RI School Bans Father Daughter Dances

[MrsSpringsteen]

Should that be taken away from all kids because one child can't participate and her mother complains? I don't even remember having a father daughter dance in any school, good thing because I can't imagine that I would have wanted to do it anyway.

What about proms or sports, kids who can't afford to participate in those? It seems as if they might have used the gender discrimination law to try to appease this mother.

Yes, nothing wrong with a "family dance" and all types of families deserve to participate. But I don't know, it still doesn't seem fair to take that away from all the kids because of one complaining mother. The gender stereotype is that every girl has a father and/or wants to dance with him?


By NBC News staff

The school system in Cranston, R.I., announced it is banning traditional father-daughter and mother-son activities, saying they are a violation of the state's gender discrimination law, the Providence Journal reported late Monday.

Superintendent Judith Lundsten told the newspaper the decision was in response to a complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a single mother who said her daughter was not able to attend a father-daughter dance.

“This is 2012 and they [public schools] should not be in the business of fostering blatant gender stereotypes,” Steven Brown of the Rhode Island ACLU told WPRO News.

According to the Providence Journal, Lundsten said that while federal law banning gender discrimination gives an exemption for such gender-specific events, Rhode Island law does not.

In a letter sent out in August, Lundsten says, “I acknowledge that many of these events have long traditions and for many parents, these types of gender-based events are not an issue, however, this is a public school system and under no circumstances should we be isolating any student from full participation in school activities and events based on gender," according to WPRO.

Sean Gately, a Republican state Senate candidate, brought the ban to light Monday, adding that, if elected, he would work to change the state law, the newspaper reported.

According to The Associated Press, School Committee member Janice Ruggieri said the school system can begin hosting "family dances" to accommodate all kinds of parenting situations.

[PhilsFan]

Those things still exist?

[nathan1977]

I grew up in RI. Given everything else the state is going through, this is a colossal waste of time.

[deep]

If they allow them, they should require paternity test first.

[the iron horse]

"Superintendent Judith Lundsten told the newspaper the decision was in response to a complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a single mother who said her daughter was not able to attend a father-daughter dance."


This is the reason?

[MrsSpringsteen]

Apparently

[Moonlit_Angel]

Yeah, I feel bad for the kid who is left out, of course, but at the same time, it's not really fair to the other kids who want to participate in this. Maybe the girl and her mother could find some mother-daughter event to attend instead?

Course, PhilsFan makes a good point-I too wasn't aware people still did these.

[Axver]

Seems to me it should be banned simply on the grounds of being a creepy idea.

[indra]

Originally Posted by Axver

Seems to me it should be banned simply on the grounds of being a creepy idea.

Exactly!

I think there are some parent/child activities that can be good, but father/daughter dances (mother/son dances too) creep me out.

[Jive Turkey]

Originally Posted by Axver

Seems to me it should be banned simply on the grounds of being a creepy idea.

Is this the incest thread that was suggested we start?

[Kieran McConville]

Motherboy XXX

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by Kieran McConville

Motherboy XXX

[Liesje]

Why don't we just ban parent-teacher conferences while we're at it.

[Pearl]

The whole parent-child dance does seem a bit outdated. I'm also surprised that it is still going on.

[deep]

it really would be a shame
this is a great chance for the dads to check out the other daughters

[corianderstem]

I'd never heard of a father-daughter dance outside of weddings and those creepy-ass "purity balls" or whatever they're called. Why on earth would a school have something where daughters and fathers dance together? That's bizarre.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by corianderstem

and those creepy-ass "purity balls" or whatever they're called.

Now those are disturbing

Yeah, I would think teenagers want to distance themselves from their parents as much as possible, rather than go to a dance with them.

[MrsSpringsteen]

Originally Posted by deep

it really would be a shame
this is a great chance for the dads to check out the other daughters

Well aren't you a ray of sunshine

[Axver]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

Is this the incest thread that was suggested we start?

Originally Posted by corianderstem

I'd never heard of a father-daughter dance outside of weddings and those creepy-ass "purity balls" or whatever they're called. Why on earth would a school have something where daughters and fathers dance together? That's bizarre.

Oh man, purity balls, now there's a fucked-up idea.

I'm honestly surprised to see some comments along the lines of "I'm surprised this old-fashioned event still exists", since it's not something I've ever heard of, either as a dead tradition or a contemporary event. Either way, how utterly creepy. I wouldn't go to a dance with my mother, and if I were a father, no way in hell would I go to a dance with my daughter. I'd hope she's off dancing with a nice guy her own bloody age.

[maycocksean]

I'm surprised by all the horror over the idea.

Are any of you parents?