Do other parents really complain?

[FireDancer]

How many Pep rallies do schools have?? Ours has ONE and it is right before homecoming. For football games you are lucky if parents come to see it never mind people without a kid on the team! Its just not that big of a deal here.

I think we had maybe 2 a year. I think I went to one high school football game my entire 4 years. You might get some alumni at playoff games but really it is just a fraction of current students and their parents that go to games. There might be one or two schools that are exceptions but most just don't pack stadiums. Other than some friends that are teachers and go to support their students I can't think of a single friend that went back to see a high school football game past maybe the first few years because they still knew kids from younger grades.

To be honest I really never understood the appeal of going back and seeing games at your high school once you graduated. I loved high school and had a lot of fun but as soon as I was gone I never had any desire to go back and see sporting events there. Just seems odd and kind of clinging to the past. My school can win the championship or not win a game and it is all the same to me. Unless I have to drive by a stadium I don't even realize it is high school football season most of the time.

 

[sam_gordon]

NO that isn't true. WE tell our kids all the time that life isn't fair. My DD may try out next year, does it stink that she can't wear her uniform (if she makes it) on game days, Yep 100%. But it is that way it is, I don't like it but oh well tough., "life isn't fair" .

Wait, what? It "stinks" if cheerleaders aren't allowed to wear their uniform to school? It's only "fair" that they do? Are they somehow being "wronged" by being told they need to stay in dress code during school?

 

[Sorsha]

Lol We quote "life's not fair (complete with english accent) from The Lion King. They are teens and we still do it.

Apparently I have been hanging out on Facebook too much... the Dis needs a "Like" button.

Anything with an English accent is automatically funnier. (My apologies to those UK DisBoard members)

 

[Sorsha]

I think we had maybe 2 a year. I think I went to one high school football game my entire 4 years. You might get some alumni at playoff games but really it is just a fraction of current students and their parents that go to games. There might be one or two schools that are exceptions but most just don't pack stadiums. Other than some friends that are teachers and go to support their students I can't think of a single friend that went back to see a high school football game past maybe the first few years because they still knew kids from younger grades.

To be honest I really never understood the appeal of going back and seeing games at your high school once you graduated. I loved high school and had a lot of fun but as soon as I was gone I never had any desire to go back and see sporting events there. Just seems odd and kind of clinging to the past. My school can win the championship or not win a game and it is all the same to me. Unless I have to drive by a stadium I don't even realize it is high school football season most of the time.

Our high schools (there's two in our small town, but they share a stadium - just play home games at different times) can always pack the (albeit not terribly large) stadium and play to a full house.

It is something to go do on a Friday evening that doesn't involve a bar, is not too expensive, is an autumn tradition, has fun food, and is a way to show support for the local kids. The younger kids want to go watch the kids they look up to, and everyone likes to watch the marching band.

It is just all about tradition, and supporting the kids.

 

[Colleen27]

Ok so I will spell it out for you. I guess that is what I have to do. No,not for everyone, but the cheerleaders should. Double standard, YEP. Too flippin bad. These girls had to purchase these uniforms, they wear them during school sanctioned events, then they are good enough to wear to school on game day. Should these same girls be allowed to wear mini's of their own choosing on other days NOPE. But hey life isn't fair, DEAL WITH IT.

Did I answer your question? I will state my answer again. Cheerleaders should 100% be allowed to wear the uniform on game day, all other skirts not allowed.

And that's where a lot of the "cheerleader hate" comes from - the idea that being able to shake pom-pom and look cute in a micro-mini entitles a girl to preferential treatment compared to girls who choose other activities. Every. Other. Athlete. has to find a dress-code-friendly way of displaying his/her team colors/uniform on game days, but cheerleaders are just oh-so-special and shouldn't be required to do the same.

Most people don't admit to the open standard, but that's what it comes down to - something about cheerleading entitles them to better treatment than the student body as a whole and even than the real athletes who are out there on the field/court competing.

