Several decades too late, the aging hippies running Orange County's schools make a startling discovery.

Ha! You laughed at Footloose!

Orange County Register: 'Freaking' inspires dance ban

There will be no "shaking it," no "getting down," no "tearing it up" and certainly no "getting freaky" at Aliso Niguel High School this school year – at least for now.

The principal, outraged at what he saw as sexually suggestive outfits and moves at a jungle-themed back-to-school boogie last week, has canceled all dances until further notice – an unusually hard-line move to stamp out "freaking," where partners grind and gyrate against each other.

The decision by Principal Charles Salter, conveyed to parents in an e-mail a couple of hours after Friday's dance, has sparked discussion in the educational community about parental responsibility, the role of schools in teaching behavior and values, and that age-old issue: the generation gap.
"I saw way too much of some of our young girls," Salter said in his e-mail. "Why do girls have to have themselves so exposed? Why are they wearing garters? Why do they have to have cleavage displayed so overtly and slits high up their thighs and then allow the boys (to) dance (and rub) up against them?

"This can happen no more … we need to slow this train down."

We were run over a long time ago. That is what happens when you play on the tracks.

School dances have been canceled before in Orange County because of "freaking," but this appears to be the first time a principal has issued a blanket ban, several school officials said Thursday.

The announcement caused several discussions between parents in Sharon DeJean-Murray's neighborhood. The back-to-school dance was the first one her son, a freshman whose name she wanted to keep private, attended at Aliso Niguel.

I think it safe to assume the young man's surname is not DeJean-Murray, who was one of my favorite comedians. (Sorry)

"This is exactly what our parents did," DeJean-Murray said. "It's a generational thing."

Yeah, but her mom is only 25.

Salter said it wasn't just the type of dancing that prompted his decision, which he blamed on the actions of "more than just a few" students.
Some students showed up in Tarzan outfits, and at least one in a skin-colored body suit.

In addition, students said some came to the dance intoxicated.

Sheriff's records reported a fight near the school. And official reports and students also stated paramedics were called when a teen passed out.
So many students were dancing suggestively that Salter kept the lights on until the end of the event to better supervise students.

The music was stopped about 10:30 p.m., half an hour before it was scheduled to end.

Salter, known for sending frequent e-mails to parents with the signoff "your friendly neighborhood principal," (Excellent! - F.G.) left open the possibility of bringing dances back – Homecoming is just weeks away – if parents and students can implement changes "that will clean up our dances," he wrote.

A meeting to hash things out is scheduled for Sept. 23. Student forums also are in the works.

"My purpose is not to do away with dances," Salter said in an interview.
"(There are) just certain types of behavior I expect at our school. It's just one of those things were we just need to get everyone's attention."

The early morning e-mail generated so many responses from parents that Salter sent another one Sunday.

"I have kids," Salter wrote in that second e-mail. "I would not want anyone dancing like that with my daughter, nor would I allow my son to treat someone else's daughter that way. I need for you to continually remember that your kids come to our school and I look at them as if they are my own."

News of Aliso Niguel's canceled dances spread quickly.

"It's wrong," said Michael Oreyzi, a senior at the school. "Dances are part of high school."

Does the Debate Team know about this kid?

Some parents weren't happy about his decision, and told Salter he was overstepping his responsibilities as a principal.

"I think it's too much," said Alyona Nickelsen, who was raised in Ukraine and whose son is a freshman at the school. "Even behind the Iron Curtain, we had school dances."

OY VEY!

One educator said Thursday the issue of suggestive dancing depends on who's on the floor and who's watching – and how old they are.

"I'll hear kids say, 'This is the only way I know how to dance,' " said Kathryn Scheidler, activities director at El Toro High School.

Arthur Murray, (no relation) call your office.

"In my generation, it was Tom Jones shaking too much. But freaking seems to be over the top compared to what our parents had to put up with."

It is called dry humping, kiddies. Check your Playboy Manual (sorry) for details.

A principal has the right to cancel any school activity if students break rules, said Arthur Cummings, an administrator in instructional services for the Orange County Department of Education.

"From what I heard, it was a pretty bad situation," Scheidler said. "If (Salter) felt he needed to get the school's attention, then I'm sure what he did was warranted. Administrators don't like to do these things."

El Toro High School lists four rules for the dance floor: no bending over, keep both feet on the ground, no "riding" or straddling a person's leg, and no front-to-back dancing.

Laguna Hills High School canceled its last dance of the school year earlier this year after teens at a Sadie Hawkins dance got too frisky on the floor, said Megan O'Gara, activities director at the school.

"Overall, our kids are very good," O'Gara said. "Do some kids go too far? Sure."

"It's a constant problem," O'Gara said of "freaking."

The school has produced videos to illustrate inappropriate behavior on the dance floor– the latest video using hand-held dolls to simulate banned moves.

I hope they put rubbers over those dolls first!

Like many high schools, Aliso Niguel High requires students to sign contracts before attending school-sponsored dances. Most of these contracts specifically mention "freaking."