Help make gym classes at Highland Middle School equal for boys and girls
151 Comments
W
Whitney DesLauriers
10 years ago
So proud of you Abby and Kate! Keep making a difference.
J
Jennifer Harrison
10 years ago
ABSOLUTELY!
So important for girls and boys to be treated equally.
As a professional Coach for the last 18 years, I strive to make equality a priority. I coach at the University level, but also coach adults as well as Middle schoolers. AND, trust me, it all starts when the kids are young.
If we as parents and coaches do not push for equality, what message are we sending our girls AND frankly, BOYS?
I volunteered to coach Cross Country at my kid's middle school for the last 2 years. I was shocked that they ran the boys and girls races together!
That did not allow the girls to shine - in fact, they were always just "lost in the shuffle" of the boys who were able to cross the finishing tape first.
WHY? Probably due to timing and convenience for the teachers and other adults/coaches, but I thought that was unfair.
This year we finally ran more races separated and the girls were able to shine and have "their race." It was so empowering for them. I was so proud of all these girls who wanted equality. they were so used to "following the boys" that when we finally pushed for separate races, it was like a light went off.
THAT is what it is all about.
So, good luck KATE! AND good for you and your Mom for doing this (and friends). xoo
G
gpa
10 years ago
sounds more like what the nuns wanted in 1953.....girls ARE better than
needing unnecessary/unwanted treatment LET THEM TRY at least
I
Isabel Knuteson
10 years ago
Completely agree
T
Tammy
10 years ago
It's shocking that girls can still be treated this way but even more when teachers were given examples that they didn't immediately make changes and apologize for their mistakes. If any one of these examples is partly true, the teachers and principal need some training and a reprimand from the school board. I'm floored.
A
Ana Draa
10 years ago
Come on Highland, you can do so much better for all the students of our village!
A
Anna
10 years ago
This is absolutely fantastic. Change is possible!! This problem should have been fixed ages ago. It's an easy thing fix, the admin shouldn't be avoiding this.
M
Maddy Tepper
10 years ago
I Signed this, I think this is totally unfair. . I think the "Gym Teacher" making the boys do push ups and the girls just going outside is just wrong. I can't do push- ups that well but I know some girls who can do push-ups way better than boys. As for the floor hockey I agree completely, the boys play their games in the South and North gym, while the girls play in the cafeteria and multi- purpose rooms. The boys get BOTH of the gyms and the girls are stuck with whatever is left over, (the multi and cafe) Plus the Cafe and the Multi are at most half of the other gym spaces. As for the equipment the boys wear goalie padding, helmets, sports goggles that are in excellent shape, and have special hockey sticks. While the girls have no goalie padding, helmets, goggles that are poor and no special stick. Also the girls have goggles that are greasy and you have poor vision out of, some of them are even broken and a bunch of them don't match the others and look like they were just thrown in the basket. I hope you guys reach your goal of signatures! - Maddy Tepper
T
Tom W
10 years ago
I've been a middle school PE teacher for 14 years and I would like to make a few notes on this subject.
1. Why are girls and boys being divided in PE class? It doesn't seem that FLOOR hockey and FLAG football are CONTACT sports.
2. I've had many boys not know the rules of football and many girls who can call plays when they come into my class. I would never presume that all of the girls need extra help or the all of the boys do not.
As a PE teacher, I'm sorry
C
Christine Tyll
10 years ago
This matters. A lot.
K
Kathleen quilty
10 years ago
Make equal
M
Molly Magnifico
10 years ago
I remember similar things growing up. Hope change is on the horizon for you
T
Tim Shanahan
10 years ago
Way to go, girls! It's fantastic that you're standing up for a good cause that you believe in.
HMS... I'm confident you're monitoring this... When will you provide a broad and thoughtful response?
L
Lisa McCauley
10 years ago
This is very sad.....
J
Josh gordon
10 years ago
So proud of these girls for standing up to bullies.
B
Bill Rietscha
10 years ago
Based on the response from the Neanderthals in control at the local school level, I suggest going to the school board. If that doesn't get any action then file a discrimination suit based on the IL code.
S
Susan Rose
10 years ago
"The beauty of standing up for your rights is others will see you standing and stand up as well."
-Cassandra Duffy
C
Christina Lounsbury
10 years ago
Some very brave girls started this! I do not know them, but Reeve does and is behind them all the way! After the exchange we had with the school, I am so saddened by their response. So glad these girls are not backing down!
