The new principal of North Stanly High School seems to have his hands full already.
On August 30th, a group of high school cheerleaders posed for a photo in which one of the cheerleaders and young man held up a large banner that says: Trump 2020 “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”. Apparently this has garnered disappointment with some people who didn’t agree with their political message, and although there have been no major punishments issued, The North Stanly High School team has been chided and chastised with a slap on the wrist, being told they are on probation for the rest of the season by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
The commissioner of the association issued a statement: “One of the rules we have is that every contest should be conducted in a wholesome, athletic environment,” Que Tucker said. “We take that to mean that it’s in an environment where good sportsmanship is shown, where people feel safe…that respect for all people participating is being shown.”
No violations of any current code of conduct were cited though, and Superintendent Dr. Jeff James Dean Shatley says they are likely to update the code to include ‘rules against political campaigning on school campuses during sporting events’.
A Facebook event has popped up for September 20th hosted by a ‘Jay Thaxton’ although it’s hard to see if he’s one of the related students or not. On the event, being held at “NORTH Stanly HIGH School” the description reads:
“The North Stanly High School cheerleaders have been wrongly put on probation by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for the rest of the football season because of holding up a Trump banner before a home game on 8-30-2019. Please come out and help me show the school and the NCHSAA that freedom of speech is not dead. Please bring all your Trump and MAGA gear and lets throw our support behind the North Stanly High School cheerleaders.
Also please call the Commissioner (Que Tucker) 919-240-7375 of the NCHSAA and let her know that the 1st amendment of these girls has been stripped by putting the cheerleaders on probation.”
SEE EVENT BELOW:
