Even adults would not interact in this manner when going "out on the town." This grinding behavior is right out of a pornographic film - and I congratulate the high schools for enacting these new rules. The students are simply out of hand.

Get over yourself. You're confusing grinding with pornography which is exactly what we shouldn't be teaching children. They need to understand their body and without doing so they are unable to respect it. I'd like to refer to the movie Footloose as prohibiting children from dancing led them to....wait for it....dancing. So instead of hiding from problems we should; resolve them and educate more.

Wow.

Dumb just keeps on getting dumber.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having expectations for teenagers. If they want to "understand their bodies" they can masturbate in the privacy of their own homes. Dry humping has no place at a school function. Do you "grind" at work? Is it allowed? Why should we give our CHILDREN a free pass to do it?

No one is getting all tweaked out over the every day dress code. Everyone abides by it. Why aren't the parents and students rallying together to open their own school, free from any dress codes? Why not fight for their right to dress like thugs and sluts every day of the week?

This "real" homecoming is real, all right. It's a real annoyance. It's a real potential problem for student athletes. It's a real distraction from what these kids SHOULD be focusing on. Gosh, if this "real homecoming" committee put half the effort into solving hunger or abuse as they have into this party, imagine how much better our community and society could be!

I remember 6-8 years ago that grinding was prohibited at school dances. It's been going on for years, ask students who have graduated... they can tell you what they were told. Administration has to put into print to remind parents that their children should behave respectfully...

Apparently, it's okay on TV, but not in real life. Hmmm.

The dance is in response to a number of new rules poorly communicated by administration. Does everyone remember the folly that was "drug testing" last year? Is a separate "grinding allowed" supervised, secured dance the best form of revolt? Maybe not, but kudos to the students for questioning authority and planning responsibly. Kind of sounds like Footloose.

As a Lake Zurich resident and a middle school teacher in a neighboring district I am appalled by the support from parents and some of the LZ high school teachers for this alternative dance in Barrington. Any adult who has ever chaperoned a school dance knows that provocative dancing has gotten out of control. I have seen it at the middle school level and it breaks my heart. 15 years ago I was I was enjoying my homecoming dance and I didn't have to be half naked and dry humping boys to have a good time. Teens today SHOULD NOT EITHER!
Parents and community members let's support out school! Let's stand up for integrity and modesty. Stop trying to be your son or daughters cool friend and start PARENTING!! The prefrontal cortex that controls reasoning and and impulses doesn't fully mature until age 25. Think about that...these high school kids lack developed reasoning yet in today's world parents bend at every word and desire their teenagers have. Does that seem right? Teach your kids to honor rules, teacher your kids to respect authority, and teach
your kids to have some class by not simulating sex on the dance floor. We need a generation of thoughtful leaders not a generation of entitled followers.

Renee, your comments are thoughtful and well intended and you correctly point out important cognitive development information. You also mention that you have seen grinding in your own school, something LZ students have been allowed to do since they were in middle school. As usual, those parents who thought they were parenting, are now shocked. They probably would be shocked to know the other things their children are doing as well. Maybe as shocked as our own parents were. I would caution restraint in criticizing the parenting styles of others. Perhaps if we listen to our students, we can understand the source of their frustration and ultimately better educate them.

Update: The Field House will not be hosting the alternative dance; see updated information in article.

LZHS is a public high school.The administration has a responsibility to the entire community to provide a safe, moral, healthy environment for the children of the community which it serves. As members of the community we expect our children to be able to attend school and other functions free from alcohol, drugs, and weapons.What makes overt sexual behavior and dress any different? The community is comprised of a diverse group of families with an array of different beliefs,religions and values. But we all share a common goal within the community to be responsible to each other and to all our children.As parents we want our children to be happy, but their happiness is built on a foundation we are responsible for constructing. Acceptable public behavior is expected in all areas of our lives.Schools, churches, libraries,workplaces,airports, stores, parks....... On and on the list goes. Each generation pushes the rules and mores of the previous one. We did, our parents did. As the generation responsible for constructing and guiding the next generation we owe it to our children to push back. They will not collapse from being asked to conform to an acceptable community standard and behavior.They will not be less popular or have their happiness voided. They will eventually accept and move on to another challenge and life experience.If they don't accept it, then when they become the generation responsible for leading their youth and community they can do something about it.

