While square dancing is not widely taught in schools today as it once was, there are still some schools that do offer square dancing as part of their physical education curriculum or as an extracurricular activity.
Here are a few reasons why square dancing may not be as prevalent in schools as it once was:
- Changing Educational Priorities: Education curriculum has shifted over time to prioritize academics and core subjects, such as math, science, and language arts. As a result, subjects such as physical education and creative arts may receive less focus or time allocation in many schools.
- Limited Resources: Square dancing requires a certain level of space, equipment, and resources, which may be limited in some school environments. This may make it challenging for schools to accommodate square dancing activities during regular class time or as an extracurricular activity.
- Changing Interest and Trends: Student interest and preferences in physical activities and extracurricular pursuits may change over time. The rise of other popular sports, dance forms, and extracurricular activities may have redirected student interest away from square dancing.
- Curriculum Standards: Physical education curriculum standards set by state or national education boards may not explicitly include square dancing or prioritize its inclusion. This can influence how schools allocate time and resources for teaching various physical education activities
2. Licensed dance callers not allowed to teach public schools
There is no widespread or systematic prohibition on licensed dance callers teaching in public schools. Whether a dance caller can teach in a public school depends on several factors and varies by school district and state regulations.
Dance instruction, including square dancing, is generally provided by qualified physical education teachers, dance educators, or certified instructors. Dance callers usually specialize in leading and calling square dances, which is distinct from teaching dance technique or choreography.
Here are some points to consider regarding dance caller involvement in public schools:
- Qualifications: Teaching in public schools typically requires proper certification and qualifications. Dance callers may have expertise in leading square dances but may not possess the necessary teaching credentials or education background required for public school teaching.
- Curriculum Alignment: Dance callers primarily focus on leading square dances and may not be trained to teach dance as part of a comprehensive physical education curriculum that covers various dance styles and skills.
- School policies and regulations: Each school district has its policies and procedures for hiring teachers and instructors. They may require teaching candidates to meet specific qualifications and undergo screening processes before being allowed to teach in public schools.
Therefore, while licensed dance callers may be skilled at leading square dances, they may not be directly involved in teaching square dancing in public schools due to factors such as curriculum alignment, teaching qualifications, and school district policies.