As a typical high school teen, I understand the need for self-expression. I, like so many others, am still defining myself, experimenting with new styles, hobbies, and ideas.

My generation, has, however, gravitated toward some common, arguably distasteful, cultural ideals. Thanks to MTV, VH1, and the rest of Hollywood, American teens are accustomed to cursing in public, refusing belts when they are desperately needed, and singing along with overtly sexual lyrics.

An especially defining staple of twenty-first century teen-dome is the ever-controversial style of dance: “grinding.”

Grinding has invaded Middletown High School dances to the point where there are very few options left for those who choose not to participate. Dancing for the current generation involves mainly facing the same direction, bumping and swaying to thunderous bass music.

Parents are, not surprisingly, taken aback by such a dance style. It contrasts dramatically with what was considered “in” when they were young, and such a jarring difference is unnerving for any parent.

As strikingly different as the dance style may be, more disconcerting to parents are the values the cultural phenomenon promotes, or, rather, lack thereof.

Parents are fully aware of our need to define our generation; they suffered the same battles with their parents decades ago. They are not, however, simply enforcing rules for the sake of enforcing rules; they have perfectly sound, if controversial, reasoning for their actions.

They argue that such dancing is sexually suggestive, and it is difficult to deny such a claim. Even those in favor of students dancing as they choose cannot argue that grinding has no sexual implications.

In fact, such dancing focuses less on connecting with one’s partner through music as it does simply being as provocative as possible while still within limits.

Limits are being lowered, and within reason.

Grinding is, for many, an inappropriate form of dance. Even for students who argue that it is within their basic rights to express themselves however they wish, they are missing a crucial point: parents are still in charge.

MHS students are still grounded when it comes to parental guidelines. Even for those who have passed the eighteen-year mark, they must abide by school policies, unfair or not.

In this case, parents are simply looking to protect their loved ones from negative influences. It is one of their final opportunities to set a good example for their children before they are sent off on their own.

If restricting our means of self expression at prom will make our parents feel more comfortable, it is a sacrifice high schoolers need to be mature enough to make.

MHS students need to stop looking at the new set of guidelines as tyrannical restrictions; it is an opportunity to prove their maturity and self-control to the adult crowd. If students can accept such policies, and not purposefully violate them for the sake of violating them, the rules very well become more relaxed.

At the moment, however, students’ previous dance behaviors have hardly convinced parents and teachers of our trustworthiness.

They have taken steps to compromise theirs needs and the students’ needs. It is the students’ turn to take action and prove they are mature enough to handle such responsibility.

Perhaps, instead of considering such policies a restriction, they should look at it as what it is being promoted as: regulation.