Culture Clash in the Public Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Need I say anything else? This "former cheerleader" is certainly inarticulate enough

The "former cheerleader" here. "Go back, go back, go back to the woods, your comments were unnecessary and you don't look good."

Ending it with a cart-wheel, a running round-off and jump-split. THE CROWD ERUPTS IN APPLAUSE!

Shake, shake, shake your booty!!!! or do you remember this one "Talking out of the side of your neck"

I forgot high-school wasn't fun for you, toodles!!!

Funny! Although it leaves one with the impression that high school was the high water mark for your personal achievements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Well no wonder we have this thread about these young girls dancing and cheering suggestively, with role models like Miley Cyrus and idiot parents who take them to these concerts! Duh!

I would include mothers that let their elementary age daughter's wear pants/sweats that say "juicy" across the rear end and other suggestive adjectives on their clothing.

[Anonymous]

Miley Cyrus concert tickets are not cheap. I wonder what socioeconomic group this concert going mother or mothers belong to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP - if it's not a black/white or rich/poor issue to you, then why mention the diversity and socioeconomic aspects to begin with? I'm a little disturbed by the number of posters that seem to also associate suggestive dancing with diversity and lower socioeconomic status. I think the sexualization of our girls has run rampant at all economic levels and across all races, but for whatever reason, people more readily associate this behavior with poor minorities.

[Anonymous]

I'm the poster who wrote about the crazy moms taking kids to see Miley Cyrus. Readers should know that these moms are at a public school with affluent families. They are not a poor minority.

[Anonymous]

I'm the poster from 12.03.10 @ 22:34:

Yes, I have issues with the Scouts exclusion of some groups. And I agree that they are immaterial in this discussion. I raised them simply to point out that for me, that would be a "culture clash" and I wanted to illustrate how I would approach the situation.

I also agree with 13:55 - This is an issue that is relevant to US culture, and is not specific to a class or race. So, OP, if neither class, nor race were relevant to your position, why include them in the discussion?

Also, I would love it if OP would respond to my post. Did your daughter ask to cheer? Has she even seen the cheers? Do you not think that you can simply use it as a teaching moment? Do you really think these cheerleaders are going to somehow send your child's moral compass haywire by being in the same school?

[SWolfie]

Its not just cute cheers.. it is alot more sexual. I was at a Mystics game and this group of your kids were doing this dancing stuff (not exactly cheerleading) doing a half time show. The girls (between ages 5-10) looked like pole dancers. Cheerleading has changed from just cheers to mixing cheering and dance..

[Anonymous]

Blame the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. They started the suggestive pole dance routines and masqueraded them as cheers.

[Anonymous]

I am the cheer-mom and former cheerleader. Yes, the activity has evolved into something that is different from our ancestors. But, do we doom and gloom-it? Gee-whiz, Louise I have seen the days of having my cheerleader skirt being measured three-inches above my knees, to having my daughter's entire outfit being equated to about 1 yard and half worth of material. Yet, this is an activity that I allowed my daughter to participate in, after her eagerness was to be part of that team.

Again, you as the parent saw something that you DID NOT like and the majority of the advice was correct on this board. You should bring it to your cheerleader sponsor and have a reasonable discussion.

As a cheermom, we have parents and moreso dads who are in the uproar when it comes to the look, reaction, and style of cheering when it comes their daughters. We had a big uproar one year when we added young-boys to the squad and they were required to lift girls in the air for varied formations.

If you think simulated pole-dancing was an issue, you can only imagine hand-placement.

As for cheering at the elementary level, it was one of the biggest money making activities for the DCPS athletic department. The upcoming cheerleading competitions are scheduled for the spring of 2011. Usually they are sold-out events or capacity filled gymnasiums. Attend a competition for yourself and I can assure you will have a different attitude regarding the code of conduct for DCPS cheerleaders.

I would say reach out to [e-mail] she's the assistant atheltic director for DCPS and the cheerleaders are under her domain.

Where's my gramma-check and spell-check cheerleaders at? Got'cha!

[Anonymous]

After seeing an elementary school DCPS basketball game, my kindergarten son asked if he could be a cheerleader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP - if it's not a black/white or rich/poor issue to you, then why mention the diversity and socioeconomic aspects to begin with? I'm a little disturbed by the number of posters that seem to also associate suggestive dancing with diversity and lower socioeconomic status. I think the sexualization of our girls has run rampant at all economic levels and across all races, but for whatever reason, people more readily associate this behavior with poor minorities.

Easy there, tiger. Put the race-card back in your pants.

