Anne Arundel and Howard students will need to abandon their sexually suggestive dance moves and not consume alcohol during prom season or face stiff consequences.
“Some schools have put some guidelines into place with suggestions on how to dance, but there?s no school system-wide rule,” said Howard schools spokeswoman Patti Caplan.
“Most of the chaperones will intervene if there?s something out of hand.”
Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City used “common sense” guidelines during its Saturday prom and didn?t experience any problems with dancing, said Principal David Brown.
“What we do is ask that it all be in good taste,” Brown said, meaning that students not participate in provocative dancing.
“And our teacher-parent chaperones are there to best determine what those standards are.”
He stressed that all other rules applied in school are enforced at the prom.
The Anne Arundel school system doesn?t have any specific rules regarding dancing, but students have to follow normal school function rules by showing respect and not sexually harassing others, said school system spokesman Bob Mosier.
Rules on dancing may be inconsistent, but alcohol is not tolerated in any school system in the Baltimore region.
“If there is evidence that they have been drinking, parents are called and the students are not allowed to attend,” said Caplan.
To combat drinking that could occur after the dance, Howard?s police and PTA have partnered to warn students of the legal and safety consequences of drinking. Police are increasing traffic enforcement on roads around high schools throughout Howard, especially during arrival and departure times. Anne Arundel does the same and also checks areas where teens hang out, including parks and malls.
Glenelg High School joined Mount Hebron High in having the Howard school system?s first proms Saturday; Reservoir High has the last prom May 17. In Anne Arundel, Old Mill and Meade high schools open prom season May 2; South River and Northeast high schools have the last proms May 31.
In Maryland, high school students and anyone younger than 21 who buys alcohol could face multiple criminal charges, including alcohol possession, misrepresentation of age to obtain alcohol and possession of a fake ID, according police.
Each charge carries a $500 fine, and violators must appear in court.
High schools try to thwart such activities by working with PTAs to establish after-prom activities and even after-prom breakfasts, Mosier said.
“Every high school now holds an after-prom party, and they?re sponsored by the PTAs,” Caplan added. “They really do some fantastic things that really appeal to the kids.”
