A Small Female Offspring came home and announced that they’d been doing paired dancing in gym class, in preparation for some sort of Christmas celebration.
Apparently - and of course I’ve only got the Small Offspring’s interpretation on this - the girls are to stand and wait for the boys to come and select them because “it’s usually the boys who choose the girls”.
Ahem…? Hello-oo? I know the teacher taking this class is of slightly more mature years, but surely she’s heard of the Sexual Revolution? Women’s Lib?
The Small Female Offspring in question simply wouldn’t exist if I’d followed this sort of guidance!
I’m not planning on burning my bra in the playground, but please don’t encourage my girl to be a Wallflower!
Much more of this and I shall have to start taking it seriously…
One of the great pleasures of moving to high school for my two was that they no longer had to do Scottish dancing at Christmas parties. Unfortunately it has completely put them off ceilidh dancing, at least for the time being. But I’m sure they’ll appreciate it when they’re older!
When I first arrived as a teacher at North Berwick High School, I couldn’t quite believe what I was told about the christmas dances, but it was all true. Boys and girls do indeed stand on opposite sides of the hall, but they take it in turns to go across and invite a girl/boy to dance, so there’s no difference between boys and girls in that respect. When the dance is over, they escort their partner back to the other side of the room.
I too thought it sounded very old-fashioned, but having been to the dances, I have to say that it is absolutely wonderful, and the kids love it. it provides them with an environment in which to practice their social skills without fear of rejection or awkwardness (it is unheard of for someone to refuse a request to dance). We are very proud of our dances at NBHS, and year after year the kids vote with their feet by turning up in huge numbers. I hope The Small Female Offspring has dances of similar quality
Thanks for that positive view, Robert! Right now she loves Ceilidh dancing - let’s see if she feels as jaded as gpm’s two in a few years’ time. It’s got to be more positive than all that Barbie-ballerina stuff that we’ve avoided so far.
I like the idea of turn-taking: but given the gender balance in SFO’s clas is 2:1 it will still be a bit lop-sided. Plus, the boys don’t need the pressure to choose except when it’s the ladies’ excuse me…
Beloved Spouse and I met at a ceilidh when we were barely older than your Highschoolers, so I can’t be too cynical. Mind you - there wasn’t much dancing going on
LOL - I think I remember that kind of dance