Dear editor:
I am writing to you in regards to the prom. I recently have been told that I cannot attend my Grade 12 prom, that is held at the Fort Frances High School, due to the school I attend.
The following is the feelings of fellow students and myself attending Alternative Education, which has teachers who also teach at the high school, who want to—and have been planning to—go to prom.
We all have been anticipating dressing up in our best and walking down the runway with the person we want by our side.
I recently had a meeting with the principal of the Fort Frances High School, Mr. Simpson, to state my case and let him know that we, the students at Alternative Education, deserve to go to prom just as much as the Grade 12s who attend the high school.
We work just as hard to achieve our goals and graduate.
Mr. Simpson has stated there is a policy on this topic, but he has not been able to present it to us in writing.
The prom is a celebration of our achievements and can be a last-time gathering for friends. We, the students at Alternative Education, and a few from the high school, feel that Mr. Simpson has not fully realized how important the prom can be to some people—and how hard some of us work just to get there.
I may add Mr. Simpson has referred to Alternative Education as an extension or branch of the Fort Frances High School.
The thing we don’t understand is when we get our diploma, it states our name, the date, the year, the signatures of the Minister of Education (Elizabeth Witmer), and Mr. Simpson himself.
After not being considered students of the Fort Frances High School, then why do the words on the diploma exactly read: “Ontario Secondary School, this diploma is granted to [your name], a student of the Fort Frances High School.”
Well, that’s funny, we thought we attended Alternative Education. If this isn’t discrimination, then what is?
Signed,
Ashley Sisco
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
