Culture Clash in the Public Schools

[Anonymous]

OP, just chiming in to tell you that that sort of thing would never fly at some non-religious private schools, like the one my son attends in DC. Some schools, like his, keep a really tight leash on the kids for better or worse

I'd also like to tell you that my niece attends a public elem. school in a, um, very high socio-economic neighborhood in another state. Not diverse. All white Christians. She absolutely is encouraged to slut dance at school under the pretense of "cheer" and "dance team." FWIW.

[Anonymous]

OP I share your concern but what I do is confront this stuff head on - no point in hiding from it because all of the sexual stuff out there comes way sooner than you think. I happen to work with school districts across the country and this is all over -rich, poor, public, private, urban, rural. Our kids have to deal with this at an early age. It just manifests itself differently depending on the environment you are in.

To me exposure is a good thing because I can point right to it and explain to my girls (8 and 10) what we value as a family, that they have boundaries and the types of behavior that are unacceptable for a young lady. When I see young girls scantily clad in the street, I ask my girls what they think about it. When we are listening to the radio and they start singing some song - I ask them what they think the lyrics mean. And then we discuss. I pull up lyrics to songs myself just so I know what the heck is being said. Like that stupid Rihanna song - I love the way you lie or whatever - sheesh.

I don't see the point of hiding from it - you'll be running forever.

[Anonymous]

I don't value socioeconomic diversity.

I thought I did ... until we went to the local public school and participated in community activites. And then I realized that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

For the most part, the lower income kids had teenage parents - my child is in 1st and yes their were kids in her K class whose parents were barely out of their teens - or very young adult parents who think their kid acting like an adult is "cute" and funny but they dont' see any other ramifications of the actions. Further, they themselves are poorly educated and do not value education. Then there is the issues of believing that being a walking advertisement for a bunch of clothing labels they can't afford its the most important thing...

No thanks. You can keep your socioeconomic diveristy.

My child is in a nice private school where "socioeconomic diversity" means driving a Honda and having a bi-weekly maid and I am ok with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this post fake? Sounds exactly like something I heard on the news several months ago.

Drive by your local high school and look at the cheerleaders sometime. Or your local junior high, cheerleading camp,etc.

OP said her DC was in the early grades.

So? The point remains the same. You can still see plenty examples of what concern her all around you. And OP's daughter will be old enough for it quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, just chiming in to tell you that that sort of thing would never fly at some non-religious private schools, like the one my son attends in DC. Some schools, like his, keep a really tight leash on the kids for better or worse

I'd also like to tell you that my niece attends a public elem. school in a, um, very high socio-economic neighborhood in another state. Not diverse. All white Christians. She absolutely is encouraged to slut dance at school under the pretense of "cheer" and "dance team." FWIW.

Somewhere in the South? Just guessing.

(I went to a very, um, high socio-economic highschool white Christian public high school in the South).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't value socioeconomic diversity.

I thought I did ... until we went to the local public school and participated in community activites. And then I realized that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

For the most part, the lower income kids had teenage parents - my child is in 1st and yes their were kids in her K class whose parents were barely out of their teens - or very young adult parents who think their kid acting like an adult is "cute" and funny but they dont' see any other ramifications of the actions. Further, they themselves are poorly educated and do not value education. Then there is the issues of believing that being a walking advertisement for a bunch of clothing labels they can't afford its the most important thing...

No thanks. You can keep your socioeconomic diveristy.

My child is in a nice private school where "socioeconomic diversity" means driving a Honda and having a bi-weekly maid and I am ok with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a cheerleader and coached cheerleading (at the high school level) and I can assure you that my girls never cheered about their booties. Give me a break. We would have never been taken seriously at games or especially competitions. I hate to say it, but it sounds like it has to do with a specific demographic.

I don't think anyone said they were cheering about their "booties". Did you and your cheerleaders not use the same sort of suggestive dance/cheer routines commonly shown in most high schools? Or were you really doing the cheers and chants that were done in the 60s style? Even as far back as the 80s (yeah, I'm old), they were routinely more sexual than would be appropriate for young girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't value socioeconomic diversity.

I thought I did ... until we went to the local public school and participated in community activites. And then I realized that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

For the most part, the lower income kids had teenage parents - my child is in 1st and yes their were kids in her K class whose parents were barely out of their teens - or very young adult parents who think their kid acting like an adult is "cute" and funny but they dont' see any other ramifications of the actions. Further, they themselves are poorly educated and do not value education. Then there is the issues of believing that being a walking advertisement for a bunch of clothing labels they can't afford its the most important thing...

