Ohio Christian school tells student to skip prom

[goddess_nemesis]

Ohio Christian school tells student to skip prom
Fri May 8, 12:05 pm ET

FINDLAY, Ohio – A student at a fundamentalist Baptist school that forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing will be suspended if he takes his girlfriend to her public high school prom, his principal said.

Despite the warning, 17-year-old Tyler Frost, who has never been to a dance before, said he plans to attend Findlay High School's prom Saturday.

Frost, a senior at Heritage Christian School in northwest Ohio, agreed to the school's rules when he signed a statement of cooperation at the beginning of the year, principal Tim England said.

The teen, who is scheduled to receive his diploma May 24, would be suspended from classes and receive an "incomplete" on remaining assignments, England said. Frost also would not be permitted to attend graduation but would get a diploma once he completes final exams. If Frost is involved with alcohol or sex at the prom, he will be expelled, England said.

Frost's stepfather Stephan Johnson said the school's rules should not apply outside the classroom.

"He deserves to wear that cap and gown," Johnson said.

Frost said he thought he had handled the situation properly. Findlay requires students from other schools attending the prom to get a signature from their principal, which Frost did.

"I expected a short lecture about making the right decisions and not doing something stupid," Frost said. "I thought I would get his signature and that would be the end."

England acknowledged signing the form but warned Frost there would be consequences if he attended the dance. England then took the issue to a school committee made up of church members, who decided to threaten Frost with suspension.

"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God. (Frost) chose one path, and the school committee chose the other," England said.

The handbook for the 84-student Christian school says rock music "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds."

England said Frost's family should not be surprised by the school's position.

"For the parents to claim any injustice regarding this issue is at best forgetful and at worst disingenuous," he said. "It is our hope that the student and his parents will abide by the policies they have already agreed to."

The principal at Findlay High School, whose graduates include Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, said he respects, but does not agree with, Heritage Christian School's view of prom.

"I don't see (dancing and rock music) as immoral acts," Craig Kupferberg said.

 

[badreligion]

Ahh just another reason why Religion is bogus

 

[BellaRisa]

Didn't I go see a movie about this when I was 12, called Footloose? 😕

 

[badreligion]

Ohio Christian school tells student to skip prom
Fri May 8, 12:05 pm ET

FINDLAY, Ohio – A student at a fundamentalist Baptist school that forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing will be suspended if he takes his girlfriend to her public high school prom, his principal said.

Despite the warning, 17-year-old Tyler Frost, who has never been to a dance before, said he plans to attend Findlay High School's prom Saturday.

Frost, a senior at Heritage Christian School in northwest Ohio, agreed to the school's rules when he signed a statement of cooperation at the beginning of the year, principal Tim England said.

The teen, who is scheduled to receive his diploma May 24, would be suspended from classes and receive an "incomplete" on remaining assignments, England said. Frost also would not be permitted to attend graduation but would get a diploma once he completes final exams. If Frost is involved with alcohol or sex at the prom, he will be expelled, England said.

Frost's stepfather Stephan Johnson said the school's rules should not apply outside the classroom.

"He deserves to wear that cap and gown," Johnson said.

Frost said he thought he had handled the situation properly. Findlay requires students from other schools attending the prom to get a signature from their principal, which Frost did.

"I expected a short lecture about making the right decisions and not doing something stupid," Frost said. "I thought I would get his signature and that would be the end."

England acknowledged signing the form but warned Frost there would be consequences if he attended the dance. England then took the issue to a school committee made up of church members, who decided to threaten Frost with suspension.

"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God. (Frost) chose one path, and the school committee chose the other," England said.

The handbook for the 84-student Christian school says rock music "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds."

England said Frost's family should not be surprised by the school's position.

"For the parents to claim any injustice regarding this issue is at best forgetful and at worst disingenuous," he said. "It is our hope that the student and his parents will abide by the policies they have already agreed to."

The principal at Findlay High School, whose graduates include Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, said he respects, but does not agree with, Heritage Christian School's view of prom.

"I don't see (dancing and rock music) as immoral acts," Craig Kupferberg said.

Ahh but it's ok for religion to turn people into mindless drones because they know whats best for us 😕

 

[Sammy Scales]

Could someone tell these people there was a sequel called "The New Testament"?

 

[Korastus]

It's horrifying to me that things like this still happen.
I'm disgusted that these people are trying to take such a special moment away from this boy and his girlfriend. Nothing they could do at prom could be more immoral than that.

 

[BrightEyes1082]

If you don't want to abide by Fundamentalist Baptist rules, don't go to
a Fundamentalist Baptist school!

I'm a Christian, and I couldn't handle the policies at my Fundamentalist
Baptist college, and I transferred. That took care of that.

