C. Milton Wright High School in Bel Air has banned sexually explicit dance moves, sometimes known as “grinding”, in new rules for all school dances. The following rules for students were published earlier this school year:
Dance rules are as follows:
a. Keeping both feet on the floor
b. Hands must stay on waists or shoulders only.
c. No bending over past 45 degrees.
d. No hands on the dance floor
e. No sexually explicit or violence-oriented dancing.
f. No overt public displays of affection
The new rules were issued after the school’s Homecoming Dance in October, according to Teri Kranefeld, manager of communications for Harford County Public Schools. Following an inquiry from The Dagger and with prom season underway, the published rules were revised last week. Kranefeld said that the revisions had been in the works and were intended for clarification and to ensure that the rules were understood.
The revised rules, now in effect for all C. Milton Wright dances, are as follows:
a. No hands on the floor.
b. Hands must stay on waists or shoulders only.
c. No exaggerated bending.
Asked about the rules against what Kranefeld described as “extreme bending”, Kranefeld wrote in an email, “The act alone results in extreme lewd dancing and is inappropriate and against school rules.”
The revised rules are outlined in C. Milton Wright’s Dance Policies and Guidelines and are referenced in a dance contract that all students and guests must sign before dance tickets can be purchased. The rules apply to student behavior both on and off the dance floor.
According to the guidelines, a violation of the rules will first result in a warning to the student. A second offence will result in removal from the dance; parents will be contacted to pick up a student who did not drive to the dance.
Rumors that the new dance rules were being lifted for the upcoming C. Milton Wright Senior Prom prompted questions from The Dagger, but Kranefeld confirmed that the same rules would be in force for the Prom:
“C. Milton Wright will be enforcing the same dancing rules that you found in the contract below for Prom. However, due to the nature of Prom and the fact that many students ride together and the location of the dance is further away, parents may not be able to get to the dance to pick up their children should they be found in violation of the contract. Therefore, the regulatory nature of this contract will be enforced on site, rather than sending students home. A letter outlining the rules for the dance will be given to students when they pick up their Prom tickets, which they must sign upon receipt acknowledging that they agree to abide by the rules set forth.”
Below are the dance policies and guidelines published by C. Milton Wright High School, followed by the dance contract for students:
C. Milton Wright High School
Dance Polices and GuidelinesDance Ticket Policy
1. All obligations must be cleared prior to purchasing tickets (including media center fines, over-due books, school fines, etc.)
2. All students must sign and submit the dance contract in order to purchase dance tickets
and attend a school dance. A CMWHS student may only purchase one ticket for
him/herself and one for a guest.3. No re-entry into the dance will be permitted for any student who chooses to leave early.
4. Tickets are non-transferable. A list will be kept who has bought tickets. If a student does choose to transfer a ticket or accept a transfer ticket, he/she will not be able to attend
the dance.5. Any CMWHS student bringing a non-CMWHS student to the dance is required to submit a signed dance contract and guest registration form including photo identification prior to purchasing tickets.
6. No refunds will be given to students who do not show up, are not allowed to enter due
to improper conduct, or are removed from the dance for behavior.7. No students 21 years or older are allowed to attend any CMWHS dances.
Dance Conduct Guidelines
1. All rules apply on and off the dance floor.
2. All dance attendees will be issued an arm band upon entry to the dance. If a violation of the rules occurs, the chaperone/administrator/teacher will remove the armband as a
warning. A second offence requires removal from the dance.3. Should a student be required to leave the dance, parents will be contacted and will be expected to pick up their son/daughter immediately if the student did not drive.
