Principal Scraps Field Day T-Shirt Design After Complaints From Families

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CANTON, GA -- The design of a T-shirt for Creekland Middle School's upcoming Field Day activities has upset some parents, prompting the school's principal to change the design of the apparel.

The eighth-grade students were given a chance to design mascots for their team based on the country they were grouped in throughout the school year: Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States, the Cherokee County School District said.

The shirts were slated to be worn during the school's Field Day.

The Mexico's team mascot depicted Creekland Middle School's mascot -- a grizzly bear -- in a sombrero and serape with a message warning other teams, "You aren't crossing this border!", the system noted.

In a letter sent home Friday to parents and guardians, Principal Dr. Deborah Wiseman said the school received complaints about the design for Mexico after the shirts were distributed.

"We know that neither the students nor the teachers meant any harm by the design, but it has inadvertently upset some families," she said.

Dr. Wiseman went on to say that she made the decision to replace the T-shirts, and is requesting parents whose children were given the shirts to return them to get a replacement.

The new shirt, she added, will be provided to students at no additional cost.

"We remain diligent in our efforts to provide a welcoming school environment for all of our students, families and staff," Dr. Wiseman said. "Thank you for entrusting your students to us every day. It is an honor to serve this community and we take that honor seriously."

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Image via Beth Wofford