RE 'Prom ban for pupil who missed school' (Evening News, June 23), about Harrison Thorpe being banned from the Scarborough College prom because his parents kept him on holiday for the first three days of the summer term.
If the facts contained in the article are correct then the punishment meted out by Scarborough College is entirely subjective, inappropriate and unjust.
Parents take responsibility for holiday bookings due to work commitments and to ban the stud
ent from an "out of hours" social occasion which is only applicable to his year group cannot possibly be seen as fair and just.
How would a younger pupil be punished? Have there been no other Year 11 pupils absent "inappropriately" this year? Were the parents too honest in giving the true explanation for their son's absence, resulting in his being punished because of their decisions?!
As Harrison is not continuing into the Sixth Form at the school, and previously his three siblings were all educated there, it seems nothing but an act of vindictiveness on the school's part as a source of income ceases. Presumably there are no younger children in the Thorpe family?
As a former deputy head of a local comprehensive school my sympathies lie entirely with Harrison on this issue.
Surely someone at Scarborough College can bring an element of common sense to this dispute before it is too late to rectify an indefensible impasse?
Hoping that right will prevail.
Dawn Ball
North Lane
Cayton