If you want to argue that the uniform isn't within in the school dress code, fine. But you can't then say its ok to wear other things that are out of the code. Like, jeans and t-shirts when everyone else has to wear khakis and polos. Or football jerseys when everyone else has to wear a polo. Or even a cheer top and pants when everyone else is in school uniforms.

If you want to argue that the uniform isn't appropriate for school at all because its too short or its "vulgar" as stated in the article or anything about the length of the skirt or the sleeveless top then the uniform should not be considered appropriate for cheering at the games.

IMHO, you can't have it both ways.

I don't think most people are coming at this from the super-strict dress code that your schools have, though. I know I'm not, and the school in the news article isn't either because on their web site they list what looks to be a pretty typical public school dress code - rules against short-shorts/skirts, tank tops, vulgar/violent imagery on clothing, etc. At my kids' schools, all sports teams have ways of wearing their uniforms or team gear without violating dress code (cheer included). I don't see anything unreasonable about that.

If you don't mind my asking, what general area do you hail from?

High school football is well attended here. But we only have one pep rally a year. Classroom time is too important. For better or worse.

Here too, and football is practically religion. Attendance at varsity football games regularly exceeds the population of our town, but they still don't waste class time on weekly pep rallies.

 

[mhsjax]

Wait, what? It "stinks" if cheerleaders aren't allowed to wear their uniform to school? It's only "fair" that they do? Are they somehow being "wronged" by being told they need to stay in dress code during school?

YOu are exhausting person and I will no longer reply to your questions.

 

[mhsjax]

And that's where a lot of the "cheerleader hate" comes from - the idea that being able to shake pom-pom and look cute in a micro-mini entitles a girl to preferential treatment compared to girls who choose other activities. Every. Other. Athlete. has to find a dress-code-friendly way of displaying his/her team colors/uniform on game days, but cheerleaders are just oh-so-special and shouldn't be required to do the same.

Most people don't admit to the open standard, but that's what it comes down to - something about cheerleading entitles them to better treatment than the student body as a whole and even than the real athletes who are out there on the field/court competing.



I don't think most people are coming at this from the super-strict dress code that your schools have, though. I know I'm not, and the school in the news article isn't either because on their web site they list what looks to be a pretty typical public school dress code - rules against short-shorts/skirts, tank tops, vulgar/violent imagery on clothing, etc. At my kids' schools, all sports teams have ways of wearing their uniforms or team gear without violating dress code (cheer included). I don't see anything unreasonable about that.



Here too, and football is practically religion. Attendance at varsity football games regularly exceeds the population of our town, but they still don't waste class time on weekly pep rallies.

Yep that is it in a nut shell. Cheerleaders wore their uniform to promote school spirit the day of the game it was REQUIRED, IMHO i think it was a great idea. I think it is sad that some of you think pep rallies are a waste of time. There is more to life than class time. Shave a few minutes off of each class and it isn't a problem, if you can't afford this amount of time, there must be bigger issues at your schools.

ETA and if I am to be even more honest. What other athlete would want to wear their uniform, they are UGLY. Cheer uniforms are generally cute. Sorry but it is the truth.

 

[sam_gordon]

YOu are exhausting person and I will no longer reply to your questions.

That's fine. I won't guarantee I won't ask them though.

 

[Colleen27]

I think we had maybe 2 a year. I think I went to one high school football game my entire 4 years. You might get some alumni at playoff games but really it is just a fraction of current students and their parents that go to games. There might be one or two schools that are exceptions but most just don't pack stadiums. Other than some friends that are teachers and go to support their students I can't think of a single friend that went back to see a high school football game past maybe the first few years because they still knew kids from younger grades.

To be honest I really never understood the appeal of going back and seeing games at your high school once you graduated. I loved high school and had a lot of fun but as soon as I was gone I never had any desire to go back and see sporting events there. Just seems odd and kind of clinging to the past. My school can win the championship or not win a game and it is all the same to me. Unless I have to drive by a stadium I don't even realize it is high school football season most of the time.

