School social events policy
The AEU recognises the importance of school community events to celebrate stages in young adults' lives. These can include graduations, formals, socials and similar events, including debutante balls.
AEU (Vic) asks teachers/educators to examine with students how to shape an event that reflects contemporary gender roles in society and the multiplicity of ways to be a young woman or man.
Specifically, if a debutante, or presentation, ball or similar event is to be introduced or conducted in a Victorian Government school, educators should work with students:
- To examine the meaning of such an event to young people
- To develop ways to more fully involve young people in the format and shaping of an event around positive meanings
- To examine the history and purpose of debutante balls.
Educators should also work with students to identify ways to modernise events to ensure a community celebration of young adults in all their diversity. For instance:
- To pay particular attention to inclusion of gay and lesbian, disabled, indigenous and CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) people.
Educators should also consider issues of:
- Cost and financial burden
- The focus on appearance and sex role stereotyping that can form a focus of such events
- Different family structures students can come from.
This policy is supported by AEU(Vic) Women and Girls Policy, AEU Federal Policy on Gender Equity, Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995, the Federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 and the Federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
