California principal Bans 'Freak Dancing'

[ecstatic]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050110/ap_on_fe_st/dirty_dancing_2

LEMOORE, Calif. - Fed up with students' racy moves, a principal at a California high school has taken the unusual step of canceling the rest of this year's school dances.

Principal Jim Bennett of Lemoore Union High School said he warned students at a winter formal dance last month to either quit dirty dancing or face the possibility of not dancing at all.

The ban on dances includes the school's Sadie Hawkins dance in February and the junior and senior proms in the spring, but Bennett said they could be rescheduled if students modify their behavior.

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Is he right or wrong?

[Gman]

1. As the father of a 13 year old girl...

you're damn right he did the right thing!

Once they're 18, I couldn't care less what they do.

[Florida_Geek]

2. When I googled on "Freak Dancing"

I got hits 99% from the far right wing of the Repug party.

So I voted Other because of this.

[ecstatic]

3. I said he stepped over the line

because I'm sure it's only a few repeat offenders who keep "dirty dancing" (whatever that is). Why spoil it for everyone else? Just ban the offenders from future dances.

[saltpoint]

4. Stravinsky's RITE OF SPRING --

-- is a masterpiece.

It represents the power of dance as ritual.

Under this principal's prohibitive and arbitrary ruling, there's a good chance that RITE OF SPRING would be treated exactly as HOWL was treated when it was first published.

The aroma of censorship and high-strung moralism wafts off this principal's decision like a stench.

[Seldona]

5. As a father, I would say he did the right thing.

I certainly won't be wanting my 6 and 3 year olds taking part in a heavy petting session on school property.

I absolutely hate cencorship though. So I guess I am torn.

In the end I would have to come down on the side of the principle I guess.

I just don't want my daughters being exposed to this sort of thing without me having had the chance to talk with them about sex and all of it's wonders and dangers.

[saltpoint]

6. I wouldn't think there are that many 6 -or 3-year olds --

-- at that high school.

[Seldona]

11. I didn't say there were.

I was simply pointing out that those were the ages of my daughters. Could have articulated that better I suppose.

I stand by my assertion.

I have seen this type of dancing, and would not want my kids taking part of that at a school dance.

I cannot imagine any parent being okay with their daughters bending over while someone grinds their crotch against her. Or having her get on her knees while someone does the same.

And I am not some unrealistic parent that thinks my children are not sexual beings.

And I am not uncomfortable with that thought.

But there is a time, a place, and an age for everything. And I don't think high schools should he allowing this. They are still children.

[saltpoint]

14. And my guess is that you're a great parent.

Part of my thinking is that many great parents have raised young people who are inclusive, adaptable, gentle-spirited, and wide-ranging -- in short, kids who wouldn't see their sexuality in the context of public display.

For the few who do, a high school principal can usher their butts off the floor.

That ought to do it.

A sweeping ban on dances tells you more about the psychological vulnerabilities of the principal than it does about a handful of 18-year olds grinding against each other.

[Atman]

7. I'm shocked that so many said "did the right thing."`

Has this EVER worked? I was in Junior High School in the '70's and dancing was too "dirty" then. Elvis was too "dirty." Every adult generation thinks THEIR kids are being far more perverted than they were, and that's hogwash. Even the term "dirty dancing" is thirty years old, and "freak dancing" is the same thing updated with today's vernacular.

To the father of the 13 yo girl; I don't envy you. I have two teenaged boys, and if they were someone elses, I wouldn't let MY daughter around them, either. Does anyone really think that merely regulating kids' dancing is going to stop the hormones from raging? What century are we in?

Finally, the bit about the 99% right-wing Google hits for "freak dancing"...that says it all.



1st Amendment Shoppe

[Florida_Geek]

12. And number 5 on google is Michelle Malkin

with http://www.townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/mm20010221.shtml

[Atman]

21. Oh...well...

"We're not just talking Elvis-type bumping or Lambada-style grinding. We're talking hard-core, pelvis-to-pelvis contact and X-rated, front-to-back thrusting. The freak is simply simulated intercourse without even the pretense of dance.

This cultural phenomenon has been making headlines across the country, pitting school administrators in an age-old battle against crusading youngsters who fashion themselves heroes for free expression and personal liberty:"

Okay, so it does sound a bit, uh..."racy." And considering what other slang term "freak" is slang for, I can understand this might be a bit disconcerting for adults. Still, this administrator did exactly the wrong thing if he wanted to stop kids from doing the dance. He basically endorsed it, and made it even more likely to occur, not less. "The Parents and Administrators Hate It" is the teenager's Seal Of Approval. Had this guy actually told the kids there'd be a freak contest, or went on the morning announcements like Ferris Bueller's teacher ... "Class. Class...tonight you are all invited to come out to the gymnasium to get your freak on. Don't forget your parental permission slips." Those kids would have found something else in a heartbeat. Even better, have the teachers join the kids for a couple freak dances. Old Lady Applecrust down on the floor with the math teacher, Dexter Dweebfart, and those kids would be running for the nearest Aurthur Murray studio for box-step lessons.

