R.I. school board seeks to end ban on dances

AP

(AP) CRANSTON, R.I. - The Cranston School Committee is asking state lawmakers to change Rhode Island law to allow father-daughter dances and mother-son ballgames at schools.

The Providence Journal reports that officials voted unanimously on Monday to approve the resolution asking for the change in state law.

District Superintendent Judith Lundsten ended the events beginning this school year to comply with a state gender discrimination law.

Federal law prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of gender, but the law provides an exception for "mother-daughter" and "father-son" activities as long as "reasonable comparable activities" are provided to students of the other sex.

Rhode Island law does not offer such exemptions.

Civil libertarians had complained on behalf of a single mother whose daughter had no father but was barred from attending a father-daughter dance.

[lonestar9000]

Anymore, it seems that parents and kids would be better off raising money for activities off school property and without school involvement at all, since the rules and regulations at most schools seem to be more strict these days than being in the Army.

[john92021]

sounds like a teachable moment. Maybe they should cut funding for dances before music, art, PE, nurses and counselors.

[Unsilent_Majority]

There is no school district funding for the dance, it is paid for by the price of admission.

[ballwyllo]

it is not fair that my neighbor gets a paycheck from Google, her employer, and they don't send me one.

[lesserof2evil]

These dances should be treated as theme party, that is it's recommended but not required to come to the party with your father or whoever. Otherwise they get what they deserve, shut down.

[frankkburns]

What is a father-daughter dance. You mean they go together to a dance? Who dances?

[TheSanityInspector]

Someone someplace has something that I don't have. Therefore, that something ought to be forbidden to everyone everywhere. Fair's fair!

[twmat311]

I always wondered how they dealt with the situations where a child may have a deceased parent - would they allow a relative or friend, or would the cild be "barred" (as it reported here; seems rather cruel?)

[Unsilent_Majority]

that's life. none of us are promised a pain-free existence. but those of us who learn to live with disappointment rather than find ways to avoid it all together are better off in the long run.

[daddycrc100]

yes any child that didnt have a father around could bring another male,

[csuf_grad]

Oh god.