Of all the ridiculous things I’ve read today, this trumps them all.
Poor Tyler Frost. All the senior in high school wanted to do was escort his lady love to her sinful, pagan public school prom and maybe move in sync to the musical stylings of Taylor Swift, and whatever Godless slow-jam-last-dance song those high school kids are listening to these days. And his school suspended him.
That’s because Tyler’s school, Heritage Christian School in Ohio, forbids dancing, rock music, and fun. IT’S JUST LIKE THE MOVIE FOOTLOOSE! It doesn’t specifically say fun, but whatev. Might as well. But you know, there are other reasons as well. Here is part of the statement from the school’s principal, Tim England:
In the Old Testament, Joseph was in a place of temptation and he fled. Unlike this situation, he didn’t put himself in that place. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” II Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts but follow after righteousness faith charity and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” When the school committee, many years before I became the principal, set up the policy regarding dancing, I am confident that they had the principle of fleeing lustful situations in mind. The question as I see it is, should a Christian place themselves at an event where young ladies will have low cut dresses and be dancing in them? Isn’t it contrary to the example of Joseph and the verses that I stated?
I did some research and came across Friendlyatheist.com, which fights Bible fire with Bible fire. Thanks for providing us with the verse, FriendlyAtheist!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (King James Version)
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
All sassiness aside, I think there’s something deeper here. Dance, whether Mr. England chooses to acknowledge it or not, is embedded in the history of humanity. As cliche as it is, people use dance to express themselves. People dance at weddings– Christian weddings– to celebrate and show joy. Little children dance (read= jump up and down and wave their arms) when they’re happy, and they just don’t know why. In fact, there’s a budding genre of dance called Liturgical dance. It’s a prayer in the form of dance. Some people find dance so beautiful and spiritual that they use it as a way to praise the Lord.
Taking away dance is denying an important act of humanity. Not that I, nor anyone else, should speak for the big guy upstairs, but I don’t think punishing someone for being human is what was intended.
Tyler and his stepfather, Stephan Johnson, went on CBS’ “The Early Show” this morning. Watch that. He said he doesn’t regret going to the prom. I sure hope not. I hope that he is allowed to walk at his graduation this year. And when he does, I hope he dances on stage.
And now, a song that I dedicate to dear Tyler. I hope you dance, dude.
[Posted by Kathleen]
six words to change the world. 
Right, wrong or indifferent, he (and his parents) agreed to the rules of the school when they enrolled him there. Nobody forced him to go to school there, nobody forced him to agree to the rules. You and I might think the school is wrong, but they have the right to enforce their rules on students who voluntarily attend the school.
Jim, you have a point, but I still think it’s worth discussing the fact that rules like this still exist.
I went to Catholic school from kindergarten through senior year of high school, and now I’m back at it (woo, grad school!). I had a teacher who used to say that singing was like praying twice. It seems to me that that makes dance praying thrice. Or maybe more. Kathleen has a point about dance being an ancient — and potentially quite spiritual — form of expression.
And Kathleen, I’m not coming to your birthday party OR housewarming party because you got “I Hope You Dance” stuck in my head. And I didn’t even listen to it, just read the words. THANKS A LOT.
Just kidding mmm Indian food, mmm red wine.
It was either “I Hope You Dance” or “Just Dance”. I hate Lady Gaga and would never want to do that to anyone, so Lee Ann Womack it was. Ha!
I’m just super stoked that its summer time soon and that So You Think You Can Dance (or SYTYCD) is on its way back.
Kathleen – make the popcorn. No, seriously – I want some popcorn.
With thanks! Yet another remarkable way of seeing things, undoubtedly exactly why My spouse and I come to the wordpress bog constantly!
DEIDRE