Homecoming week is now in the past and the dance has provided a night to remember. Though some may reflect on the night as a great time, a select few may view it as the time they came up short in being selected for homecoming king and queen. However, this should not be the case. Voting for these positions is simply a homecoming tradition along with the spirit dress up days, the football game and the pep rally.
The court is merely a way to increase the spirit and energy associated with homecoming week. If you campaign to become homecoming king or queen and are not crowned, it is important that you do not take it personally.
Recently, however, a trend has been going around regarding whether or not homecoming court should remain an event. A Michigan high school decided that it should abolish the homecoming court system as they believed it was merely a vote based on pure popularity. Instead, the school determined that five to ten male and female students would be chosen for homecoming court based on academic or community service excellence.
Though this may be a plausible way to base the homecoming court vote, homecoming week is supposed to be a break from the usual stressful school life and work load. Also, in this new voting system, those who are unable to serve the community due to time constraints or are unable to overachieve academically will be overlooked.
The current voting system is no different than that of a club officer or student government vote. In both of these voting systems, though it may help one’s case in winning a position, academics may not be the determining factor for the winner. Hypothetically, if all candidates have equal community service hours and GPAs, then the vote will come down to personality and likeability.
Overall, homecoming court should not be seen as a popularity contest because, when it comes down to it, it truly tests sociability skills that are necessary throughout life. In the end, the system’s intention is nothing more than a way to increase school spirit and generate more excitement about the week altogether.
