Introduction

Elmwood Park staff should allow students to host a winter dance at the high school this year, as it could significantly boost the school spirit as well as student involvement. The primary reason the school is not planning a dance is due to the concern over lack of attendance and interest. However, winter-themed dances and events are a longstanding tradition in high schools worldwide, not just at EPHS. Furthermore, these events have a far greater impact on students than we might realize.

The History of the Sadie Hawkins Dance

In November 1937, the “Sadie Hawkins Dance,” better known today as a “Turnabout,” came to be. It originated from cartoonist Al Capp, who created a series of comic strips telling the story of Sadie Hawkins, a shy 35-year-old struggling to find love. The plot begins with Hezekiah Hawkins, the wealthiest man in the town of Dogpatch, Kentucky, and Sadie’s father. Worried that Sadie would never find a husband, he gathered the town’s bachelors and proposed an idea: if Sadie caught a man, she would marry him. The eligible bachelors were given a head start to run away from Sadie, who then chased after them. Sadie was known as the “homeliest gal in all [the] hills,” meaning she was considered the least attractive woman in town. Once she caught someone, she would step on his feet to prevent him from running further.

Despite its brutal backstory, Capp’s release of this comic strip issue surprisingly received positive feedback from female audiences. While it followed the stereotype that women needed to marry to achieve success, many described the Sadie Hawkins strips as “empowering” and “encouraging,” inspiring women to take the initiative and ask men out—or, in this case, chase them. After the comic strip’s release in 1939, over 200 colleges held Sadie Hawkins dances—social events where traditional roles were reversed, and women were encouraged to take the lead by asking men to attend as their date—to “break traditional school dance etiquette” (Barbinger, 2022).

School Spirit and Extracurricular Activities

Ivelisse and I started at EPHS after graduating from Elm Middle School in 2023. The summer before school began, we felt a mix of emotions—nervousness, excitement, happiness—all the feelings that come with starting high school. Like many of our classmates, we were looking forward to the school-spirit activities we thought we’d have, especially after seeing schools around us with so many opportunities. However, when school started, we quickly realized that many of these events were no longer happening.

Over the years, EPHS has discontinued numerous sports that students were once passionate about, such as badminton, majorettes, girls’ synchronized swimming, swimming & swimming timers, bowling, gymnastics, and boys’ tennis. Additionally, clubs like the Informal Egghead Society, Debate Club, language clubs, Pep & Spirit Club, CO-OP, and others have also disappeared. Removing these beloved activities has not only weakened student involvement but also diminished school spirit. As clubs and sports declined, so did participation in events like dances and football games. At one time, EPHS held a variety of dances, including a Halloween dance, masquerade ball, toga dance, sock hop, Valentine’s dance, and more.

There could be several reasons for this decline in student participation. These may include a decrease in community fundraising for schools, a lack of student interest, limited awareness of opportunities, or the district and community allocating time and money elsewhere. For instance, the number of students who do not attend dances or games is striking, especially given that EPHS is a public school with around 950 students in a town with a population of approximately 23,000 to 25,000.

One way to address this issue could be by bringing back the Spirit Club. This club focuses on promoting school pride and enthusiasm by organizing events such as pep rallies and the annual homecoming parade. It could also involve decorating for games, creating posters or flyers for clubs and sports, and encouraging students and community members to attend events. Reintroducing initiatives like the Spirit Club could help improve attendance at school activities, such as a winter dance, and foster greater student involvement and enthusiasm in the future.

What can we do?

Possible solutions that make a dance possible:

• Fundraise: Having fundraisers will help us have a bigger and nicer dance.
• Spread the word: Creating flyers, posters, and telling our friends and family will inform everyone about the event.
• Become more involved: This increases school spirit and helps us stay motivated.
• Get administration and student council involved: These people can help plan and organize the event.

With the significant number of students who do not attend school dances and events, it is a noteworthy issue that deserves attention. Addressing this trend requires understanding the underlying reasons behind their absence and finding ways to make these events more inclusive and appealing. By fostering a more engaging and welcoming environment, EPHS can encourage greater participation and enhance the overall student experience.

Works Cited:

• How does elmwood park high school rank among America’s best high schools? (n.d.-a). https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/illinois/districts/elmwood-park-community-unified-school-district-401/elmwood-park-high-school-6726  

• A&E Television Networks. (n.d.-a). McCarthy‑army hearings begin | April 22, 1954. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mccarthy-army-hearings-begin

• Dailymail.com, E. S. F. (2023, November 13). The origin of national Sadie Hawkins day: How a comic strip that saw a man desperate to marry off his “ugly” daughter encouraged a generation of women to “Chase” men down for a date. Daily Mail Online. ihttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12744343/National-Sadie-Hawkins-Day-origins-comic-November.html