Last month, during the basketball season, the principal of Springbrook High School and Paint Branch created a conflict with the Springbrook cheerleaders. Springbrook cheerleaders felt disappointed being disgraced by their principal, instead of having full support. This conflict makes other schools around Montgomery County wonder what type of dance makes a dance performance “ghetto”. “Though I’m not a cheerleader, I do feel as if I was apart of the team when the comment was said. Because I am a African American, this does apply to me because being called “ghetto” is stereotyped into societies labels,”Springbrook student, Brianna (last name withheld) said.

African American students at this school are angered about the current situation. Some students are confused as to why such a comment is appropriate to say to students, “ Me being an African American, and the principal of Springbrook High School also being an African American, I don’t think that his comment towards the school’s cheer team was school appropriate. The principal is suppose to help represent the school and the county, not tear it down,” 10th grader, Morgan Obiezue said.

Some students are not surprised about the conflict. Conflicts at this school have happened when African American students had derogatory words thrown at them by caucasian students and no action was taken.

Cheerleaders all over MCPS feel like they should be supporting each other during these times. Cheerleaders have had to put their place into schools when other student tell them cheer isnt a sport. “Being a cheerleader I feel like we take things for granted. Not many of the students at this school hear about or pay attention to students being stereotyped or called certain words. So I feel like all I can do is support a fellow cheerleader is their decisions, because I don’t know what they’re going through,”11th grader, Daniella Kaufmann said.

Cheerleaders worry about the conflicts they might have to go through. Students at this school believe one school’s situation can cause a big impact on other schools around them. “Because I’m planning on trying out for the cheer team my senior year, if I was in this position I think I would have done the best I could with the routine and show the principal that step isn’t ‘ghetto’ it’s just in style,”11th grader, Brian Nicholson said.

Student feel as if situations like this shouldn’t be happening in what certain students call ‘a safe environment’. “I hope that other students, not just cheerleaders won’t have to go through something like this, and people take precautions if this happens again,”Springbrook student Brianna (last name withheld) said.

Mary Hebron

Staff Writer