M
Michelle Stacy
10 years ago
Do not mess with the Lounsburys when it comes to equality!
C
Christina Lounsbury
10 years ago
Featured
So proud of you all! We have informed the school that we are dismayed and incredibly concerned with both the issue and how they handled the situation. You deserve the chance to not only be heard, but to really be listened to. We hear you and are 100% behind you!
So proud of you Abby and Kate! Keep making a difference.
ABSOLUTELY! So important for girls and boys to be treated equally. As a professional Coach for the last 18 years, I strive to make equality a priority. I coach at the University level, but also coach adults as well as Middle schoolers. AND, trust me, it all starts when the kids are young. If we as parents and coaches do not push for equality, what message are we sending our girls AND frankly, BOYS? I volunteered to coach Cross Country at my kid's middle school for the last 2 years. I was shocked that they ran the boys and girls races together! That did not allow the girls to shine - in fact, they were always just "lost in the shuffle" of the boys who were able to cross the finishing tape first. WHY? Probably due to timing and convenience for the teachers and other adults/coaches, but I thought that was unfair. This year we finally ran more races separated and the girls were able to shine and have "their race." It was so empowering for them. I was so proud of all these girls who wanted equality. they were so used to "following the boys" that when we finally pushed for separate races, it was like a light went off. THAT is what it is all about. So, good luck KATE! AND good for you and your Mom for doing this (and friends). xoo
sounds more like what the nuns wanted in 1953.....girls ARE better than needing unnecessary/unwanted treatment LET THEM TRY at least
Completely agree
It's shocking that girls can still be treated this way but even more when teachers were given examples that they didn't immediately make changes and apologize for their mistakes. If any one of these examples is partly true, the teachers and principal need some training and a reprimand from the school board. I'm floored.
Come on Highland, you can do so much better for all the students of our village!
This is absolutely fantastic. Change is possible!! This problem should have been fixed ages ago. It's an easy thing fix, the admin shouldn't be avoiding this.
I Signed this, I think this is totally unfair. . I think the "Gym Teacher" making the boys do push ups and the girls just going outside is just wrong. I can't do push- ups that well but I know some girls who can do push-ups way better than boys. As for the floor hockey I agree completely, the boys play their games in the South and North gym, while the girls play in the cafeteria and multi- purpose rooms. The boys get BOTH of the gyms and the girls are stuck with whatever is left over, (the multi and cafe) Plus the Cafe and the Multi are at most half of the other gym spaces. As for the equipment the boys wear goalie padding, helmets, sports goggles that are in excellent shape, and have special hockey sticks. While the girls have no goalie padding, helmets, goggles that are poor and no special stick. Also the girls have goggles that are greasy and you have poor vision out of, some of them are even broken and a bunch of them don't match the others and look like they were just thrown in the basket. I hope you guys reach your goal of signatures! - Maddy Tepper
I've been a middle school PE teacher for 14 years and I would like to make a few notes on this subject. 1. Why are girls and boys being divided in PE class? It doesn't seem that FLOOR hockey and FLAG football are CONTACT sports. 2. I've had many boys not know the rules of football and many girls who can call plays when they come into my class. I would never presume that all of the girls need extra help or the all of the boys do not. As a PE teacher, I'm sorry
This matters. A lot.
Make equal
I remember similar things growing up. Hope change is on the horizon for you
Way to go, girls! It's fantastic that you're standing up for a good cause that you believe in. HMS... I'm confident you're monitoring this... When will you provide a broad and thoughtful response?
This is very sad.....
So proud of these girls for standing up to bullies.
Based on the response from the Neanderthals in control at the local school level, I suggest going to the school board. If that doesn't get any action then file a discrimination suit based on the IL code.
"The beauty of standing up for your rights is others will see you standing and stand up as well." -Cassandra Duffy
Some very brave girls started this! I do not know them, but Reeve does and is behind them all the way! After the exchange we had with the school, I am so saddened by their response. So glad these girls are not backing down!
Do not mess with the Lounsburys when it comes to equality!
So proud of you all! We have informed the school that we are dismayed and incredibly concerned with both the issue and how they handled the situation. You deserve the chance to not only be heard, but to really be listened to. We hear you and are 100% behind you!