Trip to prom could cost student

FINDLAY, Ohio - Seventeen-year-old Tyler Frost of Findlay has a difficult decision to make this weekend.

Even though he is a senior at Heritage Christian School, a fundamentalist Baptist school in Hancock County, Tyler wants to attend his girlfriend's prom on Saturday. She attends Findlay High School.

But in the eyes of Heritage Christian principal Tim England, Tyler will be suspended and won't be allowed to graduate with his class.

It's a question of morality and obedience.

Tyler said he's never had any problems with Heritage Christian up until now.

Earlier this week, he presented a letter to his principal asking if he could go to prom at Findlay High School with his girlfriend, but he never thought England would punish him for actually going.

Tyler said Heritage Christian wanted to expel him, but that punishment was reduced after his family threatened to file a lawsuit.

"I kind of expected he say something to me about him not approving of it," Tyler said. "But I didn't think it would be anything this serious."

Principal England said this is serious, and it goes against the school's policy, which forbids "dancing, rock music, hand holding and kissing."

England believes if Tyler goes to prom with his girlfriend at Findlay High School, he could be tempted to do ungodly things the Bible doesn't approve of.

"At a prom there will be many young ladies dressed in current style low cut dresses," England said. "How does a young man not have lustful thought like that?"

"Definitely the temptation will more than likely be there, but after going to school for 13 years I'd like to think they would have a little bit more trust in me to overcome temptation," Tyler said.

Principal England said the fundamentalist Baptist school came to the conclusion to suspend Tyler if he goes to prom. The school will also ban him from walking with his class on graduation day, which is scheduled for May 24.

Tyler will also receive an incomplete on his assignments, but the school will give him his diploma.

"Christianity is a growing relationship with Jesus Christ," England said. "If you're going to grow and become more like Him you have got to be more obedient to what he says."

"As long as he's in school, I 100% agree he has to abide by any law or religion or whatever they push," said Stephan Johnson, Tyler's stepfather. "But after school it's up to me and his mother and his family to make the rules."

Tyler has decided to attend prom on Saturday with his girlfriend at Findlay High School.

His family is in the process of filing a lawsuit against Heritage Christian School because their standards shouldn't interfere with their son's personal life.