'Party Like It's 1776' Prom Ticket Prompts Principal Apology

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill High School East may have been trying to channel Prince when making up the tickets for this year's prom, but its principal instead found himself apologizing for what some perceived to be an insensitive racial remark.

Cherry Hill High School East Principal Dr. Dennis Perry has apologized for the wording on the tickets for this year’s school prom. The tickets for the prom — to be held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia — read, “party like it’s 1776.”

He received backlash from the school’s African American community, due to the existence of slavery at that point in American history.

“I am writing to apologize for the hurt feelings that reference caused for members of our school family,” Perry wrote in a letter to parents that can be found below. “It was insensitive and irresponsible not to appreciate that not all communities can celebrate what life was like in 1776. I especially apologize to our African American students whom I have let down by not initially recognizing the inappropriateness of this wording. You can expect that we will do better as a school community well-thought-out, appropriate communications.”

The school will now allow students to get into the prom without bringing their tickets. “We have a record of who purchased tickets, a name will be sufficient upon arrival,” Perry said.

A commemorative prom ticket with a new style will be given to all attendees. Additionally, the school will ensure that a diverse group of people will view all information before the school sends it out.

A school district representative wasn’t immediately available for further comment Monday morning.

It isn’t the first time Cherry Hill East has come under fire from the African American community for being insensitive. Last year, the school removed the use of a racial slur from its production of “Ragtime,” after civil rights groups protested and a parent complained.

According to the most recent New Jersey Department of Education’s School Report Card, 6.2 percent of the school’s population is African American. White people make up the majority at 62.2 percent, followed by Asian Americans at 22.4 percent.

More recently, Perry has come under fire from the community for the alleged suspension of teacher Timothy Locke for comments he made about a lack of security in the school district. He has also been accused of being dismissive of the security concerns from the students and for waiting two months before acknowledging the death of Cherry Hill East alum Kenneth Smith, who died in a high profile naval accident last summer.

Since then, the school has implemented the use of armed campus police in the district.

See related:

South Jersey Football Coach Claims Racist Policies Lead To Firing

Haddonfield School Cancels Boys Lacrosse Season After Racial Slur

Patch file photo