Should School Dances be Right After School or Later in the Day?
By: Alana Armstrong 2/19/24
Imagine that school just ended. Messy hair, exhausted, and anxiously wishing you had more time to get ready for the dance. Yet we only get five minutes to go to the dance. And that is not counting using the bathroom, getting a drink of water, and putting your stuff away at your locker. Whereas if you have a school dance later in the day, you will have more time to get ready and evidently have more fun.
I believe that we should have school dances later in the day because you wouldn't be as rushed, there would be more time to get ready, and you would get to take a break after school instead of going straight to a dance after a long day.
One of the main reasons I believe that school dances should be later in the day is because you wouldn’t be as rushed. Imagine how much more fun it would be to not have to worry about where to go or if you can get there on time. Being in school all day is tiring for many students, whether in person or virtual. Why add on to that stress by having them try to find their way to the dance and being there on time? Eleanor Mcelroy, a 6th grader at EJHS, shares the same concern. She thinks it would be better to have school dances later in the day. “I wouldn’t be as rushed,” she says. This is the same for many other students as well.
This is Eleanor McElroy, one of the many supporters for school dances being later in the day.
Students would also be given the chance to dress up and get ready before the dance. Most students would rather change before the dance instead of wearing their outfits to school. The bathrooms get very crowded due to how many people want to change before the dance. If the dance was later in the day, you wouldn’t have this problem. Instead you would be able to just go to the dance all ready and have fun with your friends. Laura Chupp, a 6th grader at EJHS and a journalism student, states, “It was a little stressful and I think it would be much cooler if we had a chance to change and then go.” Especially for students who want to dress up, it would be so much easier to just change and then go over to the dance. Not only that, but it also saves time. With everyone changing, there are usually long lines for the bathroom. And just like that, 20 minutes gone that you could have spent having fun with friends and dancing. With dances later in the day, you don’t have to waste any time. You can just get on the dance floor and have the time of your life!
This is a picture from the recent school dance, "A Night in Paris."
It is vital for students to get lots of breaks throughout the school day, but what about after? Students need time to take a little brain break after school, instead of going to a dance right after. This is why dances should be later in the day, instead of being right after school, so students can get the rest they need before going to the dance. Mahalia Battle, a 6th grader at EJHS, also feels as though it would be easier to have the dances later in the day. When asked if she would like to have a break to recollect herself after school, she said yes. Breaks offer many things, such as, socialization, and a chance for kids to give their brains a rest and and go back to other things later with more energy. In this case, breaks can offer time for students to take a mental break and evidently come to the dance not only feeling excited, but also feeling more calm than they would be if the dance was right after school. It is normal for students to feel worn out and exhausted after a long day at school. It will just increase student’s tiredness if it is after school instead of later in the day.
Overall, school dances would have a lot of more benefits if they were later in the day, including having more time to get ready, not being as rushed, and getting the chance to take a break after school instead of going straight to a dance. These things are very important because they can not only give you more time at the dance, but they can also help you have an even more fun time! If school dances are changed to being later in the day instead of right after school, there is no doubt that it will change these dances to be even more memorable than they already are. And not just for you, but for everyone. Do you think that school dances should be later in the day?
What do you think, should school dances be later in the day or right after school? Fill out the google form to share your thoughts!
Author Bio:
Alana is a 12 year old 6th grader who likes hanging out with friends. She enjoys baking, drawing, swimming, and playing with her dog.