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.
What do you think about the father-daughter dance ban? Let us know in the comments.
really
4:14 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
More socialist crap!
portsMOUTH
5:05 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Ummm...I guess Father's Day should also be banned? Its not fair that all the kids suffer the loss of a tradition because some cannot participate. I feel bad for the children that do not have a male/female role model in their lives to bring to an occasion like this, but honestly, life is full of disappointments. Where do we draw the line at sheltering our children? Better yet, when do we step up as parents and supply them with positive role models???
Stanley Farak
6:35 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The law IS the law. Adhere to it and change it as soon as practical!! There are to many poorly written and hastily passed laws in this state.
Lou
9:57 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Seems to most Father Daughter dances allow alternate male/father figures to substitute, some probably even allow female substitutes, so what's the problem in those cases.
camille67
10:01 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
If the Cranston School system does not already have in place, I suggest and remind them that other schools have Mother/Son dances in addition to Father/Daughter dances; inter-scholastic sports, where some girls also play on predominantly "boy" teams, even football! This was so extreme it was reported on CNN's Starting Point today, Wed 9/19/12. Why not have a "Parent/Child" dance. It is very unfortunate that in this day and age with the divorce rate so high that many daughters are unable to attend a Father/Daughter dance for a variety of reasons.
Let's find a compromise here. Children NEED fun interactive activities WITH their parent(s) and I think the school is a great venue for that.
TAMORI
10:03 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
“The letter was written on behalf of a mother who said her daughter was unable to go to the father-daughter dance.”
Why wasn’t the daughter able to go? Did someone tell her should wasn’t allowed to go? If so, that person/entity should be charged with decimation.