By Staff
Our View
For many years it has been a tradition for high school graduates to take trips to exotic destinations following their commencement exercises. Even senior students here in Atmore at Escambia County High School took a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico back in April.
However, recent news from Aruba has troubled that tiny island nation and many a parent throughout our own nation.
Young Natalee Holloway of Mountain Brook disappeared on Memorial Day during a trip Mountain Brook High School's seniors took following their graduation.
She was last seen dancing and partying in the early hours of that morning, and then failed to show up for the plane flight home.
While virtually the entire nation of Aruba, as well as the FBI, searches for her, hope is gradually being lost.
This sad tale brings to mind many issues. It certainly illustrates why those chaperones always wanted everyone to go out in groups of three or more.
It also makes one question whether or not high schoolers are genuinely ready to take trips like these. While thousands of high school students have come and gone from these trips, a lot of things happen that their parents would not be very happy to hear about.
While this situation is quite sad, hopefully it will show more students – and parents – to use more discretion in what they do and the decisions they make.
We pray for Natalee's safe return, and also that no child of this city will ever stare down the same situation.