"School dance steps look like foreplay"

Betsy Hart’s article discusses the troubling issue of what is taking place at high school dances. The behavior of teenagers at school dances is brought to the attention of many naive parents. Hart has become aware of the inapropriate dancing that is taking place, and feels that others should be informed about the matter. The issue requires a more strict set of boundaries and guidelines to maintain the safety of teens. The parents and school authorities to which the concern has become known to have tried to control the matter. Some schools have set restrictions on the ways the kids choose to dance, and some parents have become worried and, like Hart, want to be involved in chaperoning the dances to assure that they are under control. There are also parents that are blind to the improper ways of their children, and say that they shouldn’t be stopped. Hart, as well as other sensible parents, disagree.

It seems that parents are just starting to become aware of the behavior of their perfect little sons and daughters. What might appear as a night at a harmless school dance to mom and dad, could be defined more along the lines of “bumping and grinding”, as if in a club, to teenagers. Hart exploits this issue, hoping to convince parents to support in controlling the conduct of their teens. She wants them to be aware of the situation at hand, and put a foot down when it comes to their teenagers’ behavior.

Betsy Hart claims that parents need to step up and take action over the behavior occurring at school dances, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I agree that there needs to be restrictions put on dances. Teens don’t realize the way that they portray themselves by the choices they make. What might seem fun and familiar to them doesn’t look appropriate to others, especially adults, and isn’t a way in which they should want to be viewed. On the other hand, I don’t think the restrictions should be as extensive as Hart makes them sound. Although safety is a primary issue, from the teenage perspective, putting a limit on the types of music that can be played at dances or setting too many rules and regulations really can ruin a dance. The respectable teen would know how to conduct themselves in a school environment. For those who don’t, consequences should be enforced, but not at the expense of the other students.

The most effective rhetorical question used by Hart in her article is “If the "$400 dress girl" had been sexually assaulted in the parking lot after the festivities because the dance wasn't a "dud," would her mom be happy, or suing the school?”. Hart uses this to prove that parents need to primarily be concerned with their teens’ safety. It supports her point to convince parents to control the conduct of their teens. Also, it shows how some parents need to become more attentive to their child's security, not their desires. Hart pointed out the issue of inappropriate behavior and concern for the safety of teenagers, and now it’s the parents’ obligation to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting them.

Should Imus Be Allowed Back?

I disagree with the article by Laureen Stiller. Imus should not be allowed back onto the air. He deserved to be fired as a consequence of his statement. The words he chose to use were demeaning and offensive, and someone who decides to speak of others in such a way should not be employed at a position where others are able to listen to them do so. Although Imus did apologize for his actions, that does not make up for or change what he said. He should not be able to return to the air.

The best example used by Stiller is the one of New York Knicks coach, Isaiah Thomas, because it most closely resembles the main point. Thomas also used senseless and derogatory language when referring to how men speak to women of different races. He says that certain words are okay to be used by black men towards black women, while they aren’t as accepted when used by white men in the same way. The fact that Thomas wasn’t punished supports Stiller’s point to why Imus should be allowed back onto the air and accepted once again as a radio host. It proves that others have not been punished for their words, while Imus was. Although this helps to support Stiller’s point, it does not make it okay to use that type of language. It is not right for women to be labeled by disrespectful words, no matter who is stating them.