Some parents are clearly upset about this situation. As one mom noted (on Canton Patch's Facebook page), her two daughters "looked like lovely young ladies and we were so proud of them..." but "they were both disgusted by what they saw" on the dance floor. What do you think -- what role should school officials play when it comes to student dance moves?

My husband and I have seen and heard too often that school officials and/or other chaperones tend to "turn their heads the other way" and pretend the behavior is not happening. It's this kind of reaction that lets kids think the bad behavior is acceptable or to push the boundaries.

I personally think there should be a "zero tolerance" policy when it comes to this kind of inappropriate behavior. The kids should be given one warning, then sent home if it happens again! And, school officials should not care if this is "inconvenient" or not! It is wrong to continue to subject other well-behaved students to this kind of vile behavior.

At my daughter's homecoming dance, she described chaperones and school officials standing up on platforms around the dance floor to monitor behavior. They were given flashlights to shine on kids that were behaving inappropriately, and would go over and ask them to stop, but the kids went right back to the bad behavior once the chaperone was gone. My daughter said the kids thought it was a big joke. My daughter was VERY uncomfortable and has said she will probably not attend another dance.

School officials have no excuses!!!

Our daughter went to the Canton Homecoming dance with one of her friends and the same thing was happening there. They were both so disgusted, they left after twenty minutes. There has to be an easy solution to correct this problem. Hoperfully, part of that solution starts at home with the parents.

I was so proud of my Daughter who attended the Canton Homecoming. Before the Dance she felt her Regulation length dress was too short for her comfort, and ran back to her room to add some shorts to where under it. Many kids still make good choices. We need to teach our daughters how to handle inappropriate situations; a well placed elbow can help.

Having a great time at school functions is part of the all-around learning experience. This unacceptable behavior should have been addressed by the school board immediately after it occurred. As the voice of the community, the current board has been much too slow in reacting to issues.

I'm always amazed that this kind of behavior alwys falls back on women or girls. Was inappropriate touching done by males also?
As far as flashig a light on kids who are inappropriately behaving is like child's play-tell the student he is not behaving within the school codes and send him home!
Penny Striegel-old school!

Isn't it the job of the parent to make sure their child is dressed appropriately for a dance?

OOPS! I meant that it isn't the schools job!

Was the photograph included in this article taken at the High School? Very disturbing.

I graduated a year ago from PCEP and currently am pursuing a degree in the science of Business Health Administration at Central Michigan University, and yes, I agree that some students take it too far, but wake up already. They are teenage high school students who are at their homecoming. Can you admit that when you were a 17 year old, you never did anything that would be considered disgusting by your own parents? Chances are you were doing the same exact same thing back when you were in high school, so do not criticize the school officials for you trying to control other parents children. I did all of the exact same things these kids did and PCEP was one of the best experiences of my entire life. I would have not gone to any other high school. You can be overprotective over your own child, but do not ruin these kid's high school experience because of your own middle-aged morals. Let the kids be kids. Let them experience and learn on their own and loosen the reigns. Restricting your children will only hinder there chances of being ready for the real world. It's high school, so let them have fun.
To be clear, before you judge me, I am not a radical college student. I have a 3.8 g.p.a. and take education to the most serious extent. It kills me to see more and more restrictions put on these kids. What about all those stories you told us of when you were in high school?

Let these kids make their own.

Stop pointing the finger at the school. If you don't like what your child is doing, then be an active parent and take responsibility for what YOUR child is doing. Those kids dancing "innapropriately" are not your children, so don't ruin it for everyone else.

Joshua,
The parents writing in response to this issue were not born in the twenties. Today's parents are far more open minded than those from twenty or more years ago. But, I don't recall ever being at a school function where many of the students themselves were uncomfortable over what was happening. My daughter and a number of other students have talked to Administrators about the behavior going on at all three of these Homecoming dances. If one thousand people walk off a bridge, that doesn't make it the right thing to do. No one is trying to create a "Footloose" no dancing policy. But if the students who are paying for the dresses and tickets, etc. are embarrassed by the behavior of many of their classmates, then their is in fact a bigger issue to deal with here.

Cupsandmagnets,
The only big issue here is the further restrictions being put on the high school activities and the students themselves. If the students who are paying for the dresses and tickets are that embarrassed, then I guess they should not go anymore. There will always be students who do not agree with the actions of others, so it is there own choice to participate or not. Considering there is over 6,000 students attending the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, there will be some, not many, students who do not have a good time at their own homecoming; whether it be inappropriate dancing, choices made, or to the point they have to go to administration. The majority of students at the park will agree and have a good time at their homecoming regardless. First off, I never said these parents were born in the twenties, but now that you mention it, they should stop acting like it.

Chaperones are great, and they should be commended for giving their time up to help make these events possible, but they have no teeth as far as ensuring proper behavior. It is a further detriment when students laugh at them when they try to keep them under control. Simple solution is to have a code of conduct policy presented to the students before the next event, and have a large faculty presence there to oversee. Violations should include, but not be limited to being banned from further extracurricular activities. It won't be popular, but it will be effective.