4. Dance rules are as follows:
a. No hands on the floor.
b. Hands must stay on waists or shoulders only.
c. No exaggerated bending.C. Milton Wright High School
Dance Policies ContractTo promote a healthy, safe, and enjoyable evening for all students, the following polices and guidelines will be in place for all dances on and off C. Milton Wright High School campus. All students must read, understand, and sign this agreement along with his/her parents. C. Milton Wright High School encourages families to discuss these rules together with their students and retain a copy of this document for future reference. This dance contract is for students who are currently attending C. Milton Wright High School and any approved guest. This form must be on file in order to purchase a dance ticket or enter a C. Milton Wright High School dance. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Student Agreement
I understand the dances are a school-sponsored event and a privilege. I understand that all school rules will apply during the dance. I agree to abide by the dance procedures outlined by the C. Milton Wright High School Dance Policies and Guidelines. In addition, by signing below, I acknowledge, understand and will accept the consequences for inappropriate behavior.
I agree to remain tobacco, drug, and alcohol free for these events. If I fail to comply with these rules, I will become ineligible for admittance to this dance and future dances; and may face further sanctions such as out of school suspension.
Student’s Printed Name: _____________________________________________________________
Student’s Signature: _____________________________________________________ Grade: _____Parent Agreement
As a parent/guardian, I understand that if my son/daughter is removed from a C. Milton Wright High School Dance for any reason, it is my responsibility to pick up my child from the dance. In addition, I agree to the school rules and the rules set forth in this dance contract and by signing below, I acknowledge and support the school and the above dance contract expectations.
Parent/Guardian Printed Name: __________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s Signature: ____________________________________________________________
Phone Number (where parent can be reached during the dance hours): _________________________
Why not a county wide rule? or is this?
I agree this should be a countywide rule. Was this policy approved by the BOE?
Good idea! This should be for all schools.
I know that several schools use the permission slip form, and some schools even have the requirement of other principals to sign off on who is being brought to the prom. As a teacher who frequently chaperones the dances, this is a good idea. The kids do not know how to actually dance anymore. They do not feel that what they are doing is inappropriate and parents would be shocked to see what the majority of kids are actually doing at the dance itself, let alone the “after dance activities”. I vote yes to a county policy. BUT, nothing matters if it is not enforced.
Really HCPS? Is this 2011 or 1951? Have you all ever seen “Dirty Dancing” or “Footloose” or even “Hairspray”? Why are we still so afraid of DANCING? I’d like to believe that we are moving forward and not backward. Of course these kids can not drink, use drugs, get naked or have sex in public, let alone on the school dance floor… but policing dance, which is an expressive art form, is insane. I have raised 3 children as well as chaperoned many dances, at public & private schools…teens will always push the limits and need guidance, but this is ridiculous. No exaggerated bending??? No hands on the floor??? (I suppose break-dancing is out of the question then.)
I don’t know what shocks me more, the school board’s rules or the citizens that want this to be a county wide policy…
if your daughter was dancing like this and a young man was behind her mimic sexual acts, i think you would support a policy. volunteer at a high school dance and I think you would change you mind.
I will ignore the underlying sexist and double-standard reference in your comment and just say that I have raised my children, both my daughter AND my sons, to behave in a respectful way; respecting themselves as well as others, including authority. This being said, I never know for sure how they will behave and must trust that they will make good decisions when I am not around, as do all parents. Like I said in my original comment, I have chaperoned dances (middle school, high school, and post-prom parties). As a chaperone, my job is to make sure the students aren’t doing anything dangerous, illegal, and/or harmful to the property. As “inappropriate” as the dancing might seem to some, it still is simply a matter of opinion… and it is a harmful, slippery slope to legislate and police opinions.
If my daughter was dancing like this I would deal with her directly. I would consider this a parenting issue, one in which my intervention is necessary. I would accept personal responsibility and deal with it. I would not assume it is the school’s responsibility to step in and fix my lack of instilling the right values in my child.
And thanks to this policy you will be told if your daughter is behaving like this.
This is not a school board policy. But it should be.
Suppose you heard this loud music coming from your family room, so you walk in and there was your daughter, bent over and grabbing her ankles, and her boyfriend was behind her humping like a dog in heat. Or, to avoid a double standard, suppose it was your son who was humping and his girlfriend who was the ankle-grabber.