No thanks. You can keep your socioeconomic diveristy.

My child is in a nice private school where "socioeconomic diversity" means driving a Honda and having a bi-weekly maid and I am ok with that.

So... you're just here to engender bad karma for yourself? Or for your child!

Hope one of you gets run over by a bus!

(JK of course)

[Anonymous]

Are the comments about "socio-economic diversity" code for "black girls dance in a suggestive manner in early elementary school"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the comments about "socio-economic diversity" code for "black girls dance in a suggestive manner in early elementary school"?

That seems to be the ever so subtle message, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the comments about "socio-economic diversity" code for "black girls dance in a suggestive manner in early elementary school"?

That seems to be the ever so subtle message, yes.

This is ridiculous. There is a difference between diverse schools and schools where many K's have moms less than 22 years old. High poverty. Anyone watch Teen Mom where some segments feature girls who don't appear to be totally rare birds in their community?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the comments about "socio-economic diversity" code for "black girls dance in a suggestive manner in early elementary school"?

That seems to be the ever so subtle message, yes.

This is ridiculous. There is a difference between diverse schools and schools where many K's have moms less than 22 years old. High poverty. Anyone watch Teen Mom where some segments feature girls who don't appear to be totally rare birds in their community?

OK, so it's code for "poor black girls dance in a suggestive manner in early elementary"?

I'm just trying to figure out what people are really saying.

[Anonymous]

I was floored to hear from a friend of mine whose children attend a nearby elementary school, classmates of her DC in 2nd grade were taken by their mother to the Miley Cyrus concert on a school night!

Second grade! Seven year olds! Either this mom wanted an excuse for herself to go and see Miley Cyrus or she is overcompensating for not being a cool enough mom! Who knows. Miley Cyrus is absolutely inappropriate and trashy. What kind of message is this sending to our young kids. Sad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the comments about "socio-economic diversity" code for "black girls dance in a suggestive manner in early elementary school"?

That seems to be the ever so subtle message, yes.

This is ridiculous. There is a difference between diverse schools and schools where many K's have moms less than 22 years old. High poverty. Anyone watch Teen Mom where some segments feature girls who don't appear to be totally rare birds in their community?

OK, so it's code for "poor black girls dance in a suggestive manner in early elementary"?

I'm just trying to figure out what people are really saying.

OP here. That happens to be the dynamic here, but I left it intentionally unspecific because it's not necessarily a black/white issue, or a rich/poor issue. As other PPs have pointed out, there are all-white middle-class Christian schools who permit this sort of thing. Just wanted some guidance on how to deal with what's essentially kindergarten sexual objectification training.

[Anonymous]

I am a cheer-mom and former cheerleader for DCPS junior high through college. I have 8mm home movie of our high-school doing that same cheer back in the 70's. It went like this... my back is aching cause, my bra is too tight, but we're still gonna when this game tonight, woo-woo! It was a football crowd favorite. As for the moves they are pretty tamed by today's standards.

But I am here to tell you I have attended cheerleader's competitions lately and have seen the line of decency crossed and rewarded with Grand-Champion trophies. Who doesn't remember the infamous Beyonce' bounce and how it was incorporated in everything that was entertaining. Yet, who didn't applaud when the female cheeleading team turned their backside to the audience and started mouthing the words of uh, oh, uh, oh!

DCPS have rules and regulations regarding cheerleaders I suggest you contact the appropriate personnel. I remember when KC and the Sunshine Band had a hit tune called "Shake, shake your booty" back in the 70's. Therefore, those words evolved into a cheer. Well those words, were shocking and appalling too many outsiders.

Here it is we are ready to enter the second decade of Y2K and the word "booty" and the dance moves are being called into question. Has anyone taken a glance at the uniforms lately. These are not home made outfits ANYMORE, it is the required standard uniform and the more revealing AT TIMES the better it is viewed as apperance worthy. I paid for a cheerleader uniform at it equated to a sports bra, briefs, tennis shoes and socks. What happen to the the turtle neck, sweater, skirt and what so ever else? You know what they told me...that outfit is too cumbersome and restricting it is ruled unsafe by cheerleading organizations and competions, go figure!!!

One more point...I was looking at the Parent Center bulletin board and they were offering "Dancercize" and the first thing was to learn line-dancing...guess what the first line dance that everyone wanted to learn and that was the"Booty Call?" As a result I have seen that line-dance performed at more church-christian sanction activities than needed. But it is a crowd-pleaser.