The Other McCain

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11-Year-Old’s Mom Gets Upset About Middle School’s Online Dating Site

Posted on | February 28, 2010 | 10 Comments

You’ve got to admit this could get kind of creepy:

ELWOOD, Ind. – Most parents agree that matchmaking Web sites and surveys are games mainly adults should play, but some say Elwood Community Schools has been getting students in on the action.
Parent Michelle Everett says her 11-year-daughter recently brought home a survey from school. The survey is a fundraising tool used by the school corporation for the middle school drama club. Students pay a buck or two each and a computer matches compatible boys and girls in grades six through 10. The more they pay the more matches are found.
“I don’t believe that at 11 years old a school should be promoting opposite sex matching,” said Everett. “A tenth grader matched with a sixth grader? And the school promoting it and it’s inappropriate.” . . .
“When I started to read it and it said a list of the members of the opposite sex that are the most compatible for you, that you can buy the list. I thought ‘red flags, red flags’,” said Everett. . . .
“I think it is promoting kids to be with the opposite sex at a young age,” Everett said.

Of course, according to the rules of modern media, it’s impossible to have a story like this without expert commentary:

Dr. Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist and Fox News contributor, agreed the fundraiser could have some negative consequences.
“It encourages adolescents to consider their relationships just as ‘adult’ as any other relationships typically kindled by ‘matchmaking,’” Ablow said. “This could certainly lead them to believe they are ready to engage in adult encounters.” . . .
“Adults creating a system that makes them ‘matchmakers’ for children is psychologically indefensible,” Ablow said.

How many alumni of Elwood Community Schools will one day make their national TV debut on Dateline NBC with Chris Hansen?

Category: Education, Sex

Comments

10 Responses to “11-Year-Old’s Mom Gets Upset About Middle School’s Online Dating Site”

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    February 28th, 2010 @ 11:01 am

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  2. uberVU - social comments
    February 28th, 2010 @ 11:36 am

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by smitty_one_each: TOM: 11-Year-Old’s Mom Gets Upset About Middle School’s Online Dating Site http://bit.ly/aJSM6F…

  3. Rich Fader
    February 28th, 2010 @ 5:47 pm

    What could possibly go wrong?

  4. Rich Fader
    February 28th, 2010 @ 12:47 pm

    What could possibly go wrong?

  5. The Javelineer
    March 1st, 2010 @ 12:35 am

    What Rich said.

  6. The Javelineer
    February 28th, 2010 @ 7:35 pm

    What Rich said.

  7. Adrienne
    March 1st, 2010 @ 7:17 am

    Ugh!!

  8. Adrienne
    March 1st, 2010 @ 2:17 am

    Ugh!!

  9. Dharmarajan
    March 1st, 2010 @ 11:18 am

    Our world is changing fast and these are the signs of changing times.

    Let’s hope for the best.

  10. Dharmarajan
    March 1st, 2010 @ 6:18 am

    Our world is changing fast and these are the signs of changing times.

    Let’s hope for the best.