When you tell people you are homeschooling high school, you may get some pretty unusual questions. What about college? What about scholarships? What about socialization? For me, the strangest question was always, “What about Prom?”
Yeah… what about it?
Homeschoolers who want to have a prom can create one! Read this article, about a homeschool group that got together to make a Prom for their high school students.
Appleton-area homeschoolers experience razzle-dazzle of high school dance Teens show off new clothes, new steps.
A group in my area did the same thing, and had a large group get together. If that’s not your cup of tea, you can locate an English Country Dancing group, and do a “prom” the way Jane Austen did dances in her day! English Country Dancing groups are found in many locations. We didn’t have a prom, but when my son went to college he arranged a “Pemberly Ball” at the university, in the style of Jane Austen. You can read a few blog posts about it here: Can’t Get Enough Jane Austen?
If dancing isn’t your cup of tea, some groups will have a formal dinner instead. At a home or restaurant, it can give teens the opportunity to dress up and practice manners in a wholesome environment. Like etiquette classes of the past, these experiences are important for future professionals. In fact, these experiences are common on college campuses, where groups can learn adult manners. There are plenty of resources if you search for “Teaching Manners to Adults.”
So go ahead and create your own brand of “Prom” that is as unique as your homeschool! Start planning now, and you can have a great event for the upcoming homeschool year!
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HAHA! My mom asked me “What about the prom?” when I told her I was going to homeschool. At the time my oldest was……………………
……………………………………….
4 yrs. old! Our co-op does do a homeschool formal every year. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids to dress up and learn proper etiquette in formal situations. But heck, if they go to a wedding or two in their lifetimes, you’ve got it covered. 🙂
Laura
12 years of public schooling just so you can go to prom? What about all those girls (like myself) who didn’t even get asked to prom? was it all for not?
We LOVE prom….for our homeschoolers!
I’ve been blessed to chaperon for 9 years now, and each event has been elegant and fun. I wrote this blog post after this year’s event in May just to help let people know how nice a Prom can be. http://7sistershomeschool.com/2011/05/21/homeschool-prom/
It’s funny how much people wonder and worry about this when they learn that you homeschool!
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to use my snappy answer for the “what about prom” question, but I’ll share it anyway…
“Gee, I thought the whole point of high school was to study hard and get into a good college. Silly me.”
Then if the person really persists…
“Wow, you know, you’re right. Prom is important. I should have tried harder to be in a high enough caste to actually get a date. I really missed out on the life lessons that drinking and driving, and, uh, other things that happen would have taught me. Thanks for enlightening me.”
Our 16-year old dd just finished making her Empire Era ball gown (green crushed velvet with a black velvet sash complete with long black evening gloves) for the Christmas ball as her 4-H sewing project. She was awarded an A and an Oustanding ribbon and will wear it in December with pride. The judge did not even know about the Regency Era and was excited to go home and read some Jane Austen books. Public school socialization – HA! Don’t kids get in trouble for that in public school?