I find it refreshing to know that a progressive parent such as yourself would not want to inhibit your child’s freedom of expression through the art of dance.
It’s enlightening to know that you would not approach the slippery slope by legislating or policing your daughter’s or son’s choice of dance steps and that you would respect her opinion regarding what is appropriate even if you might disagree.
I applaud you for taking such a modern approach, as opposed to all those who disagree just because they want to ruin all the fun for their kids—and let’s face it: dry humping IS fun, especially for teenagers at a public dance— and would want the adults present, even if they are just school employees, to act in loco parentis.
It is refreshing to see borders being put in place for these kids. I work in a high school and some of you all would blush at what I see daily! Kids need this type of guidlines, this lets them know where the line is drawn. I hope they do make this county wide.
If you ever chaperone a middle school or high school dance you’ll see exactly how bad it is! It looks like a bad music video – – the girl on girl action is disgusting and as a parent it is appauling!
It’s funny to me, to think that the generation known for tripping on acid, smoking pot and boning in the mud at Woodstock is the one worried about dancing provocatively at a senior prom.
Thats it parents lets pass more illegal laws/rules, to impose so we dont have to do our jobs. Lets burn the books while we,re at it. Who decides what is exaggerated bending? C. Milton Wright High School, should perhaps be bulldozed as it would appear the administration has lost its mind. ELLEY KAY, you hit the nail on the head. Be a parent. Be easy on the citizens. They want something done, they just dont wanna step up and do the work themselves.
Gene, you’re so right. The administration HAS lost their minds. I’m a student there and these rules are ridiculous. Here’s my problem. Kids do it in the hallways, why is it bad they do it at dances? Dance is an art. And I believe taking away one’s way of expressing things is unconstitutional. It’s their job to TEACH US. What we do at school dances is NONE of their buisness.
This could be the most ridiculous thing I have seen. Sorry for all you “old” people that didn’t have the fun that kids these days have, but honestly, a contract for a school dance? This is a joke, and to support this, you are a joke. Kids want to have fun, so let them. It’s harmful, and if you’ve raised your kids the right way, this shouldn’t bother you that much.
If no one teaches kids how to dance, can we really expect anything other than grinding on each other?
I can appreciate the school authorities trying to be polite about the descriptions of some of the latest “dance moves”, but let’s face it; sometimes people just don’t get the full picture unless tact is removed.
Consider these two moves in modern dance:
The girl bends over and puts her hands on the floor or grabs her ankles. The guy (or another girl) humps the bent over girl from behind.
The guy sticks his leg out, bent at the knee; the girl straddles his leg and dry humps her crotch into the guys hip and groin.
This isn’t a value judgement on my part; you can decide for yourself if you want the school to allow your teenage daughter to hump and be humped at the sock-hop.
On the other hand, where is it written that schools have to sponsor dances? If they are volunteering to give the kids a place to come and hang out for the night, they certainly have a right to say what kind of behavior they will or won’t tolerate. For that matter, dances aren’t mandatory for students so if they don’t like the rules they don’t have to attend. They can stay home, invite a bunch of friends over, and dry hump in your living room instead.
Very true. I think you where far to tactful in your description. I woud have said it looks like they are !@#$!^% (or having sex) doggy style and until they seperate momentarily there is no way of knowing for sure that they are not!!!!!
Second I think the message here is clear that in these trying economic times when we must all do more with less. Since parents want to complain about schools and rules we should cancel all dances. As they are a big waste of money which could be spent on other things!
To the people who gave my comment a “thumbs down”:
What part of the comment do you not like? Do you not like that kids are dry humping at dances? Or do you not like that the schools have no obligation to host dances where they can do this? Or is it that you are uncomfortable with having to acknowledge that you wouldn’t let kids act like this in your home, but don’t want anyone to stop them from acting like this in public?
