An effort by four friends at Wilcox County High School in South Georgia to hold an integrated prom has sparked a national outcry over segregated proms. But these proms are private events, remnants of the tensions surrounding integration. I talk to two districts about how they ended the "tradition" in their towns. Readers offer their views. In a guest column, an educator addresses the widely held contention that a college degree isn't necessary for all kids, recalling that we once said the same thing about a high school diploma.

Ending segregated prom

Changing traditions by Maureen Downey

Guest columnist:

College offers route to power, future by Dhathri Chunduru

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A migrant farmworker harvests Vidalia onions at a farm in Collins, in 2011. A coalition of farmworkers, including one based in Georgia, filed suit last month in federal court arguing that cuts to H-2A wages will trigger a cut in the pay and standard of living of U.S. agricultural workers. (Bita Honarvar/AJC)

Credit: Bita Honarvar