The end of any school year is stressful for most students around the world. Often, there are exams to be taken. As you get older and progress through your school, exam results become the most important thing in your life. Once over, most students will agree that it is time to have a party.

In countries like the U.S.A. and, more recently, the United Kingdom, it has become popular for schools to hold a prom for students who have finished their important exams. It’s an opportunity to dance with friends and, for many, to dress up in party clothes. It seems like a great idea, but for one school in England, the school prom turned out to be a big problem.

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls is in southeast England, and 1,224 students attend the school, with many of them taking important exams when they are about 16 years old. It has become a tradition for the girls to organize a prom at the end of the school year. Many of them spend a lot of time deciding what they will wear, their hairstyle and make-up.

This year, after the exams but before the prom, some girls decided to play a few tricks on the other students. They placed some itching powder on the toilet seats and poured washing-up liquid on the stairs. Some students thought this was very funny. The school principal did not. She was so angry and upset by the students’ actions, she cancelled the school prom. A letter was sent to parents:

“The school cannot and will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour which affects health and safety.”

The students were disappointed. They said, “We have spent six months organizing the prom during our lunch breaks and free time. You cannot cancel it just because of the mistakes of a few students.” Their parents joined in. “Many of us have ordered expensive dresses for our daughters to wear at the prom. It’s cost us a fortune!”

The arguments went online, spread to social media and were commented on by the press. One said, “The school should have banned the culprits who are responsible and allowed the prom to continue. That’s how you learn responsibility for your own actions.”

Some parents were so angry with the school principal, they decided to organize another prom outside of the school, and the school year ended on a sour note.

Question:

VIDEO: A mother explains the importance of the school prom to her daughter.

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