High school, district sorry for sign
SHARE THIS STORY
An Alabama high school principal issued an apology Monday after an offensive "Trail of Tears" banner featured at the school’s football game Friday went viral.
Tod Humphries, the principal at McAdory High School in McCalla, Ala., wrote on the school's website that the racially charged sign below, which references the forced relocation of Native Americans during the 1830s, "was not condoned by the school administration, the Jefferson County Board of Education or the community."
Instagram/madisoncain7
"The person who would normally be responsible for approving such signs is out on maternity leave, and I take full responsibility that arrangements were not made to have the signs pre-approved before the ballgame," Humphries wrote, referring to Friday’s playoff game against the Pinson Valley High Indians.
SHARE THIS STORY
An Alabama high school principal issued an apology Monday after an offensive "Trail of Tears" banner featured at the school’s football game Friday went viral.
Tod Humphries, the principal at McAdory High School in McCalla, Ala., wrote on the school's website that the racially charged sign below, which references the forced relocation of Native Americans during the 1830s, "was not condoned by the school administration, the Jefferson County Board of Education or the community."
Instagram/madisoncain7
"The person who would normally be responsible for approving such signs is out on maternity leave, and I take full responsibility that arrangements were not made to have the signs pre-approved before the ballgame," Humphries wrote, referring to Friday’s playoff game against the Pinson Valley High Indians.
GO DEEPER!
For true college football fun, news, analysis and more, check out all the latest from Clay Travis at Outkick The Coverage.
"Please accept our sincere apologies to the Native American people and to anyone who was offended by the reference to an event that is a stain on our nation’s past forever."
Subsequently, Jefferson County Board of Education Superintendent Stephen Nowlin posted his own message to the county's web site. In acknowledging Humphries' original message, Nowlin wrote:
"The cheerleading squad will be disciplined. The sponsor of the cheerleaders was on maternity leave and the sign was not approved in advance by the school administration. The principal is asking all social studies teachers to teach each grade a lesson about the real Trail of Tears. We can use this unfortunate event as an important teachable moment. We apologize to all Native Americans and to any person who was offended. Our curriculum department will ensure that all students in the future will have a lesson on the Trail of Tears."
Humphries also added in his note that all social studies and history teachers at McAdory High (whose nickname is the Yellowjackets) will review the history of the Trail of Tears and the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
McAdory’s football team defeated Pinson Valley 34-17 and will hit the road to face unbeaten Southside-Gadsden in a 5A state quarterfinal game Friday.
For true college football fun, news, analysis and more, check out all the latest from Clay Travis at Outkick The Coverage.
"Please accept our sincere apologies to the Native American people and to anyone who was offended by the reference to an event that is a stain on our nation’s past forever."
Subsequently, Jefferson County Board of Education Superintendent Stephen Nowlin posted his own message to the county's web site. In acknowledging Humphries' original message, Nowlin wrote:
"The cheerleading squad will be disciplined. The sponsor of the cheerleaders was on maternity leave and the sign was not approved in advance by the school administration. The principal is asking all social studies teachers to teach each grade a lesson about the real Trail of Tears. We can use this unfortunate event as an important teachable moment. We apologize to all Native Americans and to any person who was offended. Our curriculum department will ensure that all students in the future will have a lesson on the Trail of Tears."
Humphries also added in his note that all social studies and history teachers at McAdory High (whose nickname is the Yellowjackets) will review the history of the Trail of Tears and the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
McAdory’s football team defeated Pinson Valley 34-17 and will hit the road to face unbeaten Southside-Gadsden in a 5A state quarterfinal game Friday.
By CHRIS TOMLINSON8 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A conservative student group announced Monday they will play a "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game" this week on the University of Texas at Austin, drawing condemnation from Democrats and a threat of expulsion from campus officials.
The Young Conservatives of Texas have planned the game for Wednesday. Club members will wander the campus wearing signs that say "illegal immigrant," and students who capture them and take them to the Young Conservatives' recruiting table will get $25 gift certificates.
"The purpose of this event is to spark a campus-wide discussion about the issue of illegal immigration, and how it affects our everyday lives," a statement posted by the group's spokesman, Lorenzo Garcia. The group did not immediately reply to several emails sent by The Associated Press.
The Texas Democratic Party pounced on the posting, condemning the game and pointing out that Garcia recently was a paid staffer with Republican Greg Abbott's gubernatorial campaign. The Democratic party has been pushing Abbott to state his position on a Texas law that allows children brought into the country illegally by their parents to receive in-state tuition, legislation called the Texas DREAM Act.
"While Abbott has said he doesn't support the DREAM Act as it is, he refuses to say what he would change and if he supports it at all," state Democratic chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said. "He must come out and immediately denounce Wednesday's event. This style of hatred and fear is not the type of leadership Texas deserves."
Abbott's Press Secretary, Avdiel Huerta, said the "campaign has no affiliation with this repugnant effort."
Many top Republican candidates have promised to repeal the Texas DREAM Act. Students affected by the law frequently stage protests on the Austin campus demanding changes to federal immigration law.
Gregory Vincent, the university's vice president for diversity, said students who participate in the game Wednesday would be exercising their freedom of speech "to the detriment of others."
"The YCT is contributing to an environment of exclusion and disrespect among our students, faculty and staff by sending the message that certain students do not belong on our campus," Vincent said in a statement. "If the members of YCT carry out their plan ... they are willfully ignoring the honor code and contributing to the degradation of our campus culture."
Students found guilty of violating the honor code could face expulsion.
___
No comments:
Post a Comment