Team Tate in Texas

To: Dr. Beth Smith, Headmaster of Shelton High School  

Dr. Smith,  

I have just read of James Tate being banned from the Prom because of a bad mistake on his part. I just want to tell you that I believe the Headmaster has made a bad mistake, by blowing a harmless prank into a reason to ban him from the Prom! Yes, he should be given a reprimand, but nothing so drastic as you have done! You could have made him clean up the mess he made, perhaps even cleaned the entire school grounds, given him a bad conduct grade, lots of other less drastic things. Apprently you chose to carry the punishment to the extreme limit, which resulted in banning from his Prom. Shame on you! I can only hope the bad publicity generated by this incident will result in your being banned from the School!  

I am not a teenager, sympathizing with a wayward student. I am a 73 year old grandmother of two teenaged grandchildren. Had James Tate been one of my grandchildren, I and his parents would be in your office face to face with you and fighting you every step of the way! Our thoughts are that you have ordered Cruel and Unusual Punishment which is against all laws in the country! And we would fight you in the courts if you continue in this manner.  

I commend you for trying to maintain order and good behavior in your school, at the same time, I think that you need badly to have more compassion and understanding for your students. When you react so very unfairly, you only make them more determined to defy you at every chance they get. And again have told them that adults can't be trusted!  

Sincerely Wilma Clemmons

Bedford, Texas