Cheerleader Drama

[donellem]

I don't expect her to be treated different. In fact, I would advocate for equality. However, I do believe that exceptions should be made for religious observations/obligations for all. If a Muslim cheerleader needed to miss part or all of a practice I would not want her/him penalized for it.

Because its a public school, should separation of church and state impose school requirements before God?

Wow that is so far from what seperation of church and state is. Seperation means that the government is not allowed to make you practice a certain religion and they cannot ban you from practicing what you believe in.
I am a cheerleading coach and all of my parents and girls have to sign a contract as well. The purpose of it is so that everyone knows the time commitment and the cost and cannot say they didn't know. Cheerleading can be a sport. When one person misses it effects everyone. I personally will allow my girls to miss certain things without consequence depending on what activity they miss. Family commitments outside of school activities will never be subject to disipline as long as I have been informed of the days they will miss.

My advice is that if it is such a big deal to you that she has to miss a game then maybe she should not be a cheerleader or in anything else that involves a time commitment for that matter.

Have you ever tried to flip the senario if she missed the religion class they will not allow her to participate in the event either. It is a matter of what you would prefer her to miss. Why do you not accuse the church of discrimination like you are of the cheerleading coach? It is the same thing you know.

 

[donellem]

I can guarantee you that, if the coach gets wind of the OP going over his head, then kiddo will see even LESS time on the field.

I had to remove a cheerleader from my squad because she kept getting in trouble and was suspended. The mom made a huge deal out of this instead of her punishing her daughter for fighting at school. She took it all the way to superintendant the final decision was that she was off the squad. I know this is a different situation but I wanted to say that even if a parent had a problem with my rules and took it to the principal they would get the same answer that was given by me. The reason for this is that I have my principal read over and approve everything I give out that is a contract so that we agree.

 

[donellem]

will the drama ever end!?

Today I went to speak with the acting summer school principle who is also the cheer adviser. He wanted to hear my concern:

"I have no problem with penalties due to missing practices due to other activities my daughter chooses to do. I also expressed that I was OK with her being penalized for missing for a religious observation and that she has also come to accept it."

My greater concern was:

"Because the agreement signed by the parent and child was a pre-condition to participate in cheer, was the school banning a portion population of the school that could not meet the commitment due to religious requirements that would otherwise participate. For example Jews and Muslims (there aren't any on the squad)."

Everytime I read your posts I think that you are always trying to cause drama. Example Track and football are at the same time so is this discriminating against the kids who like both sports because they have to choose one? This is what you are saying when you say such things. Infact life will be constantly discriminating against you and your children because there are always decisions that will have to be made, choices to made and that will be unfair to have to choose. Imagine feeling discriminated against because you are free. what a concept! Try a different country where you have no choice but to do what you are told that will make it easier for you.

 

[donellem]

I think your school should revise its cheer leading program to accommodate all religious practices and disabilities. They should also change a section of the field, where cheer leaders perform. It needs to be a hard rubber, to allow wheel chair bound cheer leaders, while preserving a cushioned space for safety. Muslims should be permitted burkas. Cheer leading advisers should allow anyone who wishes to participate to do so.

I don't agree but I kind of think you are being sarcastic. I hope you are. Should they revise football so that wheelchair bound players can play as well? There are team/squads for special needs and guess what others are not allowed to participate because they are not disabled. This country is way to sue happy. We all need to use logic to determine if something really is discriminating or not.

 

[ecmst12]

This thread has been done for a month, don't necro-post!