Posted on 07/14/2011 2:31:36 PM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears
Nebraska girl born with no arms and legs has blamed unfair scoring after she failed to make her school's cheerleading squad three years in a row.
Julia Sullivan, 16, has complained to the school board after she said she was given 'no accommodation for her disability' during try-outs.
The wheelchair user did not make the team after she received a low score in the jumps/kicks category of the trials.
Miss Sullivan got her highest marks in the communication skills and enthusiasm/spirit categories.
The Aurora High School student, who said that she likes to dance, said: 'I just think it would be fun.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I do not.
Or do you think the Cheerleading squad should make up a special position for “uncoordinated” people that want to join.
Again, since we're not dealing with competitive cheerleading, I don't see what coordination has to do with being on a cheer squad. In fact, because of the risk of serious injury/death, I'd go so far as to say that non-competitive high school cheer squads shouldn't be doing the types of stunts that require athletic ability beyond that which this girl possesses. But that's neither here nor there. Other girls can continue to do pyramids and flips.
This is high school cheerleading, for goodness sakes. She is required to hold up a sign that says "GO TEAM" and wave pom poms. She can do this. Comparisons to flying planes and driving taxis and being in the NBA are asinine.
It is TOTALLY reasonable to require members of the cheer leading squad to be able to do the things they are expected to do.
Yeah. Like hold up a sign and cheer when the team scores a touchdown. Check and check.
Which is why I said instruments made for a blind person to read. All sorts of information-transmitting devices have been modified to work for blind people.
Thanks for the understanding and compassion. Things are more clear now.
She's already made the band.
She strikes a cymbal with her arm in some manner. That's as I understood it.
>> “GO TEAM” and wave pom poms. She can do this. Comparisons to flying planes and driving taxis and being in the NBA are asinine.
<<
Why should she be placed at the front of the line, ahead of others who COULD meet the physical requirements as defined by the team?
Other girls tried out and didn’t score highly enough, either.
Not meaning to sound harsh, but isn’t this “affirmative action” all over again?
Anyways I am reminded of a cadence some marine buddies taught me while running:
MY GIRLFRIEND HAS NO ARMS OR LEGS
ALL SHE HAS IS LITTLE PEGS
MY GIRLFRIEND HAS HANDS OR FEET
SHE JUST HAS LITTLE CHUNKS OF MEAT
asnine? I should sue you!
A fair question, and I have two responses. The first is that the article, while not entirely clear, appears to assert that she had high enough marks to make the squad but for her marks in jumps and kicks, which she obviously failed due to her disability. It strikes me as perfectly fair to allow her to make the team based on her acceptable scores in the other categories, the same way I wouldn't expect an otherwise qualified dumb girl to be excluded from the cheer squad simply because she was incapable of yelling after the team scored a touchdown.
My second response, perhaps beyond the point of this article, is that I'm a bit puzzled as to why there are "cuts" for the cheer squad in any event. We're dealing with a high school extra curricular activity; it should be open to all interested. And before you ask, I'd say the same thing about sports, too. While obviously not everyone would be capable of making the varsity teams, high school sports should be more about teaching character, teamwork skills, and sportsmanship. Cutting interested people from these activities promotes none of these values, many of which are sorely lacking from our society.
Our high school cheerleaders did a lot more than hold a sign and wave pom poms. They did pyramids, jumped in the air and did splits. Sometimes the gals would carry other cheerleaders on their shoulders during a cheer. I suppose someone could try and wear her as a hat, but I dunno....
Why should she be placed at the front of the line, ahead of others who COULD meet the physical requirements as defined by the team?
Other girls tried out and didn’t score highly enough, either.
Not meaning to sound harsh, but isn’t this “affirmative action” all over again?
Bears repeating over and over and over.
Perhaps so. But these activities are not required to excite the crowd and, as I noted before, perhaps not advisable due to the high risk of serious injury or death. Moreover, as I also pointed out, her inclusion on the squad doesn't prevent other girls from doing these things if they so desire.
Do you contend that the crowd would be affirmatively de-excited, if you will, by her presence? "Gee, I'd really love to cheer for the team, but I can't believe the girl in the wheelchair is holding up a sign that says 'GO TEAM.' I just don't know how I could cheer after seeing such a sight."
She fully and correctly expected nothing more than to be treated fairly and equally like any one else...except for that "special accommodation" thingy.
OK, that was completely stupid.....but funny ;-)
haha
Next the school will have to disband the cheerleading squad because it’s all just so unfair and then PE and then the school dances and then ...
That’s my dad for ya.
Brutal but realistic.
He also said if I’d been tall, I would have taken over the world so my lack of size was a blessing for everyone ~else~.
:)
Leni
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