My daughter's choir director made the comment the other night talking to the kids before the concert at Salem. She told the kids that if anyone of us chaperones came to her with an issue, she will beleive the parents that were helping and the student would be disiplined, no questions asked. If the same approached was taken at the dance, I think the kids would learn quick. I would like to know who the staff was that turned the other way and shrugged it off.

Lighten up if you dont want your kids doing that stuff dont let them go. Nobody is forcing people to go. Let us have some damn fun!

None of these parents ever had a swig of liquor before a football game or dance and never ever had pre marital sex. Its funny how people turn into their parents when they have kids. BAN DANCING!!!!!

Frank, I suppose by your comment, you support the grinding and simulated sex acts as appropiate on the dance floor and we should ignore it?

Bryan your really trying to bash me for not putting my name up here. Im a student at the park and there is no reason for me to put my name up here, all it would do is bring me trouble and honestly its 1 night a year. Also to the parents whose children "complained" I almost certainly guarantee your kid is a freshman and maybe a sophomore as soon as your little daughters hit 16 i guarantee they will be the ones appalling freshman. Seriously its 1 night a year why go off and ruin it for us.

Relax Joshua. Just because " everyone's doing it", that doesnt make it right. Would you also think it's all right if one hundred students starting passing a bong around the dance floor too? And if so, those students who think that is inappropriate shuod just stay home too? Good for you on your grade point average, but you may want to work on your common sense.

Many teachers at the park have been concerned about the lack of overall enforcement of the dress code for the past couple of years. A recent survey of PCEP employees indicated that 74% of teachers believe that the dress code is not being enforced. We (Mike Maloney and I) presented this information at a PCCS school board meeting in August 2010 and the board has continued to ignore the concerns of our teachers and parents. Our current board members have done nothing to address this well known issue over the past five years. You have a chance to hold them accountable for their lack of action.

Please go to www.Horvath4Pccs.com./Safety.html to download the full report. You will learn about the frustrating lack of board commitment our teachers experience as they try to enforce the current code of conduct. The problems in the article could be fixed in 24 hours (or even one year ago) if the current board were committed to solving the problem. Their actions over the past 14 months indicate that they are not.

As a candidate for the Plymouth-Canton School Board, I am committed to enforcement of our code of conduct, both in school and school functions. Please support the other "M&M Guys" and me (Mike Maloney, Mark Horvath, Mike Andro and Matt Dame). With the support of concerned parents, we can fix this immediately. Most importantly, please be sure to vote on November 8.

How does weed have anything to do with what is being talked about. If you have a child at the park talk to them about things you have a problem with. Just because a lot of people were dancing like that doesn't mean that they have to, and also if you don't have a child at the park i don't see why you are concerned about the issue and so quick to judge high school students make sure you have the facts before you make an ass of yourself.

Girls coming dressed inappropriately to dances and just to school in general falls completely on their parents shoulders. I find it disgusting that so many parents in the PCCS district are so hands-off after their kids start attending middle school. Parents need to wake up and take responsibility for their kids! As far as kids not following the rules at dances, dress or behavior, they should be escorted to the door if they don't comply. Children need to learn that there are consequences to their behavior and yes high schoolers are STILL children!

Joshua,
If you think I am talking to like a child, it is because in my opinion, your comments tend to reflect your age. Come talk to me about being an overprotective parent when you have kids of your own young man. As far as me trying to portray myself as being the picture perfect student, I'll be the first one to tell you that I was not. I was just smart enough to keep my indescretions off school property, and that is because ion my time at high school, if you broke the rules, faculty held you accountable. There was no discussion, and most certainly no internet debates about my right to somehow grind and simulate sexual acts on the dance floor at the Homecoming Dance... LOL

I would just love to be able to send a copy of these kid's comments to them in 20 years when they have kids entering high school. Now that would be a hoot! LOL

Jerry you say deal with reality, well that is exactly what all of this is. Josh didnt condone or encouage anything he just stated his opinion. The ignorance and arrogance some of you parents are showing is down right disgusting get off your high horse and just accept what josh is saying. He is a former park student and i am one now we know know more about what is bein discussed than anyone here.

I'm not an immature child Jerry. Just because I'm younger than you does not mean I am immature. My parents guided me through high school and they taught me the meaning of right and wrong. I have the utmost respect for authority and am not one to cause trouble. You have taken this argument completely out of context and I am dealing with reality. All I've stated is that I believe a little dirty dancing needs to be expected and over-controlling parents who have nothing better to do with their time than chaperone a school dance, need to relax. I have not grown up in a "everyone gets a trophy" environment. I have earned everything I have because I was raised correctly. I am proud to say that my father is by far my best friend, and I am one of the most driven, motivated students. Don't you dare try to describe the life I grew up in. Yes, I am young, but you do not know me.

@BryanBentley no one says LOL anymore #nicetry

Here's what I'd like to read from adults with teens, teens still in school and the college-aged readers: Where do you draw the line between childhood and adulthood. How do you make that transition?

