Should grinding be banned from high school dances?

An Illinois high school banned students from grinding (none of which appear in this stock photo of fresh-faced youths) from an upcoming dance. (istockphoto)In a bit of a modern day Flashdance, students at an Illinois high school are butting heads with administrators after a "no grinding" policy was passed for school dances.

CBS News' Kurt Liske reports that the notice, sent out a few weeks ago, is intended to teach students "lessons about modesty, dignity and respect."

Chaperones will observe students and will give them a warning if they're observed dancing inappropriately. After a second time they will be removed fro the dance.

Exactly what is or is not appropriate is up to the chaperones, as the school's notice doesn't include an explicit definition for grinding. Typically, grinding involves rhythmically rubbing one's behind against another's pelvic area; it's also known as dirty dancing or back-to-front dancing.

Some students said that while they understand the edict's intentions, they don't think there's anything wrong with a little grinding.

"Our Catholic school is founded on principles that talk about being modest, but teenagers are teenagers and just because we're Catholic doesn't mean we don't like to grind," said student Joseph Lekowski.

Most of the students Liske interviewed said while they still plan to attend this weekend's dance, they don't expect to spend as much time on the dance floor.

This isn't the first time grinding has come under scrutiny at school dances. In 2010, Windham High School in Maine banned grinding, citing an "inability to discern what is consensual and what is sexually assaultive behavior."

Earlier this month, parents were outraged after students and staff produced a humorous video demonstrating how and how not to grind, including the variation known as "freaking" where a girl places her hands on the floor while grinding with a boy behind her.

Should grinding and similar dance methods be banned from high school dances, or are school administrators being heavy-handed in their approach? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.


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