Monday, June 1, 2009

Senior Week - I Don't Think So

NO, my daughter is not going. Not because I am worried about what she might do. I’m absolutely not. It’s just an environment that she does not belong in. Basically a bunch of out of control teenagers all squished together in one town for a week.

I cannot understand why any mother would endorse, or even worse, actually rent out a place at the beach for High School Senior Week for her daughter plus ten of her friends in a town over three hours away from home as a celebration for them graduating from high school. But that is the deal.

It goes without saying that there will be no parents present. But I’ll say it anyway. There will be no parents present. The parent's role in Senior Week is that a parent has to rent the place because the kids are too young to sign a lease. Hello there. If they are too young to sign a lease then they're too young to stay there without a parent.

Some other parent apparently signed the lease for the place up above where the girls will be staying - for ten accompanying boys.

Each kid is supposed to pay $400.00 to cover the rent. So with both the top and bottom floor, the landlord will be making $8,000.00 for that one week.

Why am I against Senior Week? Because it will be taking place where


  • over 100,000 high school seniors flock for Senior Week for “freedom and partying”
  • the police force is doubled in anticipation of them coming and being there because.......
  • most of the town's annual arrests take place during this particular time every year.
  • police issue wristbands to all the kids, so they can ride the bus free - because they anticipate that most kids will be too drunk or stoned to drive.

I'm still wondering why the big argument in favor of senior week is that "this is what seniors do”. Really? This is the big senior rite of passage? Wow! What a commentary on our culture and society for thinking it's OK, for landlords and other merchants who profit from it, and on parents for enabling them to participate.

http://www.artypantz.blogspot.com/

5 comments:

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

I agree totally!!!

Mandala Michelle said...

I can't believe anyone thinks that is a good idea!? I was a good kid but I know I would have gotten stupid on a trip like that.

Victoria, I have an award for you on my site. Please pick it up next time you are there. http://mylifeonthexyzlist.blogspot.com/

supplies overflowing! said...

I don't get the rational either-
Hey- kids will find a way to do what they want to do no matter what- we were all kids once- we know-
but why make it easy? why give "permission?" Yup- I don't get it.

ArtistUnplugged said...

Don't get it either......I'm totally with you, what are alot of these parents thinking....oh yeah, they're not!

mwmdesigns said...

It's been so long since I've had kids that age I had forgotten all about the whackiness of senior week, the great American 18-year-old drunk out. Glad your daughter isn't going, Victoria--she really won't miss anything.