A single mother in Georgia didn’t want her 6-year-old daughter to be excluded from her school’s father-daughter dance. Being that she considers herself both a mother and father to the girl, Amy Peterson decided to accompany Gracie, who had been wanting to go. Peterson bought a ticket and even dressed up as a man, fake beard and all, but an hour before the dance, officials at Locust Grove Elementary School told her she was not welcome.
The district told Atlanta’s WSB that they apologized to Peterson and pledged to refund her money. They said other mothers in Peterson’s situation were told that they could not attend, as per the school’s rules. “I think they handled it poorly,” Peterson said. “They’re already being bullied, why be bullied by the school too?”
“It was explained that the dance announcement indicated that in lieu of a dad being available to attend, any family or friend father-figure could attend. There are three different dance events the school hosts throughout the year to include everyone,” the district said, referring to the father-daughter dance, a mother-son dance, and another dance where students could bring anyone. “The school is cognizant that different dynamics exist across households in our school system. Anyone with a question as to the requirements or specifics of any school extracurricular event is encouraged to reach out to a school official or teacher.”
Peterson was not satisfied with the school’s treatment of children with single parents. “I think they handled it poorly,” she said. “They’re already being bullied, why be bullied by the school too?”
[Image via WSB screengrab]
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