Like I said in the original comment: this is not a value judgement in any way. Just let me know why you think it’s ok for kids to act this way and why you think that adults (whether they are school employees or anyone else) should sanction this behavior.
How does one keep both feet on the floor when dancing? That sounds like standing in place to me ..
I simply do not understand this county. Over-packed with conservatives that scream oversize gov’t, too intusive gov’t, too much oversight, yada yada yada. Then want to make rules on how chaperoned kids are allowed to dance. Unbelievable. The dance floor is the not the place to worry about them people, it’s the party afterwards. This must truely be the twilight zone.
@firstname.lastname, you seem to be confusing conservatives that push for the reduction of waste in government with anarchists who want no laws at all… Once the kids are at the after party they are no longer the responsibility of the school. I can’t fault the school for wanting to instill a sense of class and propriety on today’s kids… it’d be nice to see them dancing instead of rutting like Hollywood animals…
The confusion here is between folks who want to limit what government can tell parents to do and folks who want government to tell CHILDREN what to do.
When we send our kids to school, we are giving the teachers the authority to govern their actions by making rules.
At school, your parents are still responsible for you, but there is a proxy. For example, it may be against the rules for you to drink alcohol underage at home, and therefore, we would expect a teacher to enforce a similar rule while at a school-sanctioned event.
This is an example of an informed consent relationship between parents and government teachers and staff.
This was shot at CMW!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjKGG6NamRw&feature=related
In this link you can clearly see that:
the student’s feet leave the ground
not only are there hands on the floor but poor Kiki is down on all 4!
When the student stands up and DISROBES the young man behind THRUSTED is midsection repeatedly as the crown cheered. How demoralizing.
There was ample extreme bending.
I must go drink my wine on the deck and practice being more moral. Oh my. When I grew up in the ’70s this sort of thing NEVER happened.
Although you may not share my opinion, wouldn’t you rather have kids staying generally out of trouble at a dance than skipping out to a party because it’s “lame,” then getting drunk and getting behind the wheel? I think one must look beyond the annoying inappropriate behavior and think about the lives that could be saved that night.
Right, Jimmy. Because these are the only two options that teenagers have today: dry-hump at the dance or go out drinking and driving. And of course, the schools have a moral obligation to let them act however they want at the dance because let’s face it, it’s better than drinking and driving.
I think it would make a great bumper sticker:
“Dry-humping Saves Lives!”
Kids are kids! Take care of this at home and not let old aged no life people tell these kids what to do. That is how they dance now!
I don’t have a problem with the school making rules like this. We all live by a social contract and the school is just spelling it out for the kids. Dancing like that is not appropriate at a school dance. Would you dance like that if your job sponsored a dance for you and your coworkers? In the real world we all have abide by rules. If you enjoy expressing yourself in “creative” dance that’s fine. There are plenty of clubs where it is acceptable.
My daughter has ben out of high school for two years and her school banned that kind of dancing her sophomore or junior year. It’s about time–I’d say.
Any thoughts on how much HCPS paid to send out this little ditty? My guess is that between going to Mr. Spicer’s (legal) office, the administrators time, the printing costs and all the teacher’s collective time to explain the form and it’s implications we (taxpayers) dropped over $3000. Remember… this is not the first draft so add those costs as well. I WANT MY MONEY BACK.
This is something that should be taken care of by the assistant principals existing authority to say “knock it off – or leave”. If someone somewhere doesn’t stop the endless suing and reactionary litigious drafting of contracts and liability lectures we’ll continue to piss away our already problematic budget. Get a grip HCPS! Asst principals & parents do your job. Stop waisting our money. A simple one-liner in the student handbook should cover this. No overt displays of affection. Gay, straight, or humping the wall… this pretty much covers it all.
And I wonder how much we are going to spend on development and production of the “dance angle measuring device”. No doubt some local firm that is part of the good ole boy network will win that lucrative contract!!
Has anyone been to happy hour on a Friday and seen a group of school representatives or teachers? They like to have a good time and have fun just like the kids do. But no one tells them to stop or leave. I will say I have seen things they do and it would make a stripper blush.
