Alabama Teen Forced Out of Senior Prom: The Lesser of Two Evils

Every year, it seems, we find stories of young women turned away from their high school proms for outfits that are apparently 'salacious' by their school district's standards. This year has been no different. One instance, however, does stand out because of the decision made by the young Alabama woman in question whose prom dress violated her school district's standard.

Her dress was a hot mess of green froth, cleavage worthy of another look, and apparently required only a minimal amount of yardage to complete. While she did wear a sheer green wrap that matched the dress, it served only to call attention to the dress itself: it was very short, puffy, and had quite a low neckline (or the girl was blessed with too much in the bosom department, take your pick.) She was one of eleven girls whose dresses/outfits did not meet her school district's stated, worded dress code for the evening. Students attending the prom had signed a statement prior to the evening that they would abide by the code.

She was also the only one of the eleven to actually leave prom night because of the choices given to her: leave the prom, or submit to a paddling by a school administrator, using a wooden paddle.

Paddling. I thought that corporal punishment had gone the way of slavery. Is this something that's acceptable for high school students throughout the country, or is this practice limited to southern states only? PADDLING: Suitable 'punishment' for any high school senior who's old enough to hold a job, vote, pay taxes, drive a car?

Perhaps equally appalling is the fact that the ten other students chose paddling in order to stay at their prom.

I hope that the Alabama State Department of Education takes a long, close look at this situation. Dress codes are written and enforced for reasons, including the well-being of students. Attending one's senior prom is a privilege, not a right. But to give a young adult the choice between leaving the event or being physically and emotionally humiliated by being paddled by another adult is beyond ridiculous. It is cruel, insensitive, and most likely a violation of one's civil rights. I hope that this young woman and her family consider legal action against the school district. Since the prom was the first that the student in question was to ever attend, you can't turn back the hands of time and make it 'right' for her now. The prom is over, but hopefully the question of the audacity of one human hitting another with a wooden board is not.