Hopkinton High School in Hopkinton, Massachusetts has banned school dances “in reaction to the popularity of moves like twerking and other ‘dirty’ dancing.”
Principal Evan Bishop sent a letter to parents explaining that the move was due to “increasingly inappropriate” student behavior, “particularly the sexual nature of the dancing.” The letter also notes students’ disregard of dance chaperones’ “redirection.”
“We have had many students come forward to report they do not feel comfortable at the dances because of the nature of the dancing. To us, this is unacceptable and we will not allow this to continue without trying to improve the environment. … we have determined at this point that the correct decision is to discontinue the dances held at the high school unless and until we can restore the environment to one where all students feel safe and comfortable.”
In his letter, Bishop says the school will hold forums with students to discuss solutions that could bring dances back and encourages student suggestions for improving the dances. The school holds three or four dances a year but the ban does not include Junior Prom, which is held at a different venue and, according to the letter, “has not been of significant concern in the past.”
The article quotes two parents, one pro and one con on the school’s dance ban. The mom in agreement with the decision says “.. they’ve been told so many times not to do these things, at some point you have to say, ‘ok, you’re not listening, now we’re going to take more serious measures.’”
The mom who is against the ban (who doesn’t even have a kid at the school, for what it’s worth) states “… kids who attend the dances and enjoy them are being punished. I feel passionately about the fact that we need to stop taking things away from children and instead empower them to do better.”
“Empower them …? What does that mean, exactly? How should school officials “empower” students to dance appropriately?
I certainly don’t recall anything akin to twerking taking place in the original Footloose. If there was, I doubt John Lithgow would have acceded to the students’ wishes.
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