Northeast Spirit Week Event Draws Request For Students To Step Up

PASADENA, MD — Parents of students at Northeast High School in Pasadena are upset with school officials who might cancel a spirit week that leads up to homecoming and the pep assembly if students do not agree to get along. Spirit Week begins Monday, Sept. 23, and the school's homecoming dance is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28.

Each day of the week leading up to homecoming has a dress-up theme and one of the days, "Red, White, and Blue," is causing hurtful, harsh words to be exchanged between students, said school principal Jason T. Williams.

Williams crafted and distributed a letter to parents letting them know of school officials' intentions to cancel homecoming week activities and the pep assembly if students' behavior does not improve. Parents shared the letter with the Facebook page Anne Arundel First Alert to notify others of the change.

"It seems, because of our current national political tenor, that 'red, white, and blue' day at our school is now controversial. Many students, and social media posts, have brought to my attention demeaning and derogatory statements made by a student, or groups of students, as spirit week grows closer. This leads us, as a school community, to a challenge," he said.

Williams explained that he essentially, in good faith, could not proceed with hosting "red, white, and blue day."

"How can we celebrate being good citizens of our school, our school community, our state, and our country if the colors of our nation causes meanness, hate, and intolerance among our students? Moreover, how can I, as the principal of Northeast, hold a Spirit Week or a pep assembly that threatens student safety due to possible conflict with something as simple as 'red, white, and blue' day?"

The principal told parents that he requested students sign a pledge to "treat each other with kindness, and enter into Spirit Week with the spirit of pride and unity that spirit week is about."

"I let them know that if I do not see at least 1,300 names on the pledge banner, then Spirit Week and/or the pep-assembly will not occur," he wrote.

Then the principal encouraged parents to speak with students about focusing on celebrating "being a part of an American Public School."

"Also, please speak to them about refraining from wearing political garments that can cause an argument and ultimately a disturbance of the safe and supportive environment of our Home of the Eagle," Williams wrote.

Northeast High School parent Melissa Fox shared on the Facebook post that her son signed the pledge.

"I sure hope enough students do!! It’s a sad world we live in that students can’t even wear the colors of the country they live in," she wrote.

Tim Kraus Jr. commended the principal for standing firm and making sure that students respect the nation's colors and homecoming week.

James Booker said, "So sad ! What’s next? Kids already don’t stand for the pledge of allegiance. Enough is enough."

Facebook user Elva Chisholm commented how "horrible" the situation is.

"Is it once again a very few that start this trouble that the entire student body and community will suffer from? Where does this stop? We need to stop catering to the small minority that starts this trouble. Let these kids have their homecoming and their spirit week as always," she stated.

Magdalena Carrera, who is not American-born but is a U.S. citizen, was astounded by the unfolding of events at Northeast High School.

"I have been here my entire life and am proud to have become a U.S. citizen and proud to stand for the pledge and put my hand in my heart and I respect every single man and woman who risks their life serving to protect my family and our rights. It’s a shame that times have changed and half these young men and woman don’t have a clue to what the pledge and anthem really signify," she wrote.