Dance is an expression of who they are! They are not having sex out there on the dance floor! It may not be the way some people like it, but it is just dancing.
@Disgusted w all, what these people do on their own time is their own business. “make a stripper blush”? really… Just because you enjoy what passes for dance these days is no excuse to force other parents to accept having their kids exposed to something they may find offensive. Maybe, just once, try to put yourself in someone else’s position. It hurts no one to ban vulgar dancing.
Are the people that run this school living in their own little “G” rated world? I’m 57 years old. The kids were “grinding” as far back as 1967. I know! I and the kids I knew used to dance that way to songs like “Love on A Two Way Street”! For goodness sake take a “chill pill”. This like all other teenage frolicking will soon pass!
kids should dance the way they want. the dirtier the better. cant get pregnant through a suit and dress
Don’t you think that letting students participate in sexually explicit dancing would only be encouraging them to do more after the dance and at other times?
I am all for this rule, and agree that it should be county wide.
I am only 18 years old, and just graduated last year from a HCPS, so it’s fresh in my mind what the students do at the dances. It disgusting. If you’re going to be sexually explicit, do it in private.
A school sanctioned dance is a social event, not an orgy.
The only reason youre against it, being fresh in your mind, is prob cause you couldn’t get any when you were a HS student. Out of HS by several years, might-as-well let these kids get to know grinding, cause once they get to college no parents and/or teachers will be there to tell them to use the rubber
If you are one year out of high school and attending a college away from home, you are probably well aware that many of your peers are having sex and using illicit drugs and/or alcohol at least every weekend.
You think you know something because your one year out of high school? You don’t know anything.
More than one pair of panties was found on the floor after Aberdeen’s prom…
To the commented who posted the YouTube video- that was two boys dancing a dance that was a previous you tube sensation during spirit week. It was not degrading or anything of the sort. I do admit some kids go all out, but let’s get realistic. Dancing at dances is generally the only thing left without rules and now that’s being taken from us. Students aren’t hurting anyone by dancing and if you step foot in any club in the US you will see the same thing. Our generation evolved with the times. It’s not harming anyone.. Let us have fun at our own prom without so many rules!
I think that you should look up “the 70’s.” I’m pretty sure that “Polly Prude” was pulling your leg. This may disappoint you, but your generation is doing nothing new. Your mom and dad have sex. That’s how you got here.
Alright let’s be real. You are all dumb. You think stopping a dance move will change anything? If you think that then you should not be a parent. If a kid wants to have sex they will. If they want to drink they will. Make all the rules you want but it means nothing. So how about you all use some common sense and stop living in pleasantville
Alright let’s be real. Do you guys honestly think that stopping a dance move will change anything? If you think that then you should not be a parent. If kids want to have sex then they will. If kids want to drink then they will. You can make all the rules you want but nothing will happen. So why don’t y’all just stop living in pleasantville. How about you worry about important stuff like you’re kid is failing. Get your priorities straight
Wow Truth Teller and CMW same person me thinks?? While I agree that kids can do these things if they wish. A parent and school should not enable it without educating!
Here is what many of you are missing in this whole situation.
1) The school system is obligated to provide a moral compass for students who have none. We have a generation of kids whose parents have abandoned parenting and passed it off as the obligation of the school.
2) If there were any support for the school system, its rules, and its employees ability, right, and obligation to enforce them, this would all be moot. However, more often than not the parent supports their child when he/she breaks the rules, in some cases accusing teachers and administrators of lying about what their child has done. It never fails to amaze me how many people think that a teacher would jeopardize his or her job just to “get” their child.
haha one year out of high school you prob never danced at a dance or never got asked to one so you woudnt know. dancing is fun and thats all so yall just shut up. stop wasting our money on stupid stuff and how about concerned teacher you just teach. if you did your job better then kids wouldnt be slackin off at the 13th grade at hcc
Was this supposed to be ironic?
