There was an interesting item in the news earlier this week. The principal of a Catholic school in Long Island, New York, has cancelled prom night. Cancelling prom, a traditional rite of passage for teens, has caused some passionate reactions, as you might imagine. The reasons cited for cancelling shed some light on what some see is wrong in our society today.

Brother Kenneth Hoaglund sent a letter to parents announcing his decision. Hoaglund cancelled prom because of objections to a "bacchanalian" culture of "financial decadence".

"[Kellenberg] is willing to sponsor a prom, but not an orgy," he wrote, after consultations that began last year.

"It is not primarily the sex, booze, drugs that surround this event, as problematic as they might be," Brother Hoaglund wrote.

"It is rather the flaunting of affluence, assuming exaggerated expenses, a pursuit of vanity for vanity's sake. In a word, financial decadence," he added.

"Each year it gets worse, becomes more exaggerated, more expensive, more emotionally traumatic.

"We are withdrawing from the battle and allowing the parents full responsibility."

The principal began looking into the future of the prom last Spring after it was discovered that 46 Kellenberg seniors made a $10,000 down payment on a $20,000 house rental in the Hamptons for a post-prom party.

When school officials found out, they forced the students to cancel the deal.

But Mr Hoaglund said some parents went ahead and rented a Hamptons house anyway.

The school says it is open to prom alternatives and says most parents support the move.

I realize that we are talking about Long Island, New York here, not Plymouth County, Iowa, but as a parent and soon to be grumpy old man, I can't help but admire the stand that Brother Hoaglund is taking. He is dead on the money when he speaks about the "flaunting of affluence, assuming exaggerated expenses, and a pursuit of vanity for vanity's sake."

Many of us attended a prom. Some were not fortunate enough to do so. I bought my first suit with my own money, earned by delivering papers and working as a stockboy in a grocery store, for my first prom. The gym was decorated by the junior class, the meal was served by the junior moms and we had a dance afterwards. Many stayed out all night, many drank, some died as a result. In the eons since my prom, after prom parties have come into vogue to keep teens from drinking and driving.

While these well intended activities have helped cut down the excesses, it seems that we parents have tried to compensate by spending more and more on our children. Tuxedos, several hundred dollar dresses that are worn once and rented limousines have had the opposite effect that they were intended to make. Our children expect more and more and are less and less grateful for what they get.

I think prom night needs to be safe and sane. Parents shouldn't have to take out a home equity loan to make sure their children have a good time. There's plenty of time for "keeping up with Joneses" after high school. Why start any sooner than you have to?

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@lemarscomm.net, telephone 712-546-7031, x40 or toll free 1-800-728-0066 x40.

Thanks for reading, I'll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.