School under fire for telling kids they ‘can’t say no’ when they’re asked to dance

A school is facing criticism for telling children they "can't say no" when they're asked to dance.

Mum Natalie Richard was told by her daughter that at her upcoming Valentine's Day dance, her classmates would not be allowed to say no when asked to dance. The children are between the ages of 11 and 12-years-old. The Utah mum told Fox13 that she originally thought her daughter misunderstood. However, after speaking to the school herself, she realised she was correct. She said:

“The teacher said she can’t. She has to say yes. She has to accept, and I said, ‘Excuse me.’" “It sends a bad message to girls that girls have to say ‘yes’; sends a bad message to boys that girls can’t say ‘no.' “Psychologically, my daughter keeps coming to me and saying I can’t say ‘no’ to a boy."

School communications relations specialist Lane Findlay said that the rule is in place to make the dance more "inclusive." He said:

“Please be respectful, be polite. “We want to promote kindness, and so we want you to say yes when someone asks you to dance.”