During the Golden Age of high school proms, the 1980’s, junior proms were held at most of the high schools in America. They were seen as a good way to prepare for the big formal event that followed in senior year. Some of these were semi-formal, not formal events, and the planning committees would go on to plan the senior prom the next year. The junior prom was a training ground for the big show and having them resulted in more comfortable, well-planned senior proms.
Over the past three decades, the junior prom has declined in popularity and high schools are now mainly doing just the one prom at the end of senior year. Why is this? Part of it is the financial state of the country, which has been going downhill since the 1990’s. Schools simply can’t afford to put on two proms. Another reason is the development of the prom as an event. Once a senior class high school dance, prom has now become an extravaganza held at hotels and country clubs nationwide.
Was the junior prom just a growing experience in the development of today’s modern affair or is it a piece of American culture that should be brought back? Many argue that the absence of the junior prom makes the senior prom more meaningful. Others think that one is just not the same without having the other the year before. With the senior prom becoming bigger and more expensive every year, the industry has produced professional “prom planners”, a job once reserved for those who had put together the junior prom. This takes the students out of the loop. Is this good or does it change the concept of prom completely?
There is no taking away what the prom industry has done in the past quarter century. High school students can now gain national attention with prom themes and seniors who enter prom teen search contests. Prom dress designers make billions every year with their new lines and tuxedos have finally come out of the world of black and white. SUV prom limos have been developed and kids have after-parties to go to at clubs and amusement parks. It is big business and a lot of fun for the senior class. But wouldn’t it be nice to have something for the junior class again?
