MMS DANCE PICK-UP A DEBACLE

If you were passing by the Maplewood Country Club Tuesday night at 9:30 p.m. you might have seen the massive crowd outside that was barred from entering the parking lot and spilled out into the street with police on the scene.

No, it was not a crime scene, riot or public emergency. It was someone's idea of how to handle Maplewood Middle School students leaving their annual eighth grade dinner dance.

Instead of allowing parents to drive into the country club lot and greet their youngsters in front of the building, the mob was formed outside and had to await students leaving and walking to the exit of the lot, where they signed out with adults. 

As you might expect, the approach caused traffic tie-ups, safety hazards in the street, and not a few upset parents.