School bans father-daughter dances

[TheHuckster]

Article

If they had refused her from participating with another person to take the father's place, then yeah, I get how that's a bad thing, but I find it rather incredulous that the school seemingly refused the girl from participating at all. I think what happened was she wanted to bring her mother, they said 'no' because it's a father-daughter dance, and she's now suing, instead of doing something else, like asking her uncle to come with her, which is something I think pretty much everyone else with single mothers did at that the school.

I'm perfectly fine with having "family dance" events at school, but I find it ridiculous that someone felt the need to get the courts involved just because someone's feelings were hurt.

[HYHYBT]

I don't see anywhere that says courts were involved. It says there was a complaint, and that the school asked its lawyers.

[TheHuckster]

I don't see anywhere that says courts were involved. It says there was a complaint, and that the school asked its lawyers.

Sorry, you're correct. I stupidly read "ACLU" and automatically assumed legal action was either administered or imminent.

[DGoddess]

Maybe it's just me but IIRC back when I was in school, there may have been such events (late 70's through the 80's) but I also don't recall anyone having their feelings hurt over it.

But then I guess being raised by a single mom and no dad who wanted to be around on a regular basis taught me not to care about such events. Frankly, I think there's too much emphasis on "feelings" these days rather than what's practical.

Now if you have an uncle or grown male relative who could attend with you,, fine. By all means go and have a great time.

But to ban the event over the feelings of one individual . . . I guess all I can think of is that the majority doesn't rule anymore, does it?

[AdminAssistant]

Why couldn't they just restructure both events as "parent-child"? With family structure ever-changing, having "father-daughter" or "mother-son" events seems archaic. Says the girl who would much rather play softball with mom than dance with dad.

[Greenday]

Someone called up on NJ101.5 and made a pretty good point. It's preemptive to the argument that'll come up "But I have two mom's instead of one mom and one dad." Which then it'd be discriminatory against kids with two parents of the same sex.

[Gravekeeper]

I've never even heard of a "father-daughter dance" event to begin with. It sounds....strange and archaic. Only time you ever danced with a parent or relative at my school was the first dance at prom.

[Greenday]

I've never even heard of a "father-daughter dance" event to begin with. It sounds....strange and archaic. Only time you ever danced with a parent or relative at my school was the first dance at prom.

Wait what? Parents go to prom? That sounds unawesome. Thank God mine wasn't like that.

[Andara Bledin]

I seem to vaguely recall father/daughter dances when I was still in single-digit age.

The only reason I remember at all is that I resented the fact that my dad was a complete tool and I would never get to participate at one of those things. Not that I really wanted to dance with my father, but it was a party that I couldn't attend because my father would never be willing to go.

Honestly, the entire thing is archaic, and more than a bit sexist.

^-.-^

[Gravekeeper]

Wait what? Parents go to prom? That sounds unawesome. Thank God mine wasn't like that.

Parents go to the formal reception part and the first dance is always with a parent ( or subbing in relative ). After that the actual party part is just the students and teachers. For us it was a formal dance / dinner component, than a cruise on the bay on a party yacht for the rest of the evening till like 4am. Think we got back at 7 or 8am.

[AdminAssistant]

My folks went to all of my proms. A lot of parents went, not just for the parent/child dance (at the beginning), but to help serve food and punch and chaperone. But, small, rural school, different culture. There was also a dress code, guys had to be in tuxes, suits, or at least a sport jacket and tie. Girls were not allowed to wear dresses that were completely strapless or that showed the midriff or excessive cleavage, etc.

[wolfie]

There was also a dress code, guys had to be in tuxes, suits, or at least a sport jacket and tie. Girls were not allowed to wear dresses that were completely strapless or that showed the midriff or excessive cleavage, etc.

But that's discriminatory - the same dress would be OK for one girl but not another, based solely on who HAD excessive cleavage to show.

[BookstoreEscapee]

But that's discriminatory - the same dress would be OK for one girl but not another, based solely on who HAD excessive cleavage to show.

lol...this would not have been a problem for me

[fireheart17]

But that's discriminatory - the same dress would be OK for one girl but not another, based solely on who HAD excessive cleavage to show.

I would've had this problem. Joys of being a DD in high school.....>_>

Luckily my formal dress was a halterneck.

[AdminAssistant]

Well, it had to pass the Mr. Smith Test. Our principal stood at the door and if it didn't meet his standards, then you didn't get in. Same thing for graduation. Before the ceremony, he walked through, straightened caps, etc. Had a handful of ties for any guy who didn't have one. If you didn't have enough respect for the school and the ceremony to dress appropriately, then you didn't deserve to go.