In yet another example of insensitive, zero-tolerance approaches, school faculty members of Wichita East High in Wichita, Kansas reportedly compelled a special needs student athlete having both Down syndrome and autism to remove a varsity letter his mother bought for him. He was given instead a girl’s sweater to wear.
School officials stated he could not wear the varsity letter because he was not a member of the varsity team. Apparently they were forced to act upon this transgression because “one parent complained” and therefore no exception could be made for this student.
Nineteen year old Michael Kelley participates in extra-curricular basketball. His family bought him a varsity letter similar to what other students at the high school wear as a tribute to honor his athletic achievements.
Michael’s mother, Jolinda Kelley, says her adopted son is one of a kind and loves to play basketball. When Michael was recognized by the school for participating in the special needs team, she bought a varsity letter and sewed it to his jacket. She was shocked to learn he was asked by the school to take off the jacket.
The letter of the law seems to apply strictly to varsity letters.
Wichita East High School Principal Ken Thiessen in an interview with KSN news: “Teachers told the parents they would prefer he not wear the letter on his jacket.”
When asked if the school would consider giving a varsity letter to special needs students he replied:
Principal Ken Thiessen
“We have considered it, and our decision was no. We decided that is not appropriate in our situation because it is not a varsity level competition.”
KSN discovered this was not a district-wide policy. The high school seemed to be acting on its own accord.
Jolinda says she understands each school can make the rules, but she wants to see a change.
“It’s not just my son. It’s every student that was out there last night. It’s every student that’s there on Fridays that plays their hardest and to the best of their capability regardless what that is.”
The question remains as to why a varsity letter is such a hallowed emblem that it cannot be tarnished by having someone wearing one who is not a member of the athletic club. Free speech issues aside, how about showing some compassion or at least looking the other way? It is doubtful the majority of students themselves would act with such rigidity to Michael’s choice to wear a letterman jacket.
But if rules must be followed regarding uniforms those with special needs cannot participate in the Police Chief / Sheriff For a Day programs because those kids are not true law enforcement officers.
Now that this has hit the national news media, the administration of Wichita East High School will soon be tempest-tossed by the media storm on the horizon.
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.
134 thoughts on “Student With Down Syndrome Told By Faculty He Cannot Wear Varsity Letter Jacket”
Where I live, kids with Downs are mainstreamed, even onto the Varsity teams. They are given a little playing time, practice, and if the team makes it to a championship game, they go right along with them, as part of the team. They get their letter jackets, and are treated like ‘jocks’ like everyone else. They aren’t pushed aside, put onto special teams, but given a chance to be like the other kids. Having lived in the community, now, for over a decade, I’ve seen the long-term results. A decade later, and they are part of the community as a whole, with viable jobs (when possible), a social life which is far superior than mine, and then special olympics.
This is one of the few times I complement Walmart, and the way they work with these wonderful and special people. Even those who are not as high functioning as my friend Simon (who basically runs one of the local grocery stores, raking in more tips than anyone I’ve ever seen) are given a few hours work and a small pay-check. It makes a difference in their lives.
As for Simon, who is into his 30s, he is a ringer when it comes to bowling, is a hoot, everyone asks for him to bag their groceries, and usually gives him a five buck tip. There was a day when only had a hundred. “Oh, I can change that!” He did, too. The principal of that school should be ashamed – of not allowing the kids onto the main teams. There is more to life than winning a stupid high school football game.
Loading...
SJ Reidhead – last school I taught at mainstreamed all students. We did have to make ‘reasonable accommodations’ for some students and some times I was handing out as many as 4 versions of the test, however it was a great help to the students who were mainstreamed.
Loading...
There is a Rabbi for whom I have enormous respect. He accepted a boy with a degenerative brain disease into his school. Additionally he told the family that the other students would provide any care that was needed. The other boys would help him eat dress etc. this went on for 10 years until the inevitable happened. My strong feeling is that we as a society may be judged by how we treat the weakest among us.
Loading...
Special Needs Children are very emotive. That is criminal
Loading...
And you.
It’s still below zero here.
I was hoping that global warming would kick in yet.
Loading...
Pogo – you know more about special needs kids then I do. You’re probably right. Have a nice Saturday night.
Loading...
My point is that this sort of charity for the retarded is for the givers, not the recipient.
I lived with -and when I was older I worked with- retarded youngsters and adults.
This makes all the givers feel magnanimous.
I ask you to consider that this might be wrongheaded and even, in the end, hurtful.
High school ends. Then what?
Abandoned.
They don’t mainstream them for college or the workplace.
They are confused and upset because all along, up until they are 18 or 20, they got charity here and there.
Now, nada.
Did you know that retarded people can get depression?
Loading...
“Nineteen year old Michael Kelley participates in extra-curricular basketball. His family bought him a varsity letter similar to what other students at the high school wear as a tribute to honor his athletic achievements.”
Loading...
Pogo you’re missing it. The Kid wanted a letter and they gave him one. He’s a special case. You can’t make one size fits all rules for charity.
