Spare the rod, and spoil the prom.

I would like to start this post by welcoming home "Mr. Big." You must have felt really at home in the Big House Ronald. Big house, get it? Let me stop.

Anywhooo, tonight I have spanking on my mind. (Get your minds out of the gutter freaks, not that kind of spanking.) The kind that some folks down in Crimson Tide country would see fit to put on some young ladies for violating a school dress code.

"Oxford High School, a school in Calhoun County, Ala., prom dress codes are strictly enforced. Some say too strictly. This year, the Anniston Star reports that 25 students were disciplined for violating the prom dress code. The strangest part of the story, though, is that the students were allowed to stay at the prom, but the following week, they had to choose the option of receiving corporal punishment (by paddling) or a three-day suspension....The principal, Trey Holladay, defends the policy stating that, "We're using the same policy we've had for the last five years. Being a parent, I want to make sure girls and guys act accordingly. We're a high school, and our community has certain expectations of what is appropriate."

Damn Trey, who is going to do the paddling? I am sorry folks, I understand that you Negroes have no problem with putting a rod to the behind of your youngsters, but I am not sure if I am cool with a high school breaking out the paddles for the violation of a dress code.

Spare the rod and bring out the hoochie mama? Look, I am all for discipline in schools, and lord knows I am not down with young girls going all Janet Jackson on their prom night. But isn't the penalty in this case a bit much? (Yes, even the three day suspension.)

"According to the Oxford prom dress code, females must wear evening gowns or cocktail dresses. The dresses cannot be made of transparent material, there cannot be slits more than four inches above the knee and there must be no revealing neck lines or back lines. The dresses can be sleeveless or strapless, provided all body parts from the shoulder to the knee are covered. Girls also can't wear two-piece dresses with the midriff showing or with removable material covering the cleavage area.Males must wear tuxedos or suits. They cannot wear tennis shoes or oversized clothing."

Dress code? Fine. Punishment for violating said dress code? Not so much.

"Jerry Snow, a former assistant principal for three years at Oxford, said the code was enacted because there were problems with female students wearing dresses that were seemingly too low cut or exposed too much skin. If students are not sure if a dress conforms to the rules, "They have plenty of opportunity to bring pictures of the dress," he said."We want the prom to be a dignified affair," Snow said. "We want people to have pictures they would want to show to their grandparents or kids."'

Yep, they sure won't be able to show off those pictures with paddle marks on their backs. [Article]