Tales from the Prom: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The prom has achieved almost mythic status for American high school students, billed as “a night to remember” or “the best time of your life.” But alcohol abuse adds a very dangerous element to the event, in some cases leading to illegal drug use, unprotected sex, and tragic accidents. Tales from the Prom explores how peer pressure, drinking, and the prom intersect, incorporating comments from teens, emergency room doctors, educators, police, and even a limo owner who makes students sign a no-alcohol contract. The purpose is mainly to demystify the “glamour” of alcohol and illustrate its negative effects in this situation: at best, alcohol is a nuisance, as drunk peers spiral out of control; at worst, it's a killer, sending teens to untimely deaths. Various solutions are discussed, including greater parent involvement, breathalyzers at the door, and post-prom parties hosted by the school or community. While the message is timely and important, the program is sometimes unintentionally contradictory—such as when dramatizations of kids dying or being critically injured are offset by teens onscreen saying that shock stories aren't that effective. The accompanying curriculum, however, is both thorough and a good dialogue starter. Recommended. Aud: H. (E. Gieschen)