Isn't some sort of psychology course required to be a teacher? Any parent knows this basic strategy...tell 'em you hate it, they're all over it! Tell you love it, now that is the kiss of death.

(BTW...didn't we used to call this "The Gator?")

[gollygee]

22. Maybe the answer is

for the teachers and parents to go to the dance and freak dance along with the students. (just kidding, but I bet it would seem less cool in a hurry)

But I wonder if those who think freak dancing is just like the tango or elvis would be OK with adults freak dancing alongside or with school kids?

[saltpoint]

8. Young people might better profit from a kind of --

-- instruction and encouragement which would ask them to be more humane and compassionate than people often are.

As opposed to: standardized testing and moralistic judgments about how they should dance.

Adults misbehave at least as often and their transgressions eclipse this small handful of high schoolers freakdancing in California.

----
edit: typo

[KurtNYC]

9. He took the lazy fascist approach

Rather than have chaparones eject the kids who are freakin', he shuts down all future dances for everyone.

And if the kids modify their behavior with respect to dancing, how will he know since he BANNED DANCING.

[Seldona]

13. I agree with you there.

He shouldn't have banned the dances altogether.

He should have simply enforced this against those that were doing it.

I failed to make that clear in my earlier posts.

[gollygee]

10. Censorship would mean making it illegal

No one is talking about making freak dancing *illegal* - we're wondering if it's appropriate for high school kids at a school dance. It seems obvious to me it isn't appropriate behavior at a high school dance.

Edited to add a lovely image of a strawman.



Edited again because I see that this particular thread is taht they've cancelled *all* the dances. I guess if so many students were freak dancing that just removing the kids causign trouble was impossible, then that would be fair. But it probably goes farther than it has to go.

[saltpoint]

15. The news reported that Mr. Bennet, the principal, threatened --

-- to ban all dances.

You are splitting hairs by questioning whether that constitutes "censorship" in the legal sense.

The effect and spirit of Bennett's admonition are in fact censorious.

Censorship is not exclusively a legal consideration and it does not require a statuatory context for implementation.

Dedicate your straw man to Mr. Bennett.

[LostinVA]

17. he didn't cancel all of the dances

There was an update on the other LBN thread about this: he is allowing the Sadie Hawkins Dance to go on, and IF there is no freaking, the prom is still on. Apparently, this has been a huge problem at this school's dances, and nothing has been stopping it.

[Hunter_1253]

16. Great idea

I'm sure this ban will now prevent students from grinding their genitals against one another.

[ucmike]

18. i must be getting old. i agreed

i've seen this type of dancing before by very young teenagers. we're not talking about a little butt squeezing or dancing too close together. a lot of it is blatantly sexual. think advanced dry-humping and lots of lifted skirts and such. think "girls gone wild"

my brother teaches 4th graders, they aren't allowed to dance anymore at recess because they were doing this. he was appalled when he first saw it. he said the boys were lifting the girls shirts and a lot of the dancing involved grabbing girls from behind and pounding into them, simulating hard core sex. these were fourth graders, its probably worse in highschools.

seems to me the principal probably headed off a lot of hassles and complaints. highschool dances are supposed to be about fun and socialization, if kids want to dry hump they can still do it elsewhere and i'm sure they do. the kids had a chance to moderate themselves and they didn't so they lost a priviledge. life sucks, especially when you don't follow the rules. if its so innocent maybe the kids should invite all their parents to chaperone.

[On the Road]

19. Up Until Last Year (8th Grade)

my daughter went to a private school that, while laid back in many ways, had an oppressive dress code, especially for girls. To the point where in hot months, she had difficulty finding t-shirts and shorts which were long enough to meet the guidelines. Angie, her mother, and I were all pissed at the school for being ridiculously restrictive and having no sense of proportion.

NONE of that would cause me to question the need for having some kind of guidelines for student behavior in school or at a school function. Nothing in the article suggests that the principal was applying inappropriate standards or being rigid. On the contrary, it appears he is trying to work with the students.

Yes, kicking individuals out is a possibility, but may not be a very good one. It's impossible to be even-handed, to see everything, and for different chaperons to make judgments on the spot that are accepted. It risks becoming an even bigger fiasco. Even thought it borders on group punishment, I don't blame him for not wanting to go there.

[MsTryska]

20. let me just add.....

aww...everybody come everybody come
everybody come everybody come....


footloose! footloose! put on your dancing shoes!