Do other parents really complain?

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

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.

They did small stunts at my school and they could tumble but they weren't doing the flying and major gymnastics they do at competitions.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

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.

The videos I posted are high school teams, not all star teams.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Cincinnati, Ohio high school team

http://youtu.be/MxNtTlHFuRY


stunts and tumbling, and girls of ALL body types involved.

 

[RitaE]

Cincinnati, Ohio high school team

http://youtu.be/MxNtTlHFuRY


stunts and tumbling, and girls of ALL body types involved.

I think you'll need to look in Cleveland. Even then you'd need to look at local tradition in schooling. Around here schools in the suburbs and downstate operate extremely differently than Chicago Public.

 

[Granny square]

I tend to quote movies at my kids. (Yes, I am weird that way, but that's neither here nor there.) Anyway...

One of the quotes they hear most often is from Princess Bride: "Life isn't fair, highness. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something."

One of my favourite quotes. Both here say the others are snowflakes and ought to knife suck it up but Are unwilling to conceive of that themselves.

 

[Colleen27]

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.

As I said in one of my first posts on this thread, I can only speak to the cheer programs I am familiar with. Where I grew up and where we live now, cheer is just shaking pom poms (and rear ends) on the sidelines. I might feel differently about a more athletic, demanding, skill-driven cheer program but around here it is all about rooting on the boys. And I don't shy away from admitting I don't see that as beneficial or desirable in this day and age

I would be much more supportive of a policy like you seem to have at your school, where there's an even-handed policy of all teams/groups getting a dress code exception on game/performance days, than with the old-fashioned system of only cheerleaders getting that special treatment. Personally, I don't see much value in school dress codes and don't think doing away with them would be any big deal, but if exceptions are going to be made there needs to be a rational and even-handed basis for those exceptions. Not, as was the case in the school I attended and as it sounds like has been the case at the school in the news story, "Athletes can wear their uniforms only if they comply with the dress code." with a specific exception for cheerleaders only.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

I think you'll need to look in Cleveland. Even then you'd need to look at local tradition in schooling. Around here schools in the suburbs and downstate operate extremely differently than Chicago Public.

it's a big state, isn't it, and I'm sure there are different practices throughout the state.

 

[mhsjax]

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.

Maybe you need to check a little closer. Even back in my day in the 80's all cheerleaders had to do a back hand spring. I don't where you are from but every school around here goes to competition. They may not do these moves at the game but trust me, they are being done and if they aren't, then your schools are way behind the times. Cheerleading is being recognized as a sport and is earning respect. Maybe not for sideline cheer, but most of the time these girls do more during competition season.

I think maybe some of you need to educate yourselves on cheerleading before making comments on it, these girls are athletes

 

[FireDancer]

The videos I posted are high school teams, not all star teams.

Yes, I know there are some high school teams that do that kind of acrobatic cheerleading. I thought All-Star was the style, not a specific league. I'm not down with the lingo.

Anyway, what I meant was that is not the norm when it comes to high school cheerleading. At least not what I or anyone I know that went to school around here would have witnessed in high school. When people talk about cheerleaders they are usually talking about the style I knew. The ones that stand on the sidelines and do a little cheering. I still don't know of a single school around me that has that kind of cheering, the kind you see on ESPN from time to time. That stuff is different but it isn't the norm nor is it what I think when I hear the word cheerleader.

I'm sure there are a few schools around here that have it but they are the exception, not the norm.

Where I grew up and where we live now, cheer is just shaking pom poms (and rear ends) on the sidelines. I might feel differently about a more athletic, demanding, skill-driven cheer program but around here it is all about rooting on the boys. And I don't shy away from admitting I don't see that as beneficial or desirable in this day and age

This exactly.

 

[Granny square]

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

I am so sorry. You are right. I must have caught a different page top. I am really really sorry op

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Until my daughter developed an interest in the sport, I had no idea what was involved. I didn't go to the games so I never saw the sideline cheering, and I would never have known that there was such a thing as cheer competition.

 

[Colleen27]

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.

I felt that way too when I was younger and single. I still do from time to time because I am a city girl at heart and it has been a bit of an adjustment, even though we live close enough to Detroit that I do drive into the city for special events a few times a year. But it is a great place to raise a family - low crime, good schools, lots of parks, and the ability to give them more freedom and opportunities than we could in the suburbs we could afford - so here we are for this stage of our lives.

