One of the reasons I started this blog, was to make the point that Connecticut has too many laws. We have all sorts of strange laws on virtually every issue imaginable. Sometimes these laws are benign in that for one reason or another there’s no enforcement. I’m sure many of these laws are well intentioned.
Enter the case of James Tate. Mr. Tate asked his date to the prom by taping large letters on the school. The school’s headmaster has barred Mr. Tate from attending the prom. From these humble beginnings in Shelton a national media issue was born.
I think Mr. Tate should be allowed to go to the prom. That’s my opinion.
From all I’ve see and read, Mr. Tate is a fine young man who has handled this situation with great maturity and perspective.
With the national media on the beat, it should come as no surprise that legislation has been introduced that would allow Mr. Tate to attend the prom:
Under Perillo’s amendment, when a local or regional board of education intends to prohibit a student from attending any school-sponsored event that occurs within 30 school days prior to the final school session of the school year due to the student’s violation of a policy of the school district, the parents of said student must be provided an alternative option for punishment such as community service or a clean-up detail. New Haven Register.
The legislation would accomplish something that I agree with – namely that it would allow Mr. Tate to go to the prom. However, this legislation is a symptom of a larger problem: here in CT there is a belief that any problem big or small can be solved through legislation.
For better or worse, whether or not Mr. Tate attends his prom, is appropriately the decision of the Shelton High School administration.