Jan, well said and I could not agree more!

I don't know anymore regarding this dance than any of you but did hear from the administration that because it was not a school event, they were unable to comment or interfere. Yet the students were thwarted at every turn as evidenced by this article. Who is making the decisions here--parents or the administration? Next, are they going to tell us when we can hold a birthday party? Do coaches have the right to override parents? The key is to promote better communication with your own children and not leave the decisions to an administration willing to deceive students in order to protect their own interests.

It seems that every adult in this town knows exactly what is best for every child in this town. I'm so happy to live in the town of the absolutely most intelligent adults in the world, because otherwise I'm sure none of these people could be so arrogant as to pretend that they know what is best for every student in the high school.

No matter what side you're on, I think most of us will agree that this controversy has created an opportunity to open up a dialogue between parents and teens. Anytime we can have a "real" conversation with our kids, it's a win-win. And just maybe, the real issue isn't necessarily about banning "grind dancing", but more about how the decision was made, who was included in the decision-making process, and the "tone" and "manner" in which the message was delivered.

If I were you parents I would be less concerned with a bunch of kids trying to pull off some off school dance which is pretty unlikely and has gotten way too much attention by way too many people... I would be concerned with the bullying going on on that facebook page! Young ladies being called bitches because they don't agree, facebook chats being copied and pasted to humiliate, football players not being respected for their own commitments... actually no opinion besides theirs is acceptable! In this atmosphere of bullying especially on the internet... I am thinking the parents and teens and school administrators should put their attention there...

This student rebellion is so immature and ruining a festive tradition for everyone....over not being able to "grind" on the dance floor?? LOL wow! How about standing up for something important? It's not too much to ask students to be respectful and to not be disgusting in public. It's not unreasonable to ask for an environment where students aren't put in a position to have to say "no" if they are dancing and someone starts "grinding" with them. Fighting some crusade to be able to "grind" at a dance? Geez! "Grind" another time! What an embarrassment to themselves, their families, and their school with this group of rude spoiled kids.

Sage, I have no inside information, it's all available on various websites, etc. but it is easier for the kids, parents and school (and yes the reporter) to focus on the grinding issue. Truth be told, we are late to the game--this argument has been in the news for years--but it lights a fire under everyone. What concerns me is that these kind of debates are somewhat normal--high school students always question authority but I cringe at an administration that would Inappropriately use their influence to stop a non-school event. If I as a parent don't want my child to attend, I will discuss that with him not rely on some high school staff member to do it for me.

Maybe they should start each dance with a lesson! http://youtu.be/4s21sg0goqM

Rainstreet, you are clearly misguided and hilariously misinformed. Even if there was a single policeman there, your comments about drinking, drugs etc are laughable. As for chaperones, no dance, no need. I have no skin in the game, just simply defend the right of people to seek truthful information and hesitant to support an administration that clearly has overstepped its boundaries.

It is simple--The article states that the Fieldhouse had discussions with the administration. Why, it was not an LZHS event. Athletes and members of other student groups were told not to go or they would suffer penalties. Not legal nor ethical. The law of "in loco parentis" or acting in the best interest of students does not extend to private assemblies. Like everyone, I would clearly want to see one homecoming and hope that all parties come together.