I think it is a small town thing - in my community there's no pro sports, no performing arts venues, no nightlife at all unless you're the type to enjoy the local dive bar. High school athletics are huge, especially football. Band is big too. And we have excellent programs for both - a football team that makes regular appearances in the state finals and a nationally-honored music education program.

There's also the everybody-knows-everybody factor. With close to a hundred kids involved in the football program and over a hundred in band (of <600 HS students), in a town where many people have roots that go back generations, just about everyone has a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor, cousin, or friend involved in the Friday Night Lights scene in some way.

 

[luvsJack]

And that's where a lot of the "cheerleader hate" comes from - the idea that being able to shake pom-pom and look cute in a micro-mini entitles a girl to preferential treatment compared to girls who choose other activities. Every. Other. Athlete. has to find a dress-code-friendly way of displaying his/her team colors/uniform on game days, but cheerleaders are just oh-so-special and shouldn't be required to do the same.

Most people don't admit to the open standard, but that's what it comes down to - something about cheerleading entitles them to better treatment than the student body as a whole and even than the real athletes who are out there on the field/court competing.



I don't think most people are coming at this from the super-strict dress code that your schools have, though. I know I'm not, and the school in the news article isn't either because on their web site they list what looks to be a pretty typical public school dress code - rules against short-shorts/skirts, tank tops, vulgar/violent imagery on clothing, etc. At my kids' schools, all sports teams have ways of wearing their uniforms or team gear without violating dress code (cheer included). I don't see anything unreasonable about that.



Here too, and football is practically religion. Attendance at varsity football games regularly exceeds the population of our town, but they still don't waste class time on weekly pep rallies.

To the bolded: Sorry but your idea that cheer is only about fitting the uniform and shaking pom poms is dead wrong and insulting to cheer leaders.

And our school doesn't waste class time either. Its built in so that there is time for working with advisers (why its called adviser schedule), go to assemblies or special events and for pep rallies. They still have their 90 minutes of class in each block.


As for the rest, breaking dress code is breaking dress code right? Regardless of what school it is. Or are you saying because our kids wear uniforms, its ok for the cheer leaders to break dress code but if it was a more liberal dress code it wouldn't be?

If there is a dress code that says you can't wear t-shirts, are you ok with breaking that dress code? Or is it only the cheer uniform that breaks it to the point of no return.

Whether our dress code is stricter or not, everyone keeps saying that its never ok for a kid to break dress code; so then it is NEVER ok. And it seems to me that is the argument, at least on the surface.

I think that most are truly not arguing about whether its ok to break dress code but whether they approve of cheer and the cheer uniforms.

 

[Sorsha]

I think it is a small town thing - in my community there's no pro sports, no performing arts venues, no nightlife at all unless you're the type to enjoy the local dive bar. High school athletics are huge, especially football. Band is big too. And we have excellent programs for both - a football team that makes regular appearances in the state finals and a nationally-honored music education program.

There's also the everybody-knows-everybody factor. With close to a hundred kids involved in the football program and over a hundred in band (of <600 HS students), in a town where many people have roots that go back generations, just about everyone has a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor, cousin, or friend involved in the Friday Night Lights scene in some way.

Yes, exactly!

DD18 was heavily involved in the music program, and I am on a first-name basis with the director and a lot of the kids. I will go to the games to support the band and sing the fight song with them.

Besides, what use would I get out of my Glacier High hoodie otherwise, now that DD has graduated, and DD13 won't be a freshman for 2 more years?

 

[FireDancer]

I think it is a small town thing - in my community there's no pro sports, no performing arts venues, no nightlife at all unless you're the type to enjoy the local dive bar. High school athletics are huge, especially football. Band is big too. And we have excellent programs for both - a football team that makes regular appearances in the state finals and a nationally-honored music education program.