 

[kis123]

If you don't want to abide by Fundamentalist Baptist rules, don't go to
a Fundamentalist Baptist school!

I'm a Christian, and I couldn't handle the policies at my Fundamentalist
Baptist college, and I transferred. That took care of that.

I gotta' agree with you on this; the school is not going to change because the young man changed. He signed a contract and there's nothing that can be done about it. Either don't go to the dance or deal with the consequences if he does.

 

[FeatherQuill]

I was dying when I read this. It's so terrible how the school is trying to ruin this once in a lifetime opportunity for him. If it were me I'd go to the prom anyway.

He signed a contract and there's nothing that can be done about it. Either don't go to the dance or deal with the consequences if he does.

He signed a contract to abide by those rules at the school. That doesn't mean he can't live his life the way he wants to. The contract should not extend outside of the classroom.

 

[slacker2114]

The kid is 17. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that since he is technically a minor, his signature is not binding on a contract and therefore, would not have to abide by the statements of the document.

Yeah, I agree. If he's gonna attend a school with rules that pre-date the automobile, he should be prepared to abide by them AT THE SCHOOL. But he's outside the school, on his own time, in his private life. That'd be like me being forced to follow the rules of conduct of my job at home, which it utter nonsense.

Either way, it'll be something that will be pushed into litigation.

 

[kis123]

Hey folks, don't jump me!

I do not agree with the school's policy, but I do believe in abiding contracts and keeping one's word. He signed a contract; if he starts dodging and breaking his responsibilities to it as a minor, it's only a precursor to what he'll attempt as an adult. Might as well learn to obey the rules or deal with the consequences now than to attend the school the entire time then break the rules when it suits him to do so.

He signed, he should abide. Never said that the school was right; to be exact, I hate fundamentalism or any religious extremeism. I truly do not believe God is as fundamentalist as some of his people make him out to be. He wouldn't have given us free will if we couldn't use it.

 

[BrightEyes1082]

It's like being a boy scout or girl scout. You go by a code of ethics, whether
you're at a troop meeting, or at the mall with your friends. You can't choose
to be Mr. Moral at school, and then a different person away from school. Well,
you can, but you can't do it at a Baptist school. If he wanted to attend a
traditional public high school prom, he should attend a traditional public high
school.

 

[FeatherQuill]

But it's a school. The school shouldn't be able to control it's students outside of the classroom. That would be like having to raise your hand to speak to your mother, or needing to ask to go to the bathroom.

 

[BellaRisa]

It's like being a boy scout or girl scout. You go by a code of ethics, whether
you're at a troop meeting, or at the mall with your friends. You can't choose
to be Mr. Moral at school, and then a different person away from school. Well,
you can, but you can't do it at a Baptist school. If he wanted to attend a
traditional public high school prom, he should attend a traditional public high
school.

Chances are he had no idea at the beginning of the school year that he would meet a lovely girl from a different school and want to share in this joyous occasion with her. Grown people can't see into the future and often get into binding contracts without really knowing the consequences, to expect a 17 yr old to have seen all ends is a bit much. They should be ashamed of themselves for putting him in this position. Jesus would be very disappointed in their rigid lack of compassion. As for this boy, if his grades are worthy of graduation he should take his little lady to the prom and then sue the unholy ass out of that school if they interfere with his future. They don't have to let him march on Graduation day but if he's done the work he better get his diploma.

 

[BrightEyes1082]

No, the school has certain things it considers to be immoral. Students
are expected to refrain from those activities both inside and outside the
classroom. I'm willing to bet that it says so in the contract the kid signed.
Private school, especially private Baptist school, is very different from the
public school system.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

remember folks, it's what Jesus would do!

 

[BellaRisa]

remember folks, it's what Jesus would do!

He turned water into wine. He'd have been expelled.

 

[BrightEyes1082]

Chances are he had no idea at the beginning of the school year that he would meet a lovely girl from a different school and want to share in this joyous occasion with her. Grown people can't see into the future and often get into binding contracts without really knowing the consequences, to expect a 17 yr old to have seen all ends is a bit much. They should be ashamed of themselves for putting him in this position. Jesus would be very disappointed in their rigid lack of compassion. As for this boy, if his grades are worthy of graduation he should take his little lady to the prom and then sue the unholy ass out of that school if they interfere with his future. They don't have to let him march on Graduation day but if he's done the work he better get his diploma.

I don't think we can say whether Jesus would be disappointed or not,
but I don't think you should attend a Baptist school if you're only signing
the rules because you didn't have a girlfriend at the time. You either do
believe, or you don't. You can't just be obedient when it's convenient.
And according to the article, they were going to let him get his diploma.

