Updated: 10:16 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2016 | Posted: 10:16 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2016
Father-daughter school dance canceled after complaints
http://www.whio.com/news/news/national/father-daughter-school-dance-canceled-after-compla/nrJXJ/By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
COLUMBIA, S.C. —
A father-daughter dance organized to raise funds for a elementary school's Parent Teacher Organization has been canceled.
For five years, Brockman Elementary in Columbia, South Carolina, has put together the dance and has raised over $2,000.
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WISTV reported that some parents' complaints that such a dance theme was not inclusive led to the dance being canceled this year.
However, Richland One School District Communications Director Karen York said that despite the name and theme of the school dance, anyone was welcome to attend.
York said that, as a public school, Brockman Elementary made the extra effort to be inclusive.
"There were a few parents that did not think the father-daughter dance was inclusive, when actually, it was at all times," York told WISTV Tuesday. "It was never an event that was exclusive to only fathers and daughters. Mothers and anyone else who wanted to show up at the dance were certainly welcome to attend."
York said parents who raised concerns were "fewer than 10."
Mother Hope Sypert said she was one of at least 32 people who raised concerns.
She and mother Jessica DeMay said it was never their intention to get the dance canceled.
"We never asked for it to be canceled," Sypert told WISTV Thursday. "In fact, I feel like anyone who feels like their child is disappointed that it was canceled can also appreciate that everyone’s children were in that boat and that the children before, who couldn’t come for reasons (like) not being in traditional families or not feeling a part of it -- even if there was a side note that they could come -- those children were upset every single year."
Fox News reported that this year's dance raised $1,000 for the school's PTO. All the money was refunded.
Some parents who are upset at the cancellation plan to have a dance on the same day the original one was scheduled, May 13.
School officials considered holding the dance under a different name, like Brockman Ball, but stuck to its decision to cancel the dance completely.