There's also the everybody-knows-everybody factor. With close to a hundred kids involved in the football program and over a hundred in band (of <600 HS students), in a town where many people have roots that go back generations, just about everyone has a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor, cousin, or friend involved in the Friday Night Lights scene in some way.

Maybe. I saw Friday Night Lights (the movie not the series) and always thought it would be a special kind of hell to live somewhere that takes high school athletics that seriously. It just seems from what I've seen like places without much else going on. Like you said, no large variety of nightlife besides dive bars. I'm not knocking it if it is the kind of place you like though, I just know I'd hate it personally.

 

[Sorsha]

Like you said, no large variety of nightlife besides dive bars. I'm not knocking it if it is the kind of place you like though, I just know I'd hate it personally.

Just depends on how you were raised and if you are "city folk" or "country folk".

I was raised right where I live, and is most definitely small-town. We have no nightlife (except in the winter, when they open up night skiing ), you have to drive 2 hours to find the nearest decent mall, the weather sucks (IMHO) 6 months out of the year, etc. When I was a kid I told myself repeatedly that, first chance I got, I was SO outta here.

Problem was, when I left, I found out that I was SO not a city person. I can't stand the noise, the sheer numbers of people, the traffic, etc. I get claustrophobic just standing in line at the grocery store because there are SO. MANY. PEOPLE pressing all around me. having "nightlife" didn't do me any good because if I went out in it I feared for my life!

So now, I am back. And it is quiet, and peaceful, and (6 months out of the year) I am surrounded by the most beautiful scenery I could want, and my kids are safe and there are good schools and the list goes on. So yeah, I sacrifice a lot of culture and entertainment, but to me it is worth it.

I totally understand how, to a city person, it is going to work just the opposite though.

 

[mamacatnv]

People only want to say Life isn't fair and deal with it when it is applicable to others. Because every time people start throwing around rude terms about others and saying they are "entitled" the reverse is true.

Both of the extremes (those who think that the snowflakes are jealous and the snowflakes can't survive without wearing their short skirts) believe their way is the only way that is right.

There was a sneer in the op and there have been sneers in return.

So maybe both sides need to compromise. Doubt it will happen. People would rather be self righteously "right."

I wrote the original post and I don't think there was any type of sneer in it at all.

We are recent transplants to central TX. Tonight is the opening game and its a home game. There are all sorts of things going on. The high school stadium seats 10,200 - never ever have I seen a high school stadium of this magnitude! We have been warned to arrive early as it will sell out, we plan to be at the ticket booth when it opens. I love high school football, my DS played all 4 years of high school but in a NV school, nothing like a TX school when it comes to football. Everyone and I mean everyone has done nothing all week but talk about football at all the various schools in the region. High school and college. These folks know their stuff, they spew facts and stats like its no ones business. I am in awe of their knowledge and love of the game

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Shaking pom poms and looking cute?

there's a little more to it than that:

http://youtu.be/ZS1Nxb4YqPY


http://youtu.be/kkMaY4k8U6E

 

[HippieChickadee]

I think cheerleader skirts are against most dress codes (too short). BUT, if someone in authority feels the skirts are "too vulgar", then they shouldn't issue them to the girls to begin with.

To get around the dress code, have the girls wear just their uniform tops (and pants/shorts/skirts that follow dress code) on game days. When I was in HS (many moons ago), team members wore their jerseys and "normal" bottoms on game days.

I was in high school 10 years ago and they never wore the skirts- just tops

 

[sam_gordon]

To the bolded: Sorry but your idea that cheer is only about fitting the uniform and shaking pom poms is dead wrong and insulting to cheer leaders.

And our school doesn't waste class time either. Its built in so that there is time for working with advisers (why its called adviser schedule), go to assemblies or special events and for pep rallies. They still have their 90 minutes of class in each block.