 

[BellaRisa]

I don't think we can say whether Jesus would be disappointed or not,
but I don't think you should attend a Baptist school if you're only signing
the rules because you didn't have a girlfriend at the time. You either do
believe, or you don't. You can't just be obedient when it's convenient.
And according to the article, they were going to let him get his diploma.

Maybe you don't feel we can say how Jesus would feel about this, but frankly I do; everything I've ever read about the man, and how he loved people and wanted them to have happy hearts, tells me he would have been saddened by how this school is treating this boy. It bemuses me how so many 'believers' claim to live (and tell others to live) based on what they think their Savior would want, and yet in a situation like this we can't know how he would feel 🙄 Meanwhile, once again; Chances are strong this young man simply didn't know that his feelings would be compromised by falling in love. while I do understand that he signed a contract, to ask a 17 yr old who likely truly does believe to give up something so simple and special is just sad. And why teens usually aren't asked to sign binding documents. It's that kind of heartless, over the top nonsense that pushes young people away from the good parts of their religions.

 

[BrightEyes1082]

Maybe you don't feel we can say how Jesus would feel about this, but frankly I do; everything I've ever read about the man, and how he loved people and wanted them to have happy hearts, tells me he would have been saddened by how this school is treating this boy. It bemuses me how so many 'believers' claim to live (and tell others to live) based on what they think their Savior would want, and yet in a situation like this we can't know how he would feel 🙄 Meanwhile, once again; Chances are strong this young man simply didn't know that his feelings would be compromised by falling in love. while I do understand that he signed a contract, to ask a 17 yr old who likely truly does believe to give up something so simple and special is just sad. And why teens usually aren't asked to sign binding documents. It's that kind of heartless, over the top nonsense that pushes young people away from the good parts of their religions.

I can go by what it says in the Word, but can't say for sure how
Jesus would feel about the situation. I *think* he would feel that
as long as the kid didn't go against the written laws of God (Jesus
came not to abolish the law, but to save us from our breaking of the
law), then it would be ok. And if the kid feels that strongly about it,
then he should go to the prom anyway, and get his diploma after his
final exams.

 

[Miss Serendipity]

WOW! JUST WOW!

enough said!

 

[kis123]

And if the kid feels that strongly about it,
then he should go to the prom anyway, and get his diploma after his
final exams.

Why do that when you can get your attention fix by going to the media in order to force the church's hand? Looks like a case of trying to have your cake and eating it too IMO.

I don't nearly have as much problem with him as I do his parents. I expect 17 year olds to change their minds; hell I raised two of them and they change their minds more than their socks at that age! He fell in love and wants to be with her at her public school prom, I get that.

But he knew what the rules were and he signed on the dotted line. The consequences don't change with the circumstances. He can go to prom but it will be consequences for it. It's a private school; they can make whatever rules they want regardless how others perceive them. His parents sent him to the school now want to school to bend their rules to accomodate him? They're teaching him a negative life lesson; you don't have to adhere to rules and policy. You don't have to keep your word and abide by the contract of conduct you willingly signed. When you want your way, do whatever you have to including screaming in front of media cameras if that's what it takes.

No one said he can't go to the prom; he can certainly go. No one's holding back his diploma; he will receive the same diploma his peers who obeyed the rules will get. He will be unable to participate in graduation--so let his parents give him a private party somewhere at home. This what they signed on for; no sense of bellyaching about it to the media now.

 

[sasaxrah]

Whatever the outcome, I think this is a great life lesson for the kid. He's thinking for himself and challenging policies he finds unfair. I just hope for his sake, he's not off to a fundamentalist college.

 

[Artoo]

The school should hold no jurisdiction over how he lives his life outside of the classroom. End of.

But, as an aside, I think that banning holding hands and rock music etc is, well, a bit pathetic. Do fundamentalist baptists jump at their own shadows, in case it's the devil trying to tempt them?

 

[kis123]

Whatever the outcome, I think this is a great life lesson for the kid. He's thinking for himself and challenging policies he finds unfair. I just hope for his sake, he's not off to a fundamentalist college.

This I totally agree with!

Let him do his time in high school; it's almost over anyway. But I hope him and his parents have learned a lesson. You don't know what you truly believe until those beliefs are tested/challenged. Christian elementary and high school is fine, but the adult world is much bigger than that. You can't shelter your kids forever so open the door and let them out into the world to make their own decisions. They'll learn how to deal with the consequences of their actions and make choices best for themselves. The church simply cannot do it for them forever.

If I were his parents, I'd send him to a smaller college because a large campus would eat his lunch! I sent my daughter to two smaller colleges and although her freshman year was a complete nightmare, she's just finished her junior and we've both learned things about ourselves and each other in the process.