Here's an article on an alternative dance organized by students when their administrator's banned the "grinding" Dance. The difference...their Administrator's didn't interfere in the alternative dance because it was a planned event outside of school. We all have a difference of opinion and parent as we choose. I feel the rights of those students who choose not to attend the school's dance and prefer to plan their own have been violated. I do feel there are more important issues to focus on and "dancing" isn't one of them. FYI. The "grinding" dance has been the universal dance for quite awhile now and is how teens & young adults around the world are dancing today! The parents wearing their blinders need to open up their eyes. We were all young and not too long ago, where our dancing style and dress also affended some adults & parents. I didn't dance or dress to be disrespectful but expressing my own individuality, just as the kids are today. There are only a handful of dances during the school year. I would rather have them at the school, having fun and chaperoned for a couple of hours, versus driving around, doing drugs, drinking and having sex in the backseat of a car. Most of our kids will be young adults & in college soon, working or fighting in a war. You can't baby them forever. Here's the article...
http://marion.patch.com/articles/should-the-linn-mar-school-district-ban-grinding

Also, I'm lucky to have two wonderful kids who communicate openly with me. My oldest survived 4 years of "grinding" dances at LZHS. She is not sexually active now and never was in high school but continues to do the "grind" dance at the clubs. She very bright, in honor society at the university, in a sorority, works 2 jobs, highly respected and never suffered psychological damage from grinding. She couldn't wait to graduate and never enjoyed attending LZHS because of the rules. She enjoys her college freedom and the respect she gets from the instructors and administrators. I know I am a good parent and did a good job raising my kids. Just because I allow hem to be who they are, and make some of their own decisions, doesn't make me a bad parent. We can only guide and teach them right from wrong and hope they listened and make good choices and decisions throughout their life. We can't hand hold them forever. You are right, choose your battles wisely.

Sorry, below is the article on the alternative dance referenced above.
http://thegazette.com/2012/02/02/linn-mar-students-organizing-alternate-grindfest-dance/

I am agree that both Facebook and many of these opinions are becoming excessively belligerent. To say dumb keeps getting dumber and you are totally ignorant has no place in open dialogue. When you disagree with the children you say you are teaching to be moral and to make adult choices, what do you call them...idiots? We live in a country where we can agree to disagree without being abusive. I personally don't want people dirty dancing in front of me, but there is the choice to move away and the right of the school and chaperones to call the culprits out and ask them to stop or to leave. Come on, people, at least discuss this like adults instead of deciding that everyone must agree with you or they are idiots, immoral, uneducated, bad parents etc. what happened to open polite debate at a school board hearing? Grow up.

I have been told by a high school teacher (at a nearby HS) that she has personally found undies and used condoms on the dance floor after dances she has chaperoned. She has to push in the middle of large grinding crowds to break up the worst of the offenders like a bouncer!

It's very hard to listen to her numerous stories (yes there are More!) and wonder how HS will be for my kids. These are NOT college students over 18, they are 14-17 year olds who need to make proper choices and need help doing so sometimes. I realize that most children aren't involved in the above behaviors but how would you like to watch that all night and then clean up after it? My teacher friend certainly doesn't want to and she wears herself out trying to keep it from being obscene.

My question to the parents & teens who defend this type of dance is ... What kind of dancing will you want your grandchild or child to defend in the years ahead? I can't even imagine how much worse the dancing can get! It's foreplay on the dance floor! And PLEASE let's not pretend it isn't!

I know teens CAN dance and have fun without the grinding!! It's been done before! ;)

I am in full support of the administration's decision; great job protecting our kids and community and leading the way in this decision. After learning about this controversy, I decided to write an article titled, "Top Ten Reasons Why Not to Grind at Homecoming." For those interested, here's the link: http://samuelkee.com/2012/09/20/top-ten-reasons-why-not-to-grind-at-homecoming/

FYI. The alternative dance was held on October 6th at the American Legion Hall. 200 tickets sold. Many students left or were thrown out of the school dance and attended the alternative dance. The LZHS chaperones were ridiculous in walking between the students, not allowing anyone to touch. Why have a dance, if you can't dance and charge the students $20-30 to attend. The alternative dance chaperones did not find the dancing offensive at all. American Legion would invite them back again. All well behaved, respectful students with no incidents. $900 was raised that has been donated to various charities.