James Tate said Saturday he’s happy he and his friends won’t be missing their prom June 4 — but he’s sorry for putting Shelton High School headmaster Beth Smith into such a tough spot.
“I’m glad that this situation had a positive outcome, but I feel sorry for putting Dr. Smith into this position,” Tate said Saturday evening. “I know it must be difficult as a disciplinarian to hold firm to her decision when people are against it.”
Tate’s statement came a few hours after Smith, the Shelton High School administrator, announced she was reversing a decision to ban Tate and two friends from attending their prom.
Smith acknowledged Saturday the media frenzy and social media tidal wave of opposition her decision triggered had become a distraction at the high school.
Backgound
Tate and his friends used duct tape and cardboard and posted a giant message on an exterior wall of Shelton High School last weekend asking classmate Sonali Rodrigues if she would go to the dance with him.
The bold gesture landed the AP student in hot water with Shelton officials, who gave Tate and his buddies in-school suspension.
The Zero Tolerance Policy
Shelton High School’s policy states that any student who receives an in-school or out-of-school suspension after April 1 is automatically prevented from going to the prom.
The story, fueled by Twitter and Facebook, attracted worldwide attention and landed Tate and Rodrigues appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and the “Today” show.
The Change Saturday
Regarding Tate’s punishment, Smith said Saturday:
“In an effort to maintain a focus on teaching and learning, I have decided to implement alternate consequences on a case by case basis, beginning with James Tate and for other students who received internal suspension after April 1, which would then permit some to attend the prom.”
The “Team Tate” Accomplices?
Superintendent Freeman Burr confirmed that yes, the statement means Tate can go to his prom. The fate of his friends wasn’t as clear, due to the vague generalities of the statement and the fact the headmaster did not take questions.
Burr said he assumed their situation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
However, Tate and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti indicated that everyone involved in the incident was going to the prom.
“I’m really excited everything worked out for my friends and me,” Tate said.
Article continues after photo gallery:
Pressure
Smith was under pressure from inside and outside the Shelton community to change her decision on the prom ban.
On a Facebook group called “Let James Tate Go To The Prom,” people posted the school’s phone number and fax number and urged the public to call and voice their opinions.
At least two Aldermen have said they also made calls to the superintendent’s office, asking him to put pressure on Smith to change her mind.
Aldermen John “Jack” Finn was on hand for the announcement Saturday. He said as recently as Thursday night he told Burr that Tate needs to the go the prom.
Aldermen Eric McPherson had similar statements on Friday.
Immediately after the media backlash, Burr issued a press release that said he wasn’t going to comment on the issue. Thursday evening, when asked by a reporter how he felt about Smith’s first press conference, Burr again declined to comment.
Saturday, Burr said he has supported Smith, but wouldn’t say if he had agreed or disagreed with her earlier decision to ban Tate from the prom.
When asked why the sudden change of heart, Burr said: “I think there was a lot of deliberation going on, over the entire week.”
“Needless to say it’s been a tough week,” he said. “This should not diminish all the hard work Dr. Smith has done here in her career at Shelton High School.”
A Study In Contrasts
Saturday’s press conference was much different than the terse, somber press conference Thursday, when Smith said school officials would not budge on their decision to ban the students from the prom.
On Saturday, Smith said she had no idea her initial decision would cause an international uproar. She has been maligned on the Internet, with people going as far as posting her home address and phone number on a Facebook group — police were notified.
Smith said it has been a difficult time and thanked her friends and school colleagues for standing by her.
She also took the time to mention the good things happening at Shelton High School. such as the fact an experiment created by Shelton students will be carried out on the next NASA space shuttle launch, scheduled for Monday.
Burr Saturday was looking at the positive aspects of the Team Tate saga. Everybody got a lesson in the power of social media, he said.
He also joked that Tate has set the bar high for young romantics.
“James Tate has set for all of us a new standard for romanticism that is going to be a challenge for all of us in the future,” Burr said.
Smith’s Full Statement:
“Shelton High School is committed to providing our diverse student body with a safe environment characterized by respect. Our staff, students, parents and community work collaboratively to encourage life-long learning and responsible citizenship.
The key to successful educational leadership is to foster an environment where student achievement is the primary focus. One must consistently re-evaluate all factors to ensure that this is evident on a daily basis.
I never thought that such a decision would lead to international notoriety, as I make tough, unpopular decisions on a daily basis. I have considered the effect this incident has had on the individual student, the entire student body and my staff and the Shelton community.
At the end of the day this is a school whose primary responsibility is to provide the best possible education for each student and it is my job to ensure that this transpires.
Throughout the past week the level of distraction created by this incident has affected the culture of Shelton High School, one that I have worked hard to establish. In an effort to maintain a focus on teaching and learning, I have decided to implement alternate consequences on a case by case basis, beginning with James Tate and for other students who received internal suspension after April 1, which would then permit some to attend the prom.
This decision will allow Shelton High School to focus our classroom discussions on established curriculum and continue to encourage students to develop to their full potential.
I thank my staff and friends for their continued support throughout this difficult time.
The Shelton High School learning community can now focus its attention on a much more exciting opportunity when our students make history as a science experiment completed by SHS students is currently on the space shuttle Endeavor.
I, along with the students who completed the experiment and designed the logo, their parents and other staff members were in Florida two weeks ago for the launch, which was unfortunately delayed. We are hopeful that it will go off on Monday.
Thank you.”
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