A Utah elementary school is receiving a lot of negativity after implementing a new rule that had most parents concerned.
Kanesville Elementary School in Ogden is known for their Valentine’s Day dance every year. This year, however was a little different. With intentions to promote “inclusion” and “kindness” the female students have been told by their teachers to say “yes” when a male classmate asks them to dance.
Talk about bad timing. In an era where we have the #MeToo movement and women empowerment, little girls are still being taught to “bow down” to her male counterparts. Natalie Richard, a parent at Kanesville Elementary, said she was shocked when her sixth- grade daughter told her that she was not allowed to refuse a dance with a boy at the upcoming dance.
“The teacher said she can’t. She has to say yes. She has to accept and I said, excuse me? It sends a bad message to girls that they have to say ‘yes’ and it sends a bad message to boys that girls can’t say no. Psychologically, my daughter keeps coming to me and saying I can’t say ‘no’ to a boy. That’s the message kids are getting,” Natalie told CNN affiliate KSTU.
The Weber School District also got the message loud and clear. In a statement that was sent to CNN, Lane Findlay, community relations specialist confirmed that the instructions for the dance have been changed. According to the statement, “attendance at the dance has typically been ‘voluntary but encouraged.’ Students are asked to fill out a dance car with names of classmates that they would like to dance with. But now students will have the rights to say no.
“In the best interest of our students, we are re- examining the procedures surrounding these dances and will make any necessary changes to promote a positive environment where all students feel included and empowered in their choices. We have advised our schools to eliminate any sort of language in the instructions surrounding these dances that would suggest a student must dance with another student.”
