »georgepatton
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:24pmDon’t forget Peter Goesinya!
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:32pmAlthough prom king and queen are not all that important in the long run, these PC tactics are just getting crazier. Give everyone a chance to be queen & King? Why not put all of my co-workers names in a hat and randomly choose who gets a raise or promotion? Why not just put all the men I know names in a hat and randomly choose one to date or marry? Why not just put the names of all the seniors in high school in my small town into a hat and randomly choose who will graduate and who will be left back?
Voting for prom king & queen can be very educational too. Back in 1971, when I was a jr. in high school, the black students (who were a definate minority) decided together to vote for one black couple rather than splitting their votes among a few couples. They won. What a great thing to learn about voting!
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:36pm“What a great thing to learn about voting!”
And racism, if whites did the same.
Report Post »Excomunicatedmarine
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:30pmAwwww man! I wanted to vote for Barry to be the Queen. !
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:24pmThe lib can’t have two kings and queens. She already has Barack and Michelle.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:17pmThese politically correct people are nauseating and candyass cowards. When will this country stuff the PC BS in the garbage where it belongs? PC people are so sickeningly sweet it’s disgusting,not just in this case I mean in the country as a whole.
Report Post »lugger2010
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:17pmThis is SOOOOOOOOOO obvious- Someone didnt get elected Prom Queen!
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:16pmYes, as Michelle said, change our history and traditions. There are hard lessons to be learned in life and if you don’t begin to learn them in HS you certainly will not learn them in college and business. Life isn’t fair or equal, accept it and find your own way to success and happiness.
Report Post »