The quaint days of the dance card that had ladies pencil in partners during formal fetes is long gone, leaving school administrators and parents to face everything from teen twerking to underage drinking and overaged dates during modern school dances. And, in the heat of homecoming season, it’s sometimes a challenge to enforce the right balance between partying and propriety.
At Rockwood Summit High School, profane language, possession of drugs, alcohol and tobacco are off limits and students who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be suspended per district policy, according to the student handbook. But there can be more wiggle room when it comes to suggestive dancing, attire and song lyrics, so school administrators say close supervision is critical to keeping the party permissible. Mitch Lefkowitz, an assistant principal and the school’s activities director, says all six of the school’s administrators typically attend school dances, along with two police officers, between five and eight staff members, and 10 or more parents, who spend the majority of the evening working coat check and concessions.
“The administrative team and staff are responsible for supervising the gymnasium. If we see suggestive dancing we step in and warn each student,” he says. “If the behavior of those students continues, we remove them from the dance. At times, we have also contacted parents if we feel that they need to be aware of their kids’ behavior.”
Administrators and staff spend a considerable amount of time throughout the school year outlining behavioral expectations, particularly prior to big events like the homecoming dance, which was held last week. The student council also provides an approved playlist, as well as a list of songs that should not be played, to a local company that DJs the school’s dances. Even so, that inappropriate song list will likely get longer after Rockwood’s latest homecoming festivities.
“The administrative team felt after our last dance that the lyrics in some songs were not appropriate for the dance,” Lefkowitz says. “There was not any profanity, but there are so many songs today that are too suggestive for kids, and it certainly impacts the environment of the dance.”
An article posted on LIVESTRONG.com offers tips for parents during dance season:
- If they plan to drive, have teens rehearse the route to the event venue so they will feel comfortable on the day of the dance.
- Remind teens of the consequences of drinking and drug use and texting while driving.
- Insist that they wear their seatbelt, even if they are concerned about wrinkling their ensemble.
- Ask about teens’ ideas and plans and coordinate curfews and share information with other parents.
- Review safety plans and remind teens to fully charge their phones before the big event.
- Stress good manners and appropriate behavior in every situation.
Charlene Oldham is a writer and teacher. She lives in Crestwood.