The reason I mention diversity and socioeconomic aspects is that it describes the elementary school. Every other elementary school I've encountered (which granted, are mostly middle- to upper-middle class schools in the suburbs) doesn't have anything like this. It's always entertaining when folks can't grasp the difference between a "stereotype" and an "anecdote."

"So I was in Boston, and some guy yelled at me..."

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Why Boston?!? YOU GOT SOMETHING AGAINST BOSTON!?!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After seeing an elementary school DCPS basketball game, my kindergarten son asked if he could be a cheerleader.

And that's the problem.... Cheerleaders have a high-profile--as high as that of male athletes, and more so than female athletes. Someone asked earlier about Boy Scouts, and why ii's different. It's different because BSA is an after school club. They're rarely asked to participate in high-profile activities.

For better or worse, cootchie-shaking 8-year-olds are role models for the other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the cheer-mom and former cheerleader. Yes, the activity has evolved into something that is different from our ancestors. But, do we doom and gloom-it? Gee-whiz, Louise I have seen the days of having my cheerleader skirt being measured three-inches above my knees, to having my daughter's entire outfit being equated to about 1 yard and half worth of material. Yet, this is an activity that I allowed my daughter to participate in, after her eagerness was to be part of that team.

Again, you as the parent saw something that you DID NOT like and the majority of the advice was correct on this board. You should bring it to your cheerleader sponsor and have a reasonable discussion.

As a cheermom, we have parents and moreso dads who are in the uproar when it comes to the look, reaction, and style of cheering when it comes their daughters. We had a big uproar one year when we added young-boys to the squad and they were required to lift girls in the air for varied formations.

If you think simulated pole-dancing was an issue, you can only imagine hand-placement.

As for cheering at the elementary level, it was one of the biggest money making activities for the DCPS athletic department. The upcoming cheerleading competitions are scheduled for the spring of 2011. Usually they are sold-out events or capacity filled gymnasiums. Attend a competition for yourself and I can assure you will have a different attitude regarding the code of conduct for DCPS cheerleaders.

I would say reach out to [e-mail] she's the assistant atheltic director for DCPS and the cheerleaders are under her domain.

Where's my gramma-check and spell-check cheerleaders at? Got'cha!

Lady, the more you post the more you are fulfilling all of our worst stereotypes about cheerleaders. You are not helping your cause here.

[Anonymous]

OP - If you're still there, I think this entire thread should be Exhibit A as to why you may want to steer your daughter towards some other activity.

Forget the booty shakin' issue.

Cheerleading objectifies girls for their bodies and good looks. It may well be true that cheerleading at its upper level is a very athletic endeavor, but that doesn't make it a sport.

Encourage your daughter to take up soccer. Or tennis. Or ping pong for that matter. All are activities where booty shaking (and indeed even SMILING) are optional.

I will never understand it.

(And yes, I know there are kids out there who LOVE it... but that doesn't mean we should support it). It's one step removed from beauty queen contests in my book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP - if it's not a black/white or rich/poor issue to you, then why mention the diversity and socioeconomic aspects to begin with? I'm a little disturbed by the number of posters that seem to also associate suggestive dancing with diversity and lower socioeconomic status. I think the sexualization of our girls has run rampant at all economic levels and across all races, but for whatever reason, people more readily associate this behavior with poor minorities.

Easy there, tiger. Put the race-card back in your pants.

The reason I mention diversity and socioeconomic aspects is that it describes the elementary school. Every other elementary school I've encountered (which granted, are mostly middle- to upper-middle class schools in the suburbs) doesn't have anything like this. It's always entertaining when folks can't grasp the difference between a "stereotype" and an "anecdote."

"So I was in Boston, and some guy yelled at me..."

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Why Boston?!? YOU GOT SOMETHING AGAINST BOSTON!?!"

Actually, I think this whole thread is an excellent example of how anecdotes feed into stereotypes. OP, you opened the thread by noting the diversity and lower SES of your DD's elementary school, but then followed up later by saying it's not a race/class issue. Now you're saying that you mentioned your elementary school's diversity and socioeconomic mix because all of the higher SES (and presumably less diverse) elementary schools you've encountered in the suburbs don't have anything like this. Which seems to imply that you think the reason your school has this issue is because of the lower SES, which is the only reason it would be relevant to mention that information in your opening post, right? I realize that this is precisely the type of observation that would is anecdotal evidence, but there were a number of posters that came on and seemed to agree with your implied anecdotal conclusion, and that is how stereotypes are born and perpetuated.