Help make gym classes at Highland Middle School equal for boys and girls
151 Comments
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I'm a 2007 alum of Highland and am so proud of these girls for standing up for what they believe in!
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
As a parent of 3 children who have gone through Highland, 2 of whom are girls, we confirm that the girls' statements all accurately reflect their experience at Highland. The handling of this issue is another example of this principal who blindly stands by his teachers without first investigating situations that are brought up by parents. Issues only get resolved at this school when the superintendent gets involved. But most parents don't go to the superintendent, which is why this school has a negative reputation in our community. Why doesn't such a strong district have a strong middle school leader?
M
Molly Gottfreid
10 years ago
Great jobs girls!
A
Alex Goldberg
10 years ago
I was in middle school 15 years ago and boys and girls were never split up. Not even in high school. Gym is about physical education and being active. Let the kids play!
J
Jennie Peters
10 years ago
Times have changed and so has the culture. Just because things have always been that way, that does not make it right. Very disappointing this is allowed to happen in 2016.
M
Megan Anderson
10 years ago
For my nieces who are skilled and tough enough to play with the boys!
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
As an alum of HMS I'm very proud that these girls are taking a stand and speaking up about their issues and concerns with the gym program.
J
Juli Noll
10 years ago
Bring it to LHS too!
B
Ben Tankel
10 years ago
I agree this does happen and it should stop. * speaken from a boy's perspective*
S
Stephanie Sundberg
10 years ago
Former alumna of HMS, I'm excited to see you taking a stand!
C
Concerned about equality at Highland
· petition starter
10 years ago
Keep the examples of gender bias and the encouraging comments coming! We appreciate it and hope the school is watching and will let us know soon how it will address these issues and make changes so that girls and boys are educated equally!
K
Katie Suttie
10 years ago
I remember being kicked out of our volleyball team practice space when it rained so the football team could practice inside at LHS. Same anger.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Great job fighting for equal treatment! It's impressive that this group of girls didn't give up at the first sign of pushback from the school administration.
K
Karin Steffensen
10 years ago
Featured
As a mother of 3 children who will attend Highland in the future, I thank the brave authors of this petition. I hope the school administrators will see this petition as an opportunity to implement the necessary changes to rectify any and all unnecessary gender biased practices at the school.
M
Mary Lou Drott
10 years ago
You go girls. You have a lot of bias to overcome. Just look at the girls soccer teams complaints in the news lately. You are absolutely correct that there are a lot of bigoted assumptions about boys and girls and sports. You have handled yourselves well. Change occurs in small steps-keep stepping forward!!
A
ali day
10 years ago
Its 2016 people !!! Girls and boys should be treated absolutely equally!!!
M
Mary-Sara JOnes
10 years ago
Great job detailing the specifics, staying objective and making a case for change. "Because that's the way it has always been done" is one of the most common excuses for failing to strive for a better, more equitable future. Keep this in mind as you go through life and meet others who also struggle against the status quo. Share your success!
H
Hannah Faber
10 years ago
This is unfair for girls. This school should be ashamed of itself. Schools are supposed to be places if equality and inclusions and this sickens me. I am so disappointed.
V
Victoria
10 years ago
I never went to Highland but I am beyond ashamed to even hear what discrimination is going on there. I have never experienced that kind of sexism first hand but for girls to have that happen in 2016 is beyond hurtful and disgusting. I hope you continue to get the support you deserve. Whoever you are that wrote this did an outstanding job! Keep it up! Change is near
L
Lisa Richardson
10 years ago
This type of gender bias is infuriating. An educational institution in 2016 cannot possibly believe that these thinly veiled messages are anything but sexist. Highland is, and always was, behind the times. Whether the issue was teaching students about mental health (which you refused to do), allowing students students to express their gender identity (which you also refused to do when you forced a female student to conform to a dress code for graduation), or showing bias toward male students, as in this case, Highland proves that it does not and will not work in the best interest of its students. This administration is the laughingstock of all suburban schools. Something must change for this school to give the students what they deserve.
I'm a 2007 alum of Highland and am so proud of these girls for standing up for what they believe in!
As a parent of 3 children who have gone through Highland, 2 of whom are girls, we confirm that the girls' statements all accurately reflect their experience at Highland. The handling of this issue is another example of this principal who blindly stands by his teachers without first investigating situations that are brought up by parents. Issues only get resolved at this school when the superintendent gets involved. But most parents don't go to the superintendent, which is why this school has a negative reputation in our community. Why doesn't such a strong district have a strong middle school leader?
Great jobs girls!
I was in middle school 15 years ago and boys and girls were never split up. Not even in high school. Gym is about physical education and being active. Let the kids play!
Times have changed and so has the culture. Just because things have always been that way, that does not make it right. Very disappointing this is allowed to happen in 2016.
For my nieces who are skilled and tough enough to play with the boys!
As an alum of HMS I'm very proud that these girls are taking a stand and speaking up about their issues and concerns with the gym program.
Bring it to LHS too!
I agree this does happen and it should stop. * speaken from a boy's perspective*
Former alumna of HMS, I'm excited to see you taking a stand!
Keep the examples of gender bias and the encouraging comments coming! We appreciate it and hope the school is watching and will let us know soon how it will address these issues and make changes so that girls and boys are educated equally!
I remember being kicked out of our volleyball team practice space when it rained so the football team could practice inside at LHS. Same anger.
Great job fighting for equal treatment! It's impressive that this group of girls didn't give up at the first sign of pushback from the school administration.
As a mother of 3 children who will attend Highland in the future, I thank the brave authors of this petition. I hope the school administrators will see this petition as an opportunity to implement the necessary changes to rectify any and all unnecessary gender biased practices at the school.
You go girls. You have a lot of bias to overcome. Just look at the girls soccer teams complaints in the news lately. You are absolutely correct that there are a lot of bigoted assumptions about boys and girls and sports. You have handled yourselves well. Change occurs in small steps-keep stepping forward!!
Its 2016 people !!! Girls and boys should be treated absolutely equally!!!
Great job detailing the specifics, staying objective and making a case for change. "Because that's the way it has always been done" is one of the most common excuses for failing to strive for a better, more equitable future. Keep this in mind as you go through life and meet others who also struggle against the status quo. Share your success!
This is unfair for girls. This school should be ashamed of itself. Schools are supposed to be places if equality and inclusions and this sickens me. I am so disappointed.
I never went to Highland but I am beyond ashamed to even hear what discrimination is going on there. I have never experienced that kind of sexism first hand but for girls to have that happen in 2016 is beyond hurtful and disgusting. I hope you continue to get the support you deserve. Whoever you are that wrote this did an outstanding job! Keep it up! Change is near
This type of gender bias is infuriating. An educational institution in 2016 cannot possibly believe that these thinly veiled messages are anything but sexist. Highland is, and always was, behind the times. Whether the issue was teaching students about mental health (which you refused to do), allowing students students to express their gender identity (which you also refused to do when you forced a female student to conform to a dress code for graduation), or showing bias toward male students, as in this case, Highland proves that it does not and will not work in the best interest of its students. This administration is the laughingstock of all suburban schools. Something must change for this school to give the students what they deserve.