There is a controversy at a Staten Island elementary school over the cancellation of the annual father-daughter dance because it was viewed violative of the new Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Student Guidelines that went into effect in March 2017. Jared Fox, the DOE’s LGBT community liaison, is quoted as saying “Father-daughter dances inherently leave people out. Not just because of transgender status, just life in general.”
The DOE has ordered schools to “eliminate” any “gender-based” practices unless they serve a “clear” educational purpose. PS 65 said that the “Father-Daughter
dance is “gender-based” and without a clear educational purpose.
Of course, as schools struggle in build parental involvement and support in our schools, the cancellation of such events undermines such efforts. The question is how to best incorporate and support the small number of transgender or gender nonconforming students. While the dance does not stipulate who will be defined as a father or daughter, it obviously would not be compatible for some gender nonconforming individuals. But is that sufficient reason to bar a dance enjoyed by the vast majority of families — an event that is not mandatory or compulsory. The question is whether there should be accommodation on both sides to allow these events to continue while seeking to minimize exclusions for any students. It seems like a cancellation only deepens the divisions and tensions over transgender issues.
What do you think?
I am very LGBT rights. But I really don’t agree with this! Someone is always going to be left out, for one reason or another! How about those years, little girls that didn’t have a daddy to take them to a dance! This isn’t a mandatory thing to attend!
SMH!
O’k, the kids mother divorces the natural father and remarries. Does the kid bring 3 parents so he( she) doesn’t leave anybody out? Yes folks now we are going to stupid levels.
Tyranny of the minority!
What do I think? I think it is totally ludicrous and, as someone else stated, tyranny of the minority. Too bad that someone might feel left out. Life is filled with instances where we are left out. Deal with it.
Appeasing the few while excluding the majority. What happens when everyone gets a trophy and it’s against the law to not be PC. Glad my childhood wasn’t like this. Feel bad for this generation of children. It must be so confusing
Agreed. All we had to worry about was not to think about sex because thinking about sex was a mortal sin…so the nuns told us. 😱
Suze – did you ever figure out how to not think about sex? I never did. 😉
I’ve always felt that these dances are inherently a little creepy, with hints of suppressed incest. All very Freudian. Where are the mother/son dances?
My daughter had daddy-daughter day with a picnic lunch and activities. One of her friends brought both parents. No-one had a heart attack. The mom didn’t get kicked out.
This is so stupid its ridiculous. Peoples feelings do get hurt, everyone does not win all the time, things don’t always turn out the way we want, and sometimes life is a bitch. Learn to deal with it and go on. No wonder college students need safe places when things don’t go their way. Life isn’t fair and if you think it is you’re in for a rude awakening. It is your job to learn how to make the most out of all situations, because you will not be able to control everything that happens to you in life. None of us can, but you can learn how to make the most out of the situation you’re in.
A Father-Daughter Dance is a time honored tradition that many, old and young, look forward to. If people feel left out then have a dance for the transgender population too, but the idea that a few can ruin it for the many has got to stop.
Agree