Utah principal slammed for forcing 11-year-old girl into 'awkward' slow dance with boy she didn't like
An 11-year-old has claimed that she was forced by her school principal to dance with a boy she didn't like during a ball on Valentine's Day despite repeatedly saying no.
Azlyn Hobson, a student at the Rich Middle School in Laketown, Utah, had turned down a boy's offer to dance during the school's Valentine's Day ball. Except, the principal intervened saying she couldn't say no. According to Daily Mail, Kip Motta, the school principal told her saying no was against the rules.
Her mother, Alicia Hobson, took to Facebook on February 19 after hearing about the incident where she posted a lengthy statement. "NO MEANS NO" read the post's opening line. "A kid at school that makes my daughter uncomfortable asked her to dance at the school dance on Valentine's Day."
"She tried to say no thank you, and the principal overheard and intervened and told her she's not allowed to say no and that she has to dance with him." She also added that Azlyn had told her that the dance with the boy was awkward.
"She ALWAYS has the right to say no," Hobson said. "Boys don't have the right to touch girls or make them dance with them. They don't. If girls are taught that they don't have the right to say no to boys, or that saying no is meaningless, because they'll be forced to do it anyway, we will have another generation who feels that rape culture is completely normal."
Hobson also said she had reached out to Motta but he told her the school wouldn't be changing its policy. "He said my option is to either accept this policy or keep my daughter home from school when they have a school dance.
The post also read: "I emailed the superintendent and told him the response I got from the principal and asked him if he has anything to add to that, but he has not responded. He has been copied on all emails since this incident happened and is well aware of the situation, but has not said a word so far."
According to KTSU, Motta explained that all students, male and female, are asked to accept invitations at school dances which was part of the physical education curriculum. "We believe in that 100%. We also believe that all children should be included in activities. The reason for the policy as we have had it (in the) past is to make sure no kids feel like they get left out."
"We teach them how to ask someone to dance. We teach them how to accept dancing. We ask all students to ask someone and we change it up. Sometimes it’s girls' choice, boys' choice. It doesn’t matter. We mix it all up. No one was forced to do anything," he said, according to Fox 13 TV.