<p>I generally think that team tryouts should be based on ability, but this story leaves me with a bad feeling. To me there seems to be an underlying mean spiritedness about this issue in this school. I hope people don’t jump all over me, but this is a cheer team, where they cheer for the boys who are competing in sports. As such, there are no regulation league rules that must be adhered to. I am not always a fan of things that the ACLU does, because sometimes they go overboard, but in this case, I am on their side. It seems really intolerant to not look at this as an opportunity to extend themselves and try to see things from the position of this student. You have to think that they are all about good looks and other superficial stuff, rather than trying to build good character. In a different sport with more regulation rulebook type stuff, I could see more of an issue, but not in this case.</p>
<p>I think it’s a crappy thing to do. What the hell is wrong with people? Their decision may have been done “by the rules,” but rules are meant to be broken. Morally bankrupt.</p>
<p>If the cheer squad is a compteition squad, I believe in discriminating. But for hs cheering that does not involve competitions, but rather supporting teams, I think she has a case. In my hs, it was all about popularity and we were chosen by the student body. I was a varsity cheerleader that never learned to do a cartwheel. What I was happened to be cute in a uniform and who had a loud mouth for cheering. If we could find out if this is a squad that might be seen on ESPN, then I think the opinions change. Although the Supreme Court says it currently isnt a sport doesn’t mean that those who compete at the state and national level aren’t doing really athletic things that she wouldn’t be able to do. </p>
<p>But if this is leterally just football and basketball sideline sheering, then the school coudl be a contender for Worst Person in the World.</p>
<p>I can see both sides of the issue. Should she be able to cheer? Sure. But, in reading more of the story, it seems there were only a few (maybe one?) open spots. Would it be fair to choose this young lady over another (possibly more talented) young lady? I would not want to have been one of the judges. </p>
<p>Should someone be discriminated against because of a disability? Certainly not. But, should she be chosen because she is disabled? That wouldn’t necessarily the right solution either.</p>
<p>In the grand scheme of things, what harm could come from putting her on the squad? Hasn’t she been dealt enough crummy cards? Can’t they let her have ONE activity that she obviously wants so badly before graduating from high school? It’s cheer leading, not brain surgery.</p>
<p>It would be interesting to see the score sheets. We’ve had issues like former gymnasts (terrific tumblers) not making the squad…turns out, they didn’t have the smiley/bouncy thing down. Maybe this girl didn’t either.</p>
<p>I am surprised that they made accomodations in the tryout routine for her. How do you cut some girls because they don’t jump high enough or tumble well enough, but then allow a girl who can do neither to make the squad?</p>
<p>I am really leaning toward schools having two squads: spirit and competitive. The spirit squad could be based mostly on enthusiasm, etc.; there could be more of them, so they could cover more sports. The competitive team could be chosen on the basis of tumbling, stunts, dance, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t see what’s the problem. She couldn’t do certain things a cheerleader needs to be able to do, so she wasn’t selected. I am sure there are many things she is capable of doing, so pursue that. I always wanted to be a model, but unfortunately I was 7 in too short, so I became a boring number cruncher.</p>
<p>I think the issue is that it’s a “cut sport” - something for which there are tryouts. If she cheers, someone else can’t.</p>
<p>I’ve only seen this type of issue come up in cheer and dance, maybe because I know folks in those activities. Do kids with physical disabilites similar to hers show up for basketball or volleyball tryouts? If a girl without hands or legs showed up for softball tryouts for four years, what would happen?</p>
Sounds like this girl has made the most of her life despite her disabilities, so it’s not as if this was her only chance to participate in activities. She and her family seems to think the process was fair and are accepting the result–who are we to think otherwise?</p>
<p>While my heart goes out to this young woman, she cannot do what cheerleaders do, even on a team that does not compete. Could they make a spot for her to be a mascot ( and don’t flame me, I mean she could wear a costume and yell and do some arm movements). She could be part of the squad.</p>
<p>I am a big believer in accommodations for disabilities to create a level playing field and to enable people to excel, but at the end of the day, people with disabilities have to be able to perform on a par with non-disabled folk. It’s not entirely clear what the cheerleaders in this school do. If it is the competition-oriented, gymnastics kind of thing they do in places like Texas, then one would need to have very high performance standards. If, on the other hand, it is shouting “Push em back, push em back, waaay back” and looking cute, it’s not clear what the standards ought to be. They probably shouldn’t be popularity. </p>
<p>It is unclear that the school district did anything discriminatory here – although this is their third pass at it and it was negotiated with a lawyer – so previous passes may have been questionable. If accommodations don’t enable the kid to be superior to others trying out, and if the standards being applied are sensible given the purpose of the team (e.g., can do flips but not is a popular girl whose boyfriend is the captain of the football team), I would not be too concerned in this case. If it is because she looks different and isn’t popular, I would be more concerned.</p>
<p>Walker says: “Their decision may have been done “by the rules,” but rules are meant to be broken.” And also "“Hasn’t she been dealt enough crummy cards?” </p>
<p>I don’t think your position is fair to anyone, or even logical. So if the daughter of the school’s wealthiest donor family tries out for softball but can’t hit a single ball, she should make the team anyway? If a group of football players go out drinking on a Saturday night, they should not have their athletic privileges suspended even though it is against the athletic code of conduct? And now because we feel sorry for someone–let’s say, a 350-pound kid who wants to run track, but in actuality can’t run 50 meters–we should all vote on what “crummy” means and step in to “improve” his life?</p>
<p>I think it would be one thing if this girl’s accommodations came in the way of prosthetics that allow her to do all the things “regular” cheerleaders do–jump, do the splits, hold pom pons in her mechanical hands. If she were able to perform at the level of girls with real arms and legs who made the team, and was still cut, I would have an issue with it. But in this case, the “accommodations” themselves seemed extreme. We ALL have limitations. We can try our best to overcome as many of them as possible. But they still exist.</p>
<p>I think that schools should give a great deal of thought to whether they make particular activities cut or no-cut.</p>
<p>If this is a competitive cheerleading squad, then having tryouts and cuts makes sense. And if this girl didn’t score high enough, then of course she shouldn’t qualify. </p>
<p>But if this is simply cheering on the sidelines at sports events, why should anyone – able-bodied or disabled – be cut? Why can’t all students who want to be part of this activity be welcome? If it means that there are 100 kids along the sidelines leading cheers, well, great!</p>
<p>I find your examples illogical. Apples and oranges. A 350 lb kid couldn’t run track because he couldn’t pass the physical and he could die trying to run. Wealthy kids parents “buy” advantage and game the system in their own way all the time. Kids drinking underage is illegal. Not the same thing. In a non competitive capacity, there is no reason why she can’t be a cheerleader. It’s not lowering the bar as you suggest, it’s giving her a chance to contribute as she has in other areas. it’s not about feeling sorry for her. It’s about being nice and paying it forward and teaching kids that being nice is sometimes more important than being fair.</p>
<p>Sounds as though the student put much effort to qualify for the cheer squad and is no doubt disappointed. So, how about that non-competitive squad? Our DD cheered for several years at her out of district special needs school. That varsity jacket is still one of her most cherished items. She’s a great dancer, has a loud and enthusiastic voice and it always encouraging to those on the team. We’re happy she had that opportunity even though not at her typical in district school.</p>
<p>Why can’t there be two teams so there’s a place for the less competitive?</p>