Sixth grade girls are forbidden not to dance with boys who ask them. This bothers a mother very much – and she successfully defends herself!
What happened?
Natalie Richard from Utah could hardly believe her ears when her daughter told about the upcoming Valentine's Day party at her school: The girls in the sixth grade had been expressly impressed that under no circumstances should they say "no" to a boy who asks them to dance.
seriously?
At first Natalie thought her daughter had got it wrong, but the school was really serious about the rule.
What is the purpose of this strange regulation?
The idea behind it was originally meant nicely: The "Kanesville Elementary School" was about not excluding any children and humiliating them by rejecting them in front of the class. The school also announced that this rule has been in place for years and that there have never been any complaints from parents.
Until now …
Natalie was angry and stunned and immediately went to the school management. For them it was about the question: what is worse now? That someone would get the answer, "No, I don't want to dance with you now"? Or that sixth graders are taught that a girl cannot say "no" to a boy because it hurts his feelings?
How did the school react to the complaint?
The school management was surprised – there had never been any complaints about the rule. A spokesman for the school district also later stated that it was a question of courtesy and respect and that the children should be taught how to treat each other nicer.
And what about the respect for the girls who have to go along without protest?
No consideration is given to them – and that's exactly why Natalie didn't give up. Sure, not every basket at a school party is friendly and tactful after a dance invitation. But to enforce as a consequence that nobody is allowed to refuse dance and physical contact is clearly the wrong way to go.
How did the story end?
The school has now reversed the regulation. Probably also because there was a lot of criticism on the Internet for this party regulation. Maybe next time it’s better to talk together about how to politely cancel a dance and why it’s not a shame for a boy to get a basket on the dance floor.