Betsy Hart is one of many parents who are offended by the kind of "dancing" that goes on at high school dances. She wants a face to face leave some space rule. She claims that that kind of dancing and distasteful and dangerous to get teenagers sexually aroused at school dances. When I was reading this article it reminded me of an act by comedian Dane Cook. He says "Whatever happened to the very formal 'May I have this dance'? Now guys just go up behind the girls and bang their(male parts) on them for a few minutes, and then move on to the next one." The reason why this dancing is going on at high school dances is because it is glorified in the media and is looked at by society as acceptable. Everything that is in the media filters down to high schools, so it is no surprise that this is happening. I agree with Hart that it has the potential to be dangerous, but she is talking as a protective parent. There comes a time when parents just have to trust their kids to do the right thing, and there are bigger things for parents to worry about than the way their children dance, like the what goes on at the afterparty. This is just a fad and will die out in a few years. One of the rhetorical questions that Hart uses is If the "$400 dress girl" had been sexually assaulted in the parking lot after the festivities because the dance wasn't a "dud," would her mom be happy, or suing the school? This shows that this situation is a no-win situation. No matter what the schools do there will always be someone who is unhappy. Parents will be unhappy if it is allowed, and the potential for more sexual activities is there. I can nderstand why a school, especially a school with a relgious affiliation, would want to ban this kind of dancing, but if it is banned, than the students will not be happy and will stop going to the dances. They may even chose to go to other schools who do allow that kind of dance. So, no matter what the schools do there will always be someone who is unhappy. The risks and benefits have to be weighed, and the question is to the benefits outweigh the risks. No, that $400 dress girl's mom would not have been happy if her daughter was sexually assaulted, but I would like to know who can prove that sexual assaults are directly related to this kind of dancing. I don't know, but my guess would be that it is a very rare case. The schools are placed in a predicament here. They are under heat from parents, but if they ban grinding students will be enraged and boycott dances. Teens are always going to be rebellious, they will just find another place to partake in these sort of behaviors. This sort of dancing is a matter of taste. Most high school students find it acceptable, while older (and more mature) members of society find it offensive and distasteful. If parents are really that concerned with the way that their children dance, then don't let them go to dances.
1 comment:
Johnny, First of all thanks for the new image. Much more pleasing. Second, your Dane Cook quote was classic! No kidding. The fact that I resonate with the quote shows my age. I embrace my antique self. Third, in your closing comment you say that if parents don't want their kids to dance like that, they should not allow them attend dances. Is this a viable solution? Does this really help the young ones? What do they learn? Young ones need to understand what is acceptable and what is not. Telling is a method. It can't be THE method. Young ones still need to be able to appropriately handle situations they encounter. Hiding li'l Suzy in the bat cave her entire life will ensure her demise. She needs to be guided, instructed...raised with the appropriate values that will enable her to behave in a mature and appropriate manner when needed. This may not happen if she is shackled to the homestead.
Thanks for the insights. Dungy's book is on my Christmas vacation reading list. Thanks for your blogging insights.
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