‘Grad Nite’ Makes Sure Youths See Dawn : But It Is Time to Examine Ways of Cutting the Dollar Cost for Farewell Spectaculars
More than 50 Orange County high schools will hold “Grad Nite” next month, a worthwhile attempt to let teen-agers have, in a safe way, a celebration after years of English, physics and geography.
The evenings of fun date back to the 1950s, but anyone remembering them as lots of punch served in the same old gymnasiums with just a few crepe streamers fluttering wanly on a summer night should take another look. They have gotten lavish. Elaborate sets and entertainment can include inflatable obstacle courses and games of laser tag. Tustin once set up a 14-foot waterfall cascading onto a submarine. The costs can reach over $30,000.
An unfortunate side effect has been parents from one school competing with their counterparts at another school to determine whose Grad Nite will be more elaborate. Those sorts of excesses from the 1980s should be cast aside. No need to encourage adults to keep up with the Joneses in this realm.
Still, the basic reason for the evenings remains valid. One worker for a nonprofit group that helps parents stage Grad Nites contends that the single most dangerous night of a high school student’s life is graduation night, because of the abundance of parties and the loosening of inhibitions. Providing alcohol- and drug-free alternatives to unchaperoned parties is a good idea.
An estimated 80% of Orange County’s high school seniors will pay up to $50 each for this year’s Grad Nites. The costs have raised justifiable concerns after years of tighter budgets. Rather than coming up with new extravaganzas, keeping the same theme and decorations from year to year would help save money. Holding fund-raisers for the event and making sure the students recognize the costs and are realistic about expectations are helpful. Teen-agers are old enough to understand the value of a dollar. Parents understand the reason for Grad Nite is having their children bid a safe goodby to high school.