The Real PTA Fact Checks Netflix’s The Prom

High School. We’ve all been there. It’s a time when adolescence, education and socialization meet to give teens a preview of adulthood and life. During these years, all teens want to find their tribe, fit in and experience all the traditional activities like prom night. I’m sure you remember your high school prom and all its unforgettable moments—good and maybe not so good. That’s the backdrop of the new Netflix film, The Prom.

Released earlier this month, The Prom is a musical comedy about a group of struggling Broadway stars who go to a small Indiana town to rally behind a teen named Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman) who’s been excluded from her prom because she wants to attend with her girlfriend. Adapted from the 2018 Broadway musical, it stars Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key and Kerry Washington.

I recently watched the film with my family, and it was high energy, glittery and fanciful. However, like with every movie, there’s a protagonist and antagonist. Unfortunately, PTA is cast as the villain in this story. 

The movie opens with the school’s fictional PTA voting to cancel prom to prevent Emma from participating. Mrs. Greene (Kerry Washington), head of the “PTA” is virtually the only voice and face of parents in the entire movie. She pushes her biased agenda and disregards any opposing thought—even from the principal (Keegan-Michael Key)—to pit the community against one student. Meanwhile, the students also taunt Emma because she’s unapologetically her true self. 

So, while The Prom sings and dances its way through the issue of accepting LGBTQ students in schools, like many other classic high school movies, it ends with a happy resolution. However, it’s important to point out that in reality, PTA is not the bad guy—or the mean girl. And in real life, PTA is there to prevent what happened in The Prom. PTAs help create positive school communities where every student and family feel welcome and included. 

PTA was specifically founded (over 120 years ago!) to advocate for our children and youth who have no voice of their own to help better their lives. That’s because we know that as students learn and grow, their experience and success are shaped by their family life and school community. PTA leaders work collaboratively with families, school administrators and students to cultivate a safe, supportive and respectful environment for all students.

So let’s break down some key fiction vs. facts in the movie:

Fiction: PTA does not support LGBTQ students.

Fact: PTAs believe that every child deserves to go to school excited to learn—without the fear of bullying, violence or discrimination. PTA strongly advocates on behalf of LBGTQ children and youth and is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Fiction: PTA can cancel Prom.

Fact: Proms are generally considered a school sponsored event and are typically run by the junior and senior class of that school. As stated in the movie, the prom is supposed to be a celebration of all students, not PTA.

Fiction: One person can make decisions for the entire school.

Fact: While there is a PTA president who represents the association, that person doesn’t act alone. There are other officers and members who work closely with the families, educators and students in the school to understand and serve the unique needs of the community.

Across the country, students, families and educators experience vastly different education systems that either support or hinder the ability for all children to reach their full potential. This is often due to disparities in opportunities, access and financial resources—and whether parents are respected as equal partners in their child’s education. Our real-life PTAs seek to respect differences, yet acknowledge shared commonalities. This unifies their communities and allows them to support their students, families and school in meaningful ways.

Watch The Prom and use this movie to spark conversation with your preteens, teens and other parents about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. Talk about what issues in your own school communities and how you can be more accepting. And remember to work with your local PTA. We’re not the villain in real life. We’re here to help you be your child’s hero.


Leslie Boggs is the president of National PTA.

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