Yikes Joshua and now Anonymous,
You and I and everyone else here is entitled to their opinions. However, the two of you are now embarrassing yourselves in your attacks on those who disagree with you.
Josh, you should be embarrassed for saying a "parent with nothing better to do than chaperone". I don't know you or your parents, but to criticize someone for volunteering their time to be a part of their childrens life ? Pretty lame. And you Anonymous, it is beyond lame to harass someone over a spelling error, especially when you yourself have miserably failed your spelling test. Please go make your corrections now from your 5:54 post. Also, the two of you completely missed the point about my "bong" comment. To clarify for you, I was obviously making a reference of people doing something that is obviously wrong, yet those who think it is wrong are just supposed to accept it.

Peg, the staff at the Patch did good on this one, now if all the people that commented on here would come and chaperone the next dance, we will not have a problem.

Thanks for the nice words, John ~ good idea on the chaperones!

Thanks, John! I vote Bryan to chaperone the next dance. :)

homecoming is safe. i have never seen anybody go to the extent of havin sex on the dance floor. yes they do grind thats how teenagers dance. go to a club like inferno they do the same thing. plus if your daughter doesnt feel comfortable then you dont have to go to ths middle of the dance floor where its most crowded they can be on the outer parts. and most of the guys that attend are gentlemen and ask if you want to dance vefore they go ahead and dance with you, if you feel embarrassed leave if you feel threatened by grinding leave. yes we are having fun and we have fun with tye situation presented to us because we want to and its not like the guys are forcing us to grind or anything its just 3 saturdays that allow us to have q good time with our classmate and those three homecoming only happen once a year.

BAN BAN BAN, huh Mark. Its a rite of passage to grind and get a chubby at a high school dance. Remember Marty and his MOM getting drunk before the enchanment under the sea dance. Now that was gross, having your mom make the moves on you.

It's as simple as this. It is a high school homecoming. Times are different now and to all the parents complaining about how appalled they are by what you're seeing at the dance, then don;t send your child their anymore. If there is students who don't like it, then they don't have to go. PCEP Staff works there tail off keeping that school clean and safe. They have over 6,000 students to look after and don't need parents like you bugging them twenty-four-seven. If you don't like it, then don't go. No one needs your opinion. If you like it, great. If you don't, keep your thoughts to yourself and stop trying to control what other people do.

Jerry, that is a great bunch of information ~ but given the it-takes-two nature of this subject, what about the boys' role in this? Where are the guidelines for their behavior?

What I see as a constant theme is these discussions ~ under the retorts about age, spelling and grammar ~ is a question of how adult and teens work through the transition for young people from childhood to maturity. I'm most fascinated by that because this is the core of our society. How to we 'build' good citizens? The 1920s version of this same debate involved flappers and hair bobbing, jazz music and the dirty dancing of the roaring 20s: The Charlston....

As a freshman my daughter was in shock after her first homecoming, and so was I sitting in the parking lot waiting to pick her up as two boys simulated having sex with each other inthe parking lot, guys walked out of dance with shirts off. Now as a junior, she chose on her own not to go this year because of all the "horny idiots". While I am happy she made this decision on her own, it is kind of sad that she didn't get to enjoy what is supposed to be a special time in h.s. and I worry that her senior year she will miss out not wanting to attend. She is a good kid, involved in a lot of other activities with a lot of friends...not a loner, just someone that doesn't think this is the "norm".

it would be nice to see this many comments when it comes to increasing class sizes, our lawmakers raiding the school aid fund, the rushing to close Fiegel, and the non renewal of Dr. Fiegel's contract.

Reading these comments has really opened my eyes as to how out of the loop some parents are with the times. I went to P-CEP and I will admit, I was one of the girls who dirty danced with the guys as a freshman and continued to do it until my senior prom. Does that make me an immoral, bad kid? No, it most certainly does not. And does that reflect poorly upon my parents and the job they did raising me? Again, no. Children are a product of their environment, but at the same time there are things that parents just cannot control. I remember during the dances that while dancing provocatively was the norm, it was not forced upon anyone and if you didn't want to dance like that anymore all you had to do was walk out of the large group and grab some water or a pop. If students have a problem with the way certain students are dancing at homecoming then they should move to a different area and find other students to hang around. The whole dance floor is not occupied by dirty dancing, just large pockets of it.

I also find it extremely sad that this "mature adult/father" is trying to tear apart a 19-year-old college student to make himself seem superior. Really, sir? I am 21-years-old and know not patronize someone younger than me or show disrespect to someone older than myself. There are ways to convey your ideas and opinions in a respectful way, no matter the age of the person with whom you are talking with. Josh has his opinions as do you & obviously you don't agree.

Great comments RedWings1340! I agree and I am a former student myself (many more years ago), but also a mother of 3 boys! I am an open parent to my Junior at Canton. Sadly, he didn't attend the dance!

I applaud and congratulate the courage, conviction and strong sense of moral decency of the chaperones of the Oct. 8 Plymouth High School homecoming dance. In a world where so many believe everything is OK, it is very comforting to know that there are wonderful role models like Ara and Molle Kabodian who proudly take a stand to fight the decay of Christian values.

I don't think Josh was getting attacted for giving his point of view, but rather for the smug way he was giving his point of view. If he came off as less of a smart ass, his points would have been better received.