‘Face to Face and Leave Some Space’ Grinds Students

Administration at South Kingstown High have recently changed the school dance policy. The dance committee has recently decided to ban grinding, or freak dancing, at all school dances and events.

  Administrators believe that the events that take place at school functions reflect poorly on the students, school and community.

  Ms. Windley, a retired teacher from SK, and member of the community believes “it is demoralizing” to the students who partake in the type of dance.

  In the past parents and teachers pushed for a ban on grinding but with lisle success.

  Those who pushed for the change believe the dance is degrading to the students.   They say that social status and reputations places unfair pressure on kids to partake in the dancing. Many find such dancing to be a sexual act that will make it more likely for kids to partake in sex.

  While administration and parents believe it to be a victory, numerous students disagree with the result.

  “I don’t think grinding is sexual at all,” says senior Jeff Booth.

  “There is a lot of pressure on the administration from parents to take action,” says one student, ”but would they rather have us go out on a Friday night, get drunk and have sex.”

  In a conversation an SKHS sophomore, Richard Woo, stated that, “grinding is unique to our generation…while our parents swing danced, high schoolers today grind.”

  In response, a junior, Morgan Stafford said that, “[Adults] are judging it blindly, because each generation acts differently.

I’m not going to say its the best type of dance, but nobody will go if they are not allowed to dance that way.”

  While most students agree that it could be inappropriate, they agree that the way students dance should not be limited by adults.

  Jacob Sargent admitted that he personally finds grinding unattractive, but states that, “The adults shouldn’t restrict our personal freedom of expression.”

  Many students interviewed said that they would not go to the dances if they were not allowed to grind.

  Sophomore Zachary Campo said, “I will never go to a dance again.”

 SKHS senior Seth Noon agreed that, “Nobody is going to go, but it needed to be done because of the pressure put on some kids.”

  Jeff Booth, however, thinks that the rule, “Is pretty stupid, no one is going to go, and then there will be no more dances.”

  Dances are the major fundraiser for a class, and most of the revenue acquired from these dances goes toward junior and senior prom as well as the senior class trip.   The junior class is planning the annual “Pulse” dance for February, but students wonder whether or not enough tickets will be sold to hold the event.

  If a class does not raise a large sum of money, the prices for the prom tickets will be much higher, and the location for these events will be less glamorous than it would have been.   Some students wonder if they will be able to afford the tickets to the prom.

Michael Mulroy says, “It isn’t really necessary, but administration thinks it is.”