“If only you were right Wally. The prom is a purely American idea, nothing at all to do with debs. There may be some who try to keep costs to a reasonable level but there's an awful lot of one-upmanship as well. It can't be at all negative to point that out. Why we can't just have an end of school celebration Made In Britain? Are we so incapable of thinking for ourselves anymore that we have to rely on foreign soaps for ideas?”

“I think people miss the point of the prom - for a start it comes from the Americans adopting and adapting the British tradition of the debutante and graduation balls.

Kids don't get to celebrate much of what they achieve in school, lots of emphasis is on what they don't achieve and on the bad and negative (just like in the rest of society) so this gives them a fitting end to what for most has been a hard slog of meeting targets, preparing for exams, tests etc.

Also in this day and age where kids walk around looking like they just got out of bed as part of fashion, it's nice to see them dressed up in a frock or suit and why shouldn't they go wherever they are going in style?

It's hardly expensive to chip in £20 towards a limo with a load of mates, less then a taxi for some people. Besides kids arrive in all sorts, from VW Campers, to tandems - it doesn't have to be a limo.

They can't do anything right for some these teenagers can they? I feel sorry for them - they dress up posh and get a pasting, they wear hoodies and get a pasting, they do well at school and nobody gives a stuff as it's all about targets - give them a break for crying out loud - no wonder some of them have a bad attitude - we give it to them through our negativity.”

“Because its the best in town.”

“I'm all in favour of letting them have a party, but the degree of peer pressure that is now being created by the current crop of proms is ridicules.

Does anybody ever give a thought for the children of less well of parents who can't afford an expensive dress or a stretched limo?”

“Actually, it's not just copying stuff of American telly....except the name.

I recall and end of school year dances when I was at Grimsby Technical School in the late 60's. It was normally held at the Winter Gardens.
For one afternoon several weeks before the dance the younger pupils received (ballroom) dancing instruction.”

“In fairness, the other schools have had pictures in the GT but I agree with Me. It's like having several versions of Grease every July. A lot of expense and they all end up looking the same, about 10 years older than their real ages. I wouldn't be a killjoy, but why can't our schools and pupils be a bit more inventive and independent instead of just copying American stuff from the telly?”

“It's about time we ditched this stupid Americanism. leave the celebrating till you have actually earned the right. just finshing school is no reason for such lavish balls!
Total mockery!!!”

“Nice pictures, but why only show this school. You should be showing a selection from all schools. Looks like money talks when it¿s Mr Hampson¿s.”