 

[RitaE]

Maybe you need to check a little closer. Even back in my day in the 80's all cheerleaders had to do a back hand spring. I don't where you are from but every school around here goes to competition. They may not do these moves at the game but trust me, they are being done.

I think maybe some of you need to educate yourselves on cheerleading before making comments on it.

I'm familiar with most of our close by Private schools, the local Public school and the public school at the other town that is near to us. I'm not aware of any competitive Cheer activities at these schools. There are a couple of local Gymnastics clubs that sponsor Competitive Cheer teams, but unless things have drastically changed at the schools the Cheer Squads are not competing.

Gymnastics is a fairly expensive sport so it isn't as likely in some areas that you will find enough girls with Competitive Cheer type skills to be Competitive Cheerleaders. There are a couple of schools 30 to 40 minutes from here that have a much higher average Household income. I would expect that if anybody in this area had Competitive Cheer squads in their schools it would be those schools, but I really have no idea if they do or not.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

problem solved:

http://www.krdo.com/news/compromise...flap/-/417220/21714830/-/q2fo7nz/-/index.html

 

[Lorelei Lee]

And oh, yes, these girls do stunting:

 

[luvsJack]

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.

IMHO, Friday Night Lights was a bit beyond the seriousness in most areas, although they do say it really is that serious in TX.

The high school dd attends is a 105 year old school and the alumni is one of the strongest I know of. Its more about supporting the school and its students than winning (and in FNL, it seemed that it was all about winning)

 

[JVL1018]

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.

Even my daughters rec cheer does stunts. Not everyone can do the flips, but they have had fliers since peewee cheer(3/4 grade), and by now(she's in her last year-8th grade) they are throwing those fliers around.
It's not like the All Star Cheer here, but it's not just the give me an A stuff, either.

BTW, the 3-8 graders wear their tops to school. Football and cheerleaders, both, on Friday as their games are in Saturdays.
The hs girls have football style "jerseys" (girl cut) that say varsity cheer that they wear. Im not positive, I don't have any kids in high school. But I'm pretty sure that's what they wear.

 

[sam_gordon]

problem solved:

http://www.krdo.com/news/compromise...flap/-/417220/21714830/-/q2fo7nz/-/index.html

I'm glad everyone is happy.

Oh, and for good measure...

 

[mhsjax]

I'm familiar with most of our close by Private schools, the local Public school and the public school at the other town that is near to us. I'm not aware of any competitive Cheer activities at these schools. There are a couple of local Gymnastics clubs that sponsor Competitive Cheer teams, but unless things have drastically changed at the schools the Cheer Squads are not competing.

Gymnastics is a fairly expensive sport so it isn't as likely in some areas that you will find enough girls with Competitive Cheer type skills to be Competitive Cheerleaders. There are a couple of schools 30 to 40 minutes from here that have a much higher average Household income. I would expect that if anybody in this area had Competitive Cheer squads in their schools it would be those schools, but I really have no idea if they do or not.

Cheerleading Rant coming, Totally off topic and Not directed at anyone in particular.

Well around here all the schools go, at least the public schools and that include middles schools with the exception of 1 I believe. And they fact that I can see so many cheer groups from all over the country on TV competing, I believe that those that don't ( at least on some level) are in the minority. Cheerleading is fast becoming number 1 in injuries because of the stunts and skills that these girls perform.

Also those of us with girls that cheer whether it is school or All Star tend to get a little nasty when people refer to it as girls just shaking there behinds at people. I realize that this is some of what happens, but I also see the other side. I see anywhere from 6-10 hours a week of practice, I see the concussions, broken bones, and numerous other injuries because of what these girls do.
Also this is the only team sport that I can think of that doesn't have a backup girl, if a girl is sick or injured and they ahve to compete, ususally they suck it up, there is no 2nd string. It teaches team work more than any sport I can think of.

There is a shirt out there that sums it up for me and a lot of cheer moms and cheerleaders, it says; You throw a ball for sport, big deal, I throw people. Ok my Cheer rant is over. Thanks for listening.

ETA" this is not directed at you at all, yes cheer is very expensive and that is unfortunate. Just a rant in general because of the attitudes towards cheer in general. these girls work hard and I just hate to see them put down.

 

[luvsJack]

And oh, yes, these girls do stunting:

And I would like to point out that even in the air or standing on the ground with their arms outstretched, NOTHING is being revealed. The skirts are still long enough to cover.



Also, glad they solved it to everyone's satisfaction!!

Been fun, ya'll!!