Are parents totally out of touch today? In todays local paper on the front page is an article that at one of the “better” local high schools in an “upscale” area of the county is banning school dances due to student behavior. The article reads:
“Yet many students and some parents argue that the school is behind the times with regards to changes in youth culture – and that the ban on dances goes too far.
The school sponsored dance that triggered the ban was “The Winter Formal” which was held at the San Francisco Golden Gate Club. Which is a very-very nice venue for a party in The Presidio and was at one time the officers club. Some of the chaperon’s reported finding
“students “performing lap dances,” a stall door ripped from its hinge in the boys’ bathroom and a used condom on the dance floor. The 16 adult chaperones also heard rumors that some of the students had attended the dance high on ecstasy and prescription drugs.
The principal of the school is quoted in a letter to the parents
“We have witnessed a real shifting of the tide. We are now confronted with a student culture that seems to tacitly accept these types of behavior and has proven to be incapable of self-policing.”
I applaud the principal for banning these dances. It is too bad this had to happen, my experience there are a few that ruin it for many. The behavior and the destruction at this event show both a lack of respect and dignity by the students and there should be consequences. For those students that did not participate in these behaviors this is the time for them to become role models and stand up to those that have the bad manners, or maybe they did not go because of these few students.
I will agree that every generation has its differences with teen behaviors, but when it leads to destruction of property and illicit actions performed by teens it is not a healthy environment for anyone. It is the schools responsibility to teach our children at all levels (on the field and off the field) appropriate behaviors.
When I read reports like this, sometimes I am relieved that my son is in residential treatment and not participating in these activities because this is the type of behaviors he may have been drawn to. I believe it is the schools responsibility to protect our teens when they are at any school function. If the students want to act out in this way, there are other venues where it may be acceptable but not at a school function and the schools should be firm in what they believe in.
Another question comes to my mind, why do the students feel they need to behave like this? Is this what our society is mirroring for the younger generations? Is it attention they are seeking? Do they need to be loved? Is it low self-image? What do you think or am I totally out of touch? Has this happened in your community?
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I’m saddened by the change in culture and I blame most of it on the media. Of course, Hollywood says you don’t have to let your children see it, but if you have a TV then it has infiltrated almost every station. There was a time, when our kids were young, that the only TV we watched was sports and I remember feeling assaulted by the commercials. Now I am becoming desensitized. Of course our kids are also! TV presents self-gratifying behavior at every turn. Dignity? They think it’s cool to practically have sex on the dance floor (or apparently they did have sex). Girls don’t understand the concept of modesty…and why should they when it’s never modeled for them by society.
Sorry about the soapbox. Not all kids are like this. Raising strong moral kids in today’s society is like swimming against a riptide.
To answer your question about why they behave this way, I believe it is due to the moral decay our society seems to embrace. My teen daughter is interested in fullfilling her needs and no one elses. It comes from a heart of selfishness, rebellion and godlessness. She spent 20 months in a program for troubled teen girls. 20 months of behavior modifciation, not to mention the years of emotional torment our whole family experienced. Less than 4 months out of the program she has run away twice. My husband and I are saddened and weary. They do what they want and No One is going to tell them they can’t.
The truth is Only God can change them. Thankfully, He is much better at it than we are !