As for the rest, breaking dress code is breaking dress code right? Regardless of what school it is. Or are you saying because our kids wear uniforms, its ok for the cheer leaders to break dress code but if it was a more liberal dress code it wouldn't be?

If there is a dress code that says you can't wear t-shirts, are you ok with breaking that dress code? Or is it only the cheer uniform that breaks it to the point of no return.

Whether our dress code is stricter or not, everyone keeps saying that its never ok for a kid to break dress code; so then it is NEVER ok. And it seems to me that is the argument, at least on the surface.

I think that most are truly not arguing about whether its ok to break dress code but whether they approve of cheer and the cheer uniforms.

I personally think if you're going to have a dress code, apply it equally across the student body. No special consideration if they're a cheerleader, athlete, or chess player. If you want cheerleaders to be able able to wear their full uniforms on game days, or athletes to wear their jerseys, write that into the dress code.

 

[FireDancer]

Shaking pom poms and looking cute?

there's a little more to it than that:

http://youtu.be/ZS1Nxb4YqPY


http://youtu.be/kkMaY4k8U6E

There is the acrobatic All-Star cheer stuff but I don't know of a single high school around here that has that kind of cheerleader. Not a single one. When someone says cheerleader I think what most everyone else I know thinks and what we all had in high school. Girls who dressed hot, did little cheers on the sidelines of sporting events, and maybe got into a pyramid once or twice a year at a pep rally. No flipping or throwing or gymnastics. Most probably couldn't even cartwheel.

Unless someone specifies the gymnastics kind of cheer just saying cheerleader evokes "give me an A, Give me a G...", not choreographed gymnastics.

 

[mamacatnv]

There is the acrobatic All-Star cheer stuff but I don't know of a single high school around here that has that kind of cheerleader. Not a single one. When someone says cheerleader I think what most everyone else I know thinks and what we all had in high school. Girls who dressed hot, did little cheers on the sidelines of sporting events, and maybe got into a pyramid once or twice a year in a pep rally. No flipping or throwing or gymnastics. Most probably couldn't even cartwheel.

Unless someone specifies the gymnastics kind of cheer just saying cheerleader evokes "give me an A, Give me a G...", not choreographed gymnastics.

One of the requirements for all cheer applicants at my DS's high school in NV was the ability to perform hand springs and back flips - it was a prerequisite to even attend tryouts

We went to a community pep rally the other night. DD's school has cheer and a dance team. The dance team danced (very very well I might add) and the cheerleaders cheered, tumbled, sent other cheerleaders flying high into the air etc. These girls are all athletes, these are not fluffy oh look at my ta-ta's and bits type of teams. I was beyond impressed at their abilities.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

How many Pep rallies do schools have?? Ours has ONE and it is right before homecoming. For football games you are lucky if parents come to see it never mind people without a kid on the team! Its just not that big of a deal here.

We had a pep rally the Friday of every football game. If the basketball, volleyball, tennis, track, baseball, softball, etc. team made it to the playoffs, they would get a pep rally, as well.



For the person saying it was a small town thing, I don't agree. My town had two high schools (one of which is one of the largest in our state) and everyone in the town is affiliated with one of the high schools. The whole town turns out for the football games. One of the schools has a homecoming parade and everyone from that side of town comes out for it. Football is a very big deal down here, be it peewee, junior high, high school, college, or pro. It's just what is.




Oh, and for the record, the dance team at my high school had two uniforms. One was one that they wore while they were in the stands doing bleacher dances and smaller cheers and the other one they change into just for their half time performance that had all kinds of sparkles and such on it. The dance team wore the first uniform I described all day. The band had a specific uniform that they wore, as well. The color guard had a special game day outfit that they got to wear at school. The football team wore their jerseys. Each of these had some aspect of their uniform that didn't fit the dress code 100% but who cares? It was a special occasion and was part of the uniform that the school had deemed acceptable.