Bryce Maine wanted to take his Grandmother as his date to senior prom but was told by the school district that she could not attend.
(WTVM)
An Alabama grandmother was brought to tears when her grandson invited her to his senior prom, but school officials have banned the pair from attending the spring formal.
Bryce Maine hand-painted a colorful banner, the word “PROM?” scrawled across the center, and then hung it in the hallway of Eufaula High School on his 18th birthday.
He texted his 69-year-old grandmother, Catherine, the same afternoon, telling her he wasn’t feeling well and that he needed a ride home.
When she arrived at the high school off Lake Drive she happily accepted his invitation to the school dance, and even purchased a long ivory gown for the big night.
“My grandma is the most important woman in my life and she’s never had a prom before. So I figured why not let her go with me?” Bryce told Inside Edition.
“Every woman deserves to go to prom, no matter how old you are,” he told CNN.
The school’s administrators, however, disagreed — because of her age, Catherine was banned from attending Eufaula’s formal dance.
Eufaula City Schools principal Steve Hawkins in a statement explained prom attendees must either be 20 years old or younger and refused to bend the rules.
Bryce’s father on Monday met with school administrators with hope of changing their minds but was also unsuccessful, Fox News reported.
#LetNannyGoToProm– AL high school principal denies teen’s request to take grandma to prom
“For the 10 years I have been high school principal, we have denied requests each year from students asking to bring older dates to prom,” he said. “We do not chance leaving any stone unturned when it comes to safety. Most high schools have an age limit for prom attendees.”
Bryce said the school was concerned about “alcohol... in case, you know, she was trying to distribute to minors.
The school’s decision to ban Bryce’s nanny from prom sparked immediate backlash. His cousin, Sarah Catherine, took to Facebook to share photos of her grandmother dressed to the nines in her prom attire and blasted Eufaula High.
“My blood is boiling right now,” she wrote. “My little cousin Bryce wanted to take our Grandmother to his senior Prom since she has never been. Well after she ... bought her dress and made plans, the principal decide they cannot go anymore ... Like really Eufaula High School let my Grandma go to prom!”
With just four days before prom, the post has gone viral with more than 4,700 shares and thousands of supportive comments.
The Alabama high school has denied Catherine Maine permission to attend their senior prom.
(WTVM)
The hashtag “#letnannygotoprom” quickly went viral on Twitter.
Whether or not the Alabama high school changes its course, Bryce said he’ll be spending prom with his grandmother no matter what.
“She’ll wear her gown and I’ll put on my tuxedo and we will get all dressed up, go out to a fancy meal, and have our own prom,” Bryce told CNN.
The Eufaula Country Club has already offered the pair a free dinner on April 8.
Bryce said he’s even picked out “some of the songs she liked from back in the day” in case the pair should decide to hit the dance floor.
I don't understand why people are inviting all these other people to prom.
There was a guy asked a 9 yr old downs syndrome girl to his, a girl is taking her 4 yr old brother, now this guy and his grandma.
Why?
I just don't get it.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
yeah, there are strict age limits for many reasons and those reasons make sense, can't relax the reasons for grandma, then you have to relax the rules for everyone.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
When I was in my 30's, my BFF's youngest heard that I never went to my prom and he asked me. Although I thought it was so sweet of him, I declined. It would not have been appropriate, but the idea that he would do that for me made my day.
They have a father/daughter dance. They should have a mother/son dance, too.
It is a sweet idea, but where do you draw the line as a School District? Nobody wants to say no to grandma. But once u change the rules for one person, it can become crazy. Why not have a student/ grandparent dance or something?
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.