<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"The principal of Stowe High School in Stowe, Vt. is calling for school-wide dialogue and reflection on student behavior at school dances, following what he called \"grinding\" dance moves from some students. Those too-close dance moves were Jeff Maher's stated reason for canceling the remaining three school dances on the schedule this academic year.The prom in May will go on, Maher said. \"Nobody has been happy with this style of dancing for a long time,\" he told New England Cable News.Maher said his October 22 announcement followed complaints from parents, faculty, staff, and students. Maher said the problem of grinding on the dance floor has come up before, and some students didn't respond to requests from chaperones to cut it out. \"I think as adults, we have a moral obligation to stand up and say we can't condone this,\" Maher told NECN.Maher pointed to sexually-charged song lyrics and entertainment, like singer Miley Cyrus's show at the Video Music Awards this summer, as being the kind of things young people everywhere are mimicking. \"We live in a coarse, vulgar, popular culture,\" Maher said. \"I don't blame these kids. They reflect the culture they inhabit.\"The principal asked NECN not to interview students inside the school, but four approached the station's news crew, saying they didn't really mind that the dances were canceled.\"A lot of kids just go out and have a good time with their friends and aren't over the top, so it's not fair to them,\" Stowe senior Wyatt Galfetti said outside of school Tuesday, after class.Galfetti said some kids really did go too far at the last school party, but now, everyone will lose out. Classes will also miss fundraising opportunities with the events canceled, he noted. \"I think maybe if they don't have them this year and try to bring them back next year, maybe it'll be more toned down because of not having them for a year,\" Galfetti said.Stowe High School is inviting students to take part in conversations about how to set guidelines for future dances that'll be more respectful and comfortable for everyone.Principal Jeff Maher's recent blog post about his decision to cancel the school dances is copied below.Taking a Break From School DancesThis morning I announced to students that we are cancelling school dances for the remainder of the year. The Prom in May will be the only exception.I arrived at this decision following considerable feedback from parents, faculty and staff, and students. All of this feedback was directed at the 'style' of dancing common among students in high schools across the nation; students and adults alike are uncomfortable with 'grinding' as this style of dance is called. It is inappropriate, demeaning, and, does not represent our values in both school and community.I do not blame students: they are reflecting the increasingly coarse, vulgar popular culture they inhabit. We as adults, however, have a responsibility, a moral obligation I would assert, to stand-up and convey the message to students that this practice is not permissible and cannot be condoned.We have tried to convey this message in the recent past with little change for the better. We need to take a break in order to: 1) get the message across that we are serious 2) give student leadership a chance for sustained conversation on this topic with the student body and 3) discuss proposals for different, appropriate dance structures and guidelines in the future.I ask you as parents/guardians to discuss this decision with your student. I ask for your support and that you encourage your student to be a positive force in conversation as we reflect on where to go with dances in the future.Thank you,Jeff Maher"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.mynbc5.com/article/vt-school-cancels-dances-over-grinding/3312685>