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AIBU?

To raise it with the school as my dd 5 is dancing to 'blurred lines' by robin thicke in her after school dance club?

188 replies

leolion · 12/10/2013 15:17

Hi there, I would welcome your views on the above. Just found out that they have been practicing a dance to the above song at my dd's after school dance club (5 to 7 year olds). I am very very uncomfortable with this. I know the children will not understand the underlying message of the song, but I still find it wrong on so many levels.

I will likely upset a few people as the dance teacher is a mum at the school, and she is otherwise, a great and popular teacher. I know I could withdraw my dd from the dance class but it just seems wrong that this song is even playing in a primary school at all.

So am I being unreasonable to raise it with the head?

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LittleBairn · 12/10/2013 15:20

No YANBU it's a disgusting song for little kids to dance too. I would seriously be concerned about the staffs lack of judgement if this is what the deem appropriate.

TheOneAndOnlyAlpha · 12/10/2013 15:21

It's an awful song. I'd be there like a shot. YA definitely NBU.

BraveMerida · 12/10/2013 15:21

Blurred lines indeed, where DO you draw the line? What about Britney Spears for example?

So much of pop music nowadays have inappropriate lyrics.

McFox · 12/10/2013 15:22

You certainly aren't being unreasonable, I would be livid!! Get them told, it's totally unacceptable.

neolara · 12/10/2013 15:23

I'm pretty laise-faire about most school things, but I wouldn't be happy about this. Instead of goign in all guns blazing though, I'd ask the teacher if she has actually listened to the lyrics and understands what they are implying. If she has, and she still wants to use it, then she is an absolute nutcase.

manicinsomniac · 12/10/2013 15:29

I don't know the song but YA probably not BU.

It can be tricky though. I teach dance and so many of the songs the children are keen to dance to are inappropriate.

My Y5/6 dance club chose that 'sticks and stones may break my bones but whips and chains excite me' song. It was an interesting conversation:
Me: no, you can't do that song.
Them: Why not? It has a good beat.
Me: It's inappropriate
Them: Why?
Me: Errrrr ....
Them: Is it because it says 'sex'
Me: Yes! Yes, it is just don't ask what kind

AnaisHellWitch · 12/10/2013 15:33

The lyrics in the rap are enough for it to be inappropriate for small children let alone the wrongness of the message.

McFox · 12/10/2013 15:39

Given the messages that this song is sending about women, I feel that it's inappropriate for grown ups, never mind children!

reelingintheyears · 12/10/2013 15:40

Yuck.

Jinsei · 12/10/2013 15:41

I don't know the song, but wouldn't want my dd to dance to lyrics that I considered inappropriate - she generally learns all the words and likes to sing along. YANBU.

HotCrossPun · 12/10/2013 15:43

YAsoooooooNBU. It's a disgusting song that is totally demeaning to women.

iheartdusty · 12/10/2013 15:46

i just googled the lyrics, it is a revolting song and truly offensive.

Could you print out the words, and give them to the dance teacher and ask her whether she could use a different song instead? seems a bit heavy handed to go to the head teacher.

Jinsei · 12/10/2013 16:16

OMG I said yanbu earlier but have just googled the lyrics out of curiosity and YADNBU!!! They're disgusting! Who in their right mind would want a bunch of small kids dancing to that?

Panzee · 12/10/2013 16:21

I really don't know what's wrong with some people . Our primary head got the school choir to sing I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. Completely inappropriate but if the head approves what are you supposed to do?

Pawprint · 12/10/2013 16:22

"I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two" - Hmmm not a lyric I would like too see a small child dance to.

itsn0tmeitsyou · 12/10/2013 16:25

YANBU. Like Jinsei said, my 6yo DD picks up the lyrics of any song and will go about singing it. Can just imagine her dancing around singing 'You know you wannit..... what rhymes with hug me". Delightful.

SirChenjin · 12/10/2013 16:29

My child would not be dancing to that song.

I wonder if the dance teacher has actually listened to the lyrics? If she has, and she still thinks that it's OK for 5-7 year olds to dance to that then I would be looking for another dance school and would be making a formal complaint. I feel that strongly about this song, the pornification of some music genres and the messages that we are giving out to young people by saying it's OK.

MardyBra · 12/10/2013 16:41

YANBU. It's been banned from several university campuses. It has no place in an infant school.

itsn0tmeitsyou · 12/10/2013 17:42

OP I would try to talk to another few mums as it's highly likely they will object too, and go in together. Much easier for you, and for her to not just consider you a fussy mum or somesuch.

hermioneweasley · 12/10/2013 17:45

YANBU. I feel guilty humming along (it's just so catchy, dammit), I woukd go ballistic if it was being used in ANY school, including a 6th form. Taking in messages of blurred lines of sexual consent subliminally is not a good idea.

GiveItYourBestShot · 12/10/2013 17:46

You might need to show the teacher this to really make the point. I posted a link on FB and someone who is pretty intelligent really hadn't made the connection until she saw it spelt out like this.

www.psmag.com/culture/mouths-rapists-lyrics-robin-thickes-blurred-lines-66569/

leolion · 12/10/2013 18:19

Thanks for your responses. I have decided that I will approach the teacher herself about the song as it's most likely she hasn't stopped to consider the lyrics, rather than understanding the meaning and not caring. I think this is half the problem with this sort of movement in pop culture though- we don't stop to think about the content of songs and in turn are sending out these covert but very powerful messages to our sons and daughters.

That said though, I don't want to turn this into a huge deal for the teacher in question and the school, so I will not be going in there all guns blazing, although that is what I feel like doing.

Thanks again. Knew I would get sense out of you lot!

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imofftolisdoonvarna · 12/10/2013 18:22

YANBU. I once walked past the after school dance club at my (primary) school and they were dancing to the britney song 'Three' which is about...threesomes!

Also listened to a lovely but rather inappropriate rendition of ed sheerans 'the a team' by an 8 year old a couple if years ago at our talent show.

I suppose loads of songs that kids listen to are pretty inappropriate really. However 'blurred lines'..... Well that really does cross a line doesn't it! I would go and speak to the dance teacher I think.

imofftolisdoonvarna · 12/10/2013 18:24

How anyone can miss the meaning of 'blurred lines' is beyond me - 'your a good girl' 'I know you want it' 'I hate these blurred lines' - oh so cryptic

GiveItYourBestShot · 12/10/2013 18:28

She said "oh my god, I'd never thought of it like that." I tried not to do this face

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