Dance! Dance! Dance!

The end of the school year is a great time for young people who live “Between the Lakes.” For most, their hard work in school is being rewarded with a high school diploma. The beginning of a new part of their life is happening. Proms, ceremonies, scholarships, etc.

But wait a minute…..
There was a time in Mount Juliet that the senior class was NOT allowed to have a prom. Up until 1967 there was no prom. However, that doesn’t mean that young people weren’t dancing. There were plenty of places that we could go to on the weekend such as Teen Town in Mount Juliet, Don’s Den in Donelson, and The Dog House in Old Hickory. We would show up with or without a date and usually school rock & roll bands would play the hit music of the time.

Dances like the Twist, the Monkey, the Jerk and many other dances were popular. Those were grand days. I remember my Beatles Haircut and Beatles Boots very well.

The class of 1967 decided that we needed a prom just like all the other schools. The students and many parents were intent on having a senior dance. Students, the PTA and many residents appeared before the school board. Students protested in ways such as not eating at the cafeteria and the organized skipping of school. The interesting thing was that it seemed that no one was in charge. It just happened. There were several people that were totally against it. Things were said like “dancing is sinful” and “Dancing creates desire in the opposite sex.”

The prom was not sponsored by the school, school board, city or county officials or any other organization. The citizens group and the students raised all the money needed.

More than 250 students dressed in rented tuxedos and long formals filed into the Old Hickory Country Club for a banquet and dance. One chaperone described the party as orderly, stating “we’ve had no trouble and everybody’s having a good time.”

It’s said that one high school student was interviewed by Walter Cronkite on CBS News. Another student was at the Hermitage when President Lyndon Johnson was there. He asked what school she went to. She replied that she went to Mt. Juliet High School. President Johnson remarked, “oh, you mean the school that couldn’t have prom?”

Many of us in the senior class of 1967 are very proud that we stood up for our rights. Mt. Juliet has had a senior prom ever since.

There is even a belief that we might have been responsible for the movie Footloose! If you have not seen this movie, you should.

Next you’re watching it, just picture the class of 1967 being in it with different names. It might make it even more enjoyable… and dance, dance, dance!

• George