Students, Parents Weigh In On Peters Twp. Twerking Controversy
PETERS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- When several students were accused of dancing inappropriately at the Snowball Dance at Peters Township High School the lights went on and students were told to stop or leave.
Many did just that, saying the matter is being blown out of proportion.
About 600 students attended the dance two weeks ago; and according to some of the adult chaperones, some of the dancing got a little down and dirty.
According to school officials, some of the students were twerking.
One student, who did not want his face shown, told KDKA's Brenda Waters he was at that dance.
Waters: "What happened?"
Student: "Nothing much. It was pretty much blown out of proportion."
Waters: "Why do you say that?"
Student: "No one was twerking really."
Waters: "What were they doing?"
Student: "More of just grinding, but not really twerking."
Waters: "Is that considered inappropriate though?"
Student: "Not in my opinion."
But it wasn't the opinion of the students that counted. The lights went on and some of them left the dance.
Waters: "I left at 9:15 [p.m.]."
Student: "Because you were upset?
Waters: "Yeah."
Waters: "Why were you upset?"
Student: "They said they were going to turn on the lights and play classical music until we stopped."
After the dance, one of the school board members contacted a local Arthur Murray dance studio to see what types of dance classes the company offered.
One student reacted this way.
Waters: "Would you go to Arthur Murray?
Student: "Never"
Waters: "Why?"
Student: "That is ridiculous."
Meantime, Mary Ellen Fritz, a parent, says, "I just think Peters Township should be known for other things. There were a group of students that very same weekend that raised over $4,000 for a veteran, Sgt. Doug Vitale, who lost both legs in Afghanistan."
The district says: "We are evaluating our school dance procedures to ensure a safe, enjoyable and appropriate environment for our students."
RELATED LINKS:
High School Dance Stopped Due To Twerking, Dance Lessons Suggested (2/19/14)
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