The Pennsylvania teenager who received an in-school suspension on Thursday for asking Miss America Nina Davuluri to prom during an assembly had Davuluri come to his aid with a request for leniency.
On the Miss America Organization’s website, Davuluri posted on Saturday:
“On Thursday, a student invited me to prom and gave me a flower while I was giving a presentation in York, Pennsylvania. I was flattered by the gesture although I am unfortunately unable to attend due to my travel schedule. I later learned of the disciplinary action taken and reached out to the school in hopes that they will reconsider their decision.
“Meeting and interacting with students across the country has been an important and rewarding part of my year as Miss America. I always encourage students to follow their dreams through education, and I’m inspired daily by the enthusiasm and aspirations of the bright young adults I have the pleasure of meeting through my travels.”
In the comments, Rebecca Reed stated, “I don’t think the school had the right to tell him who he could ask to prom… it’s really none of their business…”
Central York High School officials said they’d learned beforehand of 18-year-old Patrick Farves’ plans to proposition the latest Miss America and had warned him against it. When he went for it, during a question-and-answer session, they gave him a three-day, in-school suspension, according to the York Dispatch . The school’s statement:
“It is not our practice to discipline a student for asking someone — even Miss America — to a school dance. However, it is our practice to set expectations for student behavior, to communicate those expectations and rules to students and families and to ensure those rules are followed within our schools.”
Farves apologized in keeping with that: “I understand that they feel disrespected. It wasn’t my intent… I did kind of overshadow what she was saying. She was saying a really strong message about diversity and most of the kids were focused on what I had just done.”
And with that said, according to the Dispatch ‘s Nikelle Snader, Farves is still wondering what to do about prom: “I still have to decide if I want to ask someone,” he said.
What’s the right thing to do here? Who’s right and who’s wrong? Is it fair to suspend a student for asking someone to a dance? He’s clearly expressed an understanding of how he might have failed. Should the district now express an understanding of what it means to feel?
[Image courtesy of Facebook/Central York School District ]
