Dirty Dancing

Abstract

This case was developed for use in courses that focus on policy and legal issues in the preparation of school and district leaders. It employs a “real-life” current issue, freak dancing, that has created headlines across the country as school leaders attempt to confront and deal with it. In Southwestern Regional School District, some parents, teachers who were dance chaperones, and building administrators are upset by the kind of dancing they witnessed at a recent high school dance. The school principal, in an attempt to provide the proper guidance to students, banned certain kinds of dancing at school dances. In response, a student appears at a public meeting of the school board and alleges that students' right of freedom of expression have been violated. The board of education directs the superintendent of schools to investigate and return to the board with a report and recommendation.