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As students prepare for prom so do local officers, school officials
At the end of each school year, high school juniors and seniors all across the nation enjoy attending their junior and senior proms. Unfortunately, a night that is supposed to hold fairytale endings can sometimes end in tradgedy.
Local high school girls, who will be attending the 2008 Fort Scott High School Junior Senior Prom on Saturday, have undoubtedly spent hours looking for just the right dress for the occasion. The young men who will be accompanying these girls to the prom will likely rent tuxedoes and purchase corsages for their dates.
Unfortunately, all too often, prom night becomes a night of alcohol abuse and drug use, in addition to other risky behaviors, which can cause the magical night to end in tragedy, according to FamilyEducation.com, an online consumer network created to help parents, teachers, and students of all ages take control of their learning and make it part of their everyday lives.
"Our (parents) biggest prom worries are the risky behaviors associated with proms. Most specifically driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and unsafe sex. Prom night always seems to be linked with drunken-driving injuries and deaths, date rapes, pregnancies and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) It's become the night where teens' poor judgment and dangerous choices have become institutionalized," the Family Education Web site said.
Even though the aforementioned information is a problem in many school districts, according to Fort Scott Police School Resource Officer Toby Nighswonger, Fort Scott has not seen an increase in vehicle accidents or criminal activity the weekend of prom for the past two years.
"Although this may be a problem in the nation, it is not a problem here," Nighswonger said.
When asked why Fort Scott has not had many prom-related incidents in the past, Nighswonger said he attributes the successful proms to the many precautions that the local police department and the FSHS high school administration have taken to ensure the safety of all the students who participate in the prom. Also, Nighswonger said he spends a great amount of time throughout the school year educating local students about the dangers of alcohol and drug usage.
Nighswonger added that maintaining safe prom experiences for students in Fort Scott requires the local school district, the Fort Scott Police Department and parents to join in a cooperative effort that promotes safety.
"Without a partnership, we could become a town with a statistic to its name," he said.
To help lessen the amount of alcohol usage that takes place the night of prom, the FSHS administration will be using breathalyzers to examine prom participants for the presence of alcohol. Anyone found to have been drinking alcohol will not be admitted to prom.
Safety at prom will be optimal this year with security being provided by the Fort Scott Police Department. Nighswonger said he will be among the officers present at prom to help ensure that the event is successful. Another precaution taken by the school district is that once a student leaves prom, Nighswonger said, he or she will not be allowed to re-enter the event.
The biggest thing the local community can do to help ensure a safe prom experience for local students is to organize an after prom party for local youth to attend, Nighswonger said. According to one of the After Prom Party organizers, Liz Braun, all local juniors and seniors and their prom dates are welcome to attend the After Prom Party, which will be conducted at the former Wal-Mart building on the lawn and garden side of the building. This year's party will have a luau theme, Braun said. Keeping with this theme, party attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a sand castle building contest and the limbo. Other events that will be offered at the party include: a money booth, a Velcro wall, sumo wrestling, obstacle races, guitar hero, Black Jack and Poker. In addition to the free activities, students will be able to pay $1 for a chance to dunk FSHS principal Bob Beckham, FSHS teacher Roger Leaming, FSHS Activities Director Larry Fink or Nighswonger in the dunk tank.
Also at the event, local resident Karen Reinbolt will be showing video of prom attendees walking into prom, in addition to footage of prom. Braun said those in attendance will have access to free food and drinks at the gathering.
According to Braun, the after prom event will begin at 11 p.m. and last until 2:30 a.m. No one will be admitted into the party after midnight, and once a student leaves the party, he or she will not be allowed to return.
Nighswonger said parents should know where their teenagers will be at all times. It is important for parents to check in with their teenagers during the evening of prom. Also, parents should talk with their teenagers about the dangers of under-aged drinking. Nighswonger said it is important for high school girls to be aware of the dangers of date rape drugs. Adding that it is important for girls to keep track of their beverages, making sure to never leave them unattended. The date rape drug, Nighswonger said, is colorless, odorless and tasteless.
According to Nighswonger, A new law called "Paul's Law" states that any parent who allows teenagers to consume alcohol at his or her house, can be charged with criminal and civil charges.
Teenagers who choose not to attend the After Prom Party at the former Wal-Mart should be aware of the local curfew, Nighswonger said. Youth who are 17 or younger will be taken to the Fort Scott Police Department if they are caught out between the hours of Midnight and 6a.m. If a teenager is picked up by local law enforcement for breaking curfew, his or her parents will be contacted. Also, a citation could be issued.