Should Father-Daughter Dances Be Banned in RI?
The music is over for father-daughter dances in one Rhode Island city.
Earlier in the school year, parents in Cranston were notified that father-daughter and mother-son activities will no longer be held in the schools because school lawyers concluded they violate state laws.
The action was triggered by a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said School Superintendent Judith Lundsten. The letter was written on behalf of a mother who said her daughter was unable to go to the father-daughter dance.
Federal laws under Title IX allow father-son and mother-daughter events but state law is more restrictive, Lundsten said.
Republican Sean Gately, who is running for the state House Dist. 26 seat, issued a heated press release lambasting the school district.
In the release, Gately said his opponent, School Committee Member Frank Lombardi and his "school committee was asleep at the switch."
"Where is the 'Proven Leadership' I keep hearing about," Gately fired. "After already losing $150,000 of taxpayer money on the banner controversy, they made no effort to protect another important tradition enjoyed by generations of parents and children in the Cranston school system."
The change in policy occurred without any public discussion and the School Committee did not vote for any change. Gately said the issue could easily be fixed by inserting language in the state law that mirrors federal Title IX policy.
Here's what a few of our Facebook readers said:
Jacki Almeida: It's ridiculous. All because ONE single mother complained. Her daughter could have brought a grandfather or uncle or older cousin...but noooo this lunatic had to ruin it for everyone.
Danielle Williams: Maybe they should just have parent/legal guardian activities...not every kid comes from a traditional home.
Jenny Meyers: They should just do "family dances" that way boys, girls, etc everyone could go..save time. We never even held these dances at any schools I attended.
What do you think about the father-daughter dance ban? Let us know in the comments
Miranda
4:55 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I think this is absurd I still have memories of going with my dad all 6 years. One year he couldnt go and I brought my uncle. Did anyone ever think of that?? Other male figures. Sad :(
Tom
7:54 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
This is all getting out of hand.
First prisoners get sex change operations on the taxpayers nickle and now we can't hurt the lesbians feelings.
bimbels
10:52 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Ridiculous.
5th Warder
6:39 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Boy, Cranston can't catch a break these days. I never had anything like this at the school I attended, and frankly can't imagine my mother attending an event with any of her sons that would require her to put down her cigarette and her martini. It was the seventies and she had her priorities.
That said, seems to me they could work out a compromise, make it family night, or bring a mentor to the dance or whatever. Both sides are over reacting.
Nellie Sabin
1:57 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Ditto everything you said, LOL!
Agree it should be a "family" dance for whatever your family happens to be.
patsfan
6:56 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Yes let's take these dances away! Because we all no father's aren't needed to show their daughter's how special they are. This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. In a society that has all but gotta rid of a family bond. Where divorce and single parenting is at an epidemic rate these dances should be perserved and commended. It is disgusting what our country is doing! I wasn't blessed enough to have a father that could take me to dances as he was disabled. But I would never want anyone else not to be able to go because of something I was unable to do. And if it really is that big of an issue for a kid then bring the next strong male influence in their life. Kids only have issues with stuff like this when their parent make it an issue! I hope the ACLU Fails big time on this one.
Alicia Segerson
7:23 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
What is happening to this country?!!! No big sodas, no prayer banners, no dances, no murals that show a nuclear family. This is all getting out of hand. What's next? Only blond hair, blue eyed children allowed to attend school? Sound familiar????
Michael
8:49 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Hey Rhode Island, you want a solution ... "own your vote." Keep electing those who don't know how to lead. Notice I didn't say "nut jobs" ... just elect someone who works for the people, not his/her paycheck! Leadership .... try it, you might like it!!!
Janice
10:12 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
True leadership must be for the benefit of the follower, not the enrichment of the leader....
RhodeIslandYankee
1:43 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
This is sad. Some kids grow up without a father, and they need to learn to adapt, not expect the world to change for them. I took my grandfather to the father daughter dance in kindergarten, and while I don't remember much about it I love the pictures of us all dressed up posing in front of the fireplace. And a few years later after my grandfather had passed away, I took my mom to the father daughter dance, because why not? It was a lot of fun, although we did confuse the square dance caller a bit (Now men, uh, and lady...)