I was at a prom dance last night. The only thing some of the girls were missing was a pole and the guys a fist full of dollar bills. Some couples looked like dogs in heat with girls bent over so far they could have touched their elbows on the floor and the guys gyrating and thrusting at the girls’ back sides like they were fornicating. Girls were getting on their knees in front of the guys like they were performing oral sex. Most guys at this age are dogs but still should know better. Girls that acted this way used to be called sluts, so much for worrying about your reputation. I simply can’t believe some of the comments posted here saying it is ok to let kids dance/act like this at a school sponsored function. I am sure that if parents (no matter how liberal) would actually see their daughters and sons act like this in public they would not approve. Videos are frequently made at prom dances. I don’t know if they are edited before they are made available for sale but the unedited versions should be shown at every PTA meeting and be available for any middle and high school parent to see. I think even the most liberal of parents would be concerned. Kids can have fun at the prom without resorting to clothed pornography.
this is ridiculous that you all think that this dancing is harmless..this is how they get their juices flowing for other things..(foreplay anyone) for you parente who think this is ok, you better go and check up on your kids on a regular schoolday, you wont like what you see..these girls have no respect for themselves so why should the boys respect them..patterson mill really needs to implement a stricter dress code…the girls there..lets just say you can’t tell the teachers from the students in any capacity..its ridiculous….
Teachers wearing jeans, t shirts, and flip flops just doesn’t present a very professional image.
The bible says that drunkards and the sexually immoral will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. You cant try to help people without a fight though. The devil wants girls panties off and kids drunk and high at dances. Which way do parents see it?
Clay, while I agree that the bible is clearly against sexual imorality. Where does it clearly say the drunk and sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. It does as a point of fact say those are the very people Jesus came to redem!
1 Cor 6 9-11 and Gal 5 19-21. Yes, but not everyone allows themselves to be redeemed. My point is that most parents and teachers arent.
Folks, you are haggling over the school’s rules, but this is mild. You should have gone to North Harford during the Wm. Pyle era. That man ran a taunt ship, and it worked!!!
If you got into a fight in school, he took the two would-be Rockys down to the gym, laced them up in boxing gloves, and turned them loose…and until the blood flowed, you had better be swinging for all you were worth.
Running in the halls would have you polishing brass door handles/knobs for quite a while; maybe even fined by the Student Court.
And when it came to lewd dancing, that was something students read about, but NEVER practiced at any North Harford dance back in ‘his’ day.
BTW, NHHS graduated some fine, upstanding students that went on to become model citizens….none of whom ever felt the need to grab their ankles while on the dance floor.
This is so ridiculous. All of your children are out and about doing drugs and having sex with each other. This will prove nothing and just piss a bunch of teenagers off.
I’m still glad that CMW did this, I work at a high school and my stars some of the things they come in wearing. Booty shorts, skirts so short that if they bend over they are showing the world their buisness, low cut tops that if they sneeze everything is coming out. Make out sessions during lunch time, adminstrations that turn a blind eye because they “don’t want to rock the boat”. Last time I checked these are just kids, your NOT suppose to be their friends, you are suppose to be the adult that guides them and helps them grow into a morally responsible adult. That includes you the parents. You are not suppose to say no and then explain to them why. I said no and that is that. When did the kids become the adults and the adults the children? Kids today (and I’m only 35) have become to free, they need guidelines, they need rules they need guidance. I wish everyone would get off their duff and guide these young people. They are crying out for it and NO ONE is hearing them. I give CMW two thumbs way up for their stand on this. I just hope that other schools follow soot. There may not be any sex on the dance floor but I’m sure that there is after the dance. Do you know in the high school I work out there has been a pregnant teen every year (that I know of for fact, may be more depending on how many abortions are performed). Parents turn a blind and have this “not my child” mentality. Guess what yes it can be your child and nine times out of ten it is! Wake up before it is too late.