Trying out for school teams is apart of many adolescents’ lives when it comes to growing up.
Whether it’s for a sports team like basketball or cheerleading, or an academic team like mathletes or the debate team–tryouts are a great way for young people to learn the value of hard work and dedication. However, not all students and kids “make the team.” In fact, many don’t. The process, however, usually inspires them to work harder and try again next year.
This, however, is no longer the case for high school students in New Jersey. One school is now issuing an “inclusion policy” for their cheerleading team after a parent complained about her child not making the squad.
Now, for students at Hanover Park High School, if you decide to try out for the cheerleading squad–you automatically get a place on the team. There are two levels of cheer teams–one for 9th and 10th graders, and another for 11th and 12th graders. After parents complained of the cheerleading tryouts as being “unfair,” the school decided to allow just about anyone to join the team.
The school’s Superintendent told BuzzFeed News:
Our goal in doing so was to include more opportunities for those who want to be on the squad. We had a shortage of members on the team, so our goal was to get more participants onto the team for a full squad.
However, other students and parents do not see it that way. Many cheerleaders practice for months, even years, to make it onto the cheerleading squad. The outraged community members attended a Board of Education meeting to protest the new inclusion rule. Some students were in tears over how their hard work has now gone out the window.
Stephanie Krueger was in tears when she told the board:
“I tried my hardest. Now everything is going away because of one child who did not make the team. Their parent complained so now all my hard work has been thrown out the window.”
New Jersey high school lays out “inclusive” cheerleading policy: All students who try out will make cheer team#movingUSforward ?? pic.twitter.com/0TbVYxMdqH
— The Scoop (@thescoop_us) May 11, 2018
In my honest opinion, if you’re going to make one team “inclusive to all,” then every team in the school should be “inclusive.” It’s unjust to make only a girl’s team inclusive in order to make sure student’s feelings aren’t hurt. I don’t think that any football coaches, basketball coaches, or baseball coaches would be okay if the high school decided to let everyone on the team–right? It’s unfair to single out one team in the entire school, without issuing the rule across the board.
On Twitter, people have shared in the outrage and said it’s unfair.
As a former cheerleader who spent years of her life training, this breaks my heart for the girls that did the same. This “inclusive policy” throws all their hard work out the window. The cheerleading system at that school will fail because competitive cheerleaders won’t try out. https://t.co/SYxOoz4vkG
— Ash ? (@lilalienash) May 14, 2018
Mothers who baby their kids like this need to realize that they’re not doing them a favor; kids that have everything handed to them will NEVER make it in real world. This generation is so sensitive & knows nothing about hard work. https://t.co/V0FaVNoykB
— Siℓviα (@SilviaRev) May 13, 2018
This inclusive cheerleading policy is bs. I didn’t make the volleyball team and I didn’t go crying to my mom about it.
Boo hoo, not everyone’s gonna make it everywhere— Alex? (@aleks0__0) May 14, 2018
I am 100% against the inclusive cheerleading policy.
— Liyah ?? (@liyahshanelle) May 14, 2018
What is the point of working hard to achieve something when anyone can do it without effort??? Life is full of disappointments & growing up is learning how to deal with it. Getting a new job does not make you automatically the CEO!
— Carole Fahrner (@CaroleFahrner) May 11, 2018
New Jersey school tosses out talent, ability.
Now says anyone can be cheerleader after mom whines her daughter wasn’t picked. #NewNormal #schools #education #moms #dads #kids #MondayMotivationhttps://t.co/lbtDiqr4ll— Beverly A. Pekala (@PekalaLaw) May 14, 2018
While they’re at it, they should create a policy where everyone that applies to be teacher, or principal, or counselor should automatically get the job.??
— Andrew Go (@go_andrew) May 12, 2018
Hey, I know…How about working HARDER to make the squad?
— Charlie Sanborn (@charliesanborn) May 12, 2018
Dude, it’s called skill.
You kinda have to have skills in order to make the team.
That’s why they call it TRYOUTS.
Sometimes you try, but it just doesn’t work out.
Here ya go..here’s your participation trophy we all know you’re seeking.?https://t.co/JznGBTACUt— hzahaley⚡Axiom (@hzahaley) May 14, 2018
That mother did not do her child any favors she should teach her child what hard work is, this will negatively impact her in the long run. What happens out in the real world when she can’t get her way?
— Robert (@TheAlchemist235) May 12, 2018
Other people didn’t see it as such a big deal.
Im not demeaning cheerleading in any way. But the idea of being angry over someone wanting to make a team inclusive is little compared to things that are life changing things. Cheerleading is serious , but making a big deal over the making the team inclusive is not serious.
— Anthony (@TranthamThomas) May 14, 2018
This could b a good thing towards building school community and friendships among the kids!! There’s been several debates about allowing boys/handicapped kids into elementary cheerleading so idk I think an inclusive school spirit squad type thing would b awesome
— alaina (@astralaina) May 10, 2018
I mean i think it’s a good idea though?? Some people work sooo hard to make the cheerleading squad and don’t make it https://t.co/NBRAKuAee5
— sam james (@asiangurlthe2nd) May 7, 2018
You do realize that there are cheerleading coaches that won’t pick the fat girl or the nerdy girl to be on the squad even if they are talented right? I’m all for inclusion, they are kids for Christ sakes. https://t.co/Fr3LBi01gg
— Neecy. (@MissNeecyBaby) May 8, 2018
Yo, if being inclusive is the biggest downfall of “this generation”, then I’m beyond lucky and proud that I’m apart of it. It’s just a cheerleading squad, cool it Stacy. https://t.co/HJpSWsnhA6
— Chris Cook (@CookChris23) May 14, 2018
But also… every boy sport is inclusive, my high school had like 4 football teams. Why not just let everyone play even if they’re on a JV/freshman team? Cheerleading can be really cliquey and being inclusive might help that https://t.co/MmAwd0BK3O
— Morgan Harrington (@missmorgan001) May 14, 2018
I agree with this 100%, but to say that an entire generation “will NEVER make it” and “know nothing of hard work” is kinda extreme ? There are still going to be kids that have to work hard regardless of who the cheerleaders are and if they all make the team
— Spence (@S_meredith16) May 14, 2018
What do you think–is allowing everyone to make the team a good idea or a bad idea?