Aitken Elementary School Boy’s Choice Sports Dance Cancelled

The cancellation of a March 24 dance for Aitken Elementary School students resulted in a flood of social media posts over the weekend.

The wording on the flyer promoting the event noted: “All Grades (Pre-K-5). Any student that identifies as a boy or Non Binary are welcome to participate.”

The event was going to be held at Envision Hotel in Mansfield.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Boy’s Choice event will be cancelled for this evening,” Aitken Principal David Graf wrote Friday.

Speculation on social media claimed the event was cancelled due to protests from outside groups.

Both candidates running for an open seat on the Seekonk School Committee shared their thoughts on Facebook.

“It is absolutely deplorable for anyone to want to protest at a children's function,” Bernie Luger wrote. “If a person disagrees with the school district's policies that allow a dance like this to happen, then the proper place to protest is at the school committee meetings or the superintendent's office - not at a place where children will witness adults arguing with one another and deliberately trying to make others uncomfortable. That may have a place in politics, but not in the presence of our children.”

“It was very unfortunate to hear the news about the Aitken Boys Sports Dance being canceled last evening,” Kyle Juckett wrote on Saturday. “It was also unfortunate to see my opponent use this as a political opportunity to create yet more division within the town of Seekonk.”

Juckett said the wording on the flyer could have been less divisive.

“Simply utilizing ‘all families are welcome’ would have demonstrated respect for those differences, while also being inclusive to all,” Juckett added. “Now is the time that we unite and advocate for the health and well-being of all of our children and our community, and put a stop to unnecessarily stoking the fires of division.”