Loading...
Also, I don’t see anything wrong with a team giving a special needs kid a special Letter. Its an act of charity and cost no one anything.
Loading...
“And Pogo, it’s SPORT, not academics.”
Then why does he want to wear a sports letter jacket and not a debate sweater?
When you treated athletes I hope you showed more empathy and understanding tham you do here.
Loading...
He had REAL accomplishments.
Loading...
It may seem like empathy to you, but it’s largely pity.
A fake trophy is pity, a celebration of nothing.
You want a retarded young man to feel part of high school?
Let him work for the team and earn a manger’s letter.
Why you want to deprive a kid of accomplishment -real accomplishment- is befuddling to me.
My Mom hated when people did that to my brother.
Loading...
And Pogo, it’s SPORT, not academics. You give sports wayyyy too much importance.
Loading...
This was handled badly not because his letter was taken away, but because no attempt was made to give him something to replace it. Was the team OK with him wearing the letter? It seems so – it was just some adult who complained. Myself, in HS I never cared for who had a letterman’s jacket and who didn’t.
Loading...
Pogo, when you treat a patient I hope you show more empathy and understanding tham you do here.
Loading...
Grades are only a letter.
Why not give him straight A’s?
Loading...
Because it’s only a letter. ONLY a letter. The lesson the athletes will learn is empathy, and that’s more precious than a sport. The kid has athletic achievements too, if the student athletes don’t mimd, the parents should butt out.n
Loading...
See, some of the retarded will have their parents die before them.
If they were handed everything, once their parents are gone, life becomes very hard indeed.
You’re teaching a very bad lesson just to make yourself feel better for a moment.
Loading...
Why not demand a slot on the debate team?
I mean, it’s just high school.
Loading...
Why not demand he start at shortstop for varsity baseball?
“It’s not just my son. It’s every student that was out there last night. It’s every student that’s there on Fridays that plays their hardest and to the best of their capability regardless what that is.”
Where I live, kids with Downs are mainstreamed, even onto the Varsity teams. They are given a little playing time, practice, and if the team makes it to a championship game, they go right along with them, as part of the team. They get their letter jackets, and are treated like ‘jocks’ like everyone else. They aren’t pushed aside, put onto special teams, but given a chance to be like the other kids. Having lived in the community, now, for over a decade, I’ve seen the long-term results. A decade later, and they are part of the community as a whole, with viable jobs (when possible), a social life which is far superior than mine, and then special olympics.
This is one of the few times I complement Walmart, and the way they work with these wonderful and special people. Even those who are not as high functioning as my friend Simon (who basically runs one of the local grocery stores, raking in more tips than anyone I’ve ever seen) are given a few hours work and a small pay-check. It makes a difference in their lives.
As for Simon, who is into his 30s, he is a ringer when it comes to bowling, is a hoot, everyone asks for him to bag their groceries, and usually gives him a five buck tip. There was a day when only had a hundred. “Oh, I can change that!” He did, too. The principal of that school should be ashamed – of not allowing the kids onto the main teams. There is more to life than winning a stupid high school football game.
SJ Reidhead – last school I taught at mainstreamed all students. We did have to make ‘reasonable accommodations’ for some students and some times I was handing out as many as 4 versions of the test, however it was a great help to the students who were mainstreamed.
There is a Rabbi for whom I have enormous respect. He accepted a boy with a degenerative brain disease into his school. Additionally he told the family that the other students would provide any care that was needed. The other boys would help him eat dress etc. this went on for 10 years until the inevitable happened. My strong feeling is that we as a society may be judged by how we treat the weakest among us.
Special Needs Children are very emotive. That is criminal
And you.
It’s still below zero here.
I was hoping that global warming would kick in yet.
Pogo – you know more about special needs kids then I do. You’re probably right. Have a nice Saturday night.
My point is that this sort of charity for the retarded is for the givers, not the recipient.
I lived with -and when I was older I worked with- retarded youngsters and adults.
This makes all the givers feel magnanimous.
I ask you to consider that this might be wrongheaded and even, in the end, hurtful.
High school ends. Then what?
Abandoned.
They don’t mainstream them for college or the workplace.
They are confused and upset because all along, up until they are 18 or 20, they got charity here and there.
Now, nada.
Did you know that retarded people can get depression?
“Nineteen year old Michael Kelley participates in extra-curricular basketball. His family bought him a varsity letter similar to what other students at the high school wear as a tribute to honor his athletic achievements.”
Pogo you’re missing it. The Kid wanted a letter and they gave him one. He’s a special case. You can’t make one size fits all rules for charity.
Also, I don’t see anything wrong with a team giving a special needs kid a special Letter. Its an act of charity and cost no one anything.
“And Pogo, it’s SPORT, not academics.”
Then why does he want to wear a sports letter jacket and not a debate sweater?
When you treated athletes I hope you showed more empathy and understanding tham you do here.
He had REAL accomplishments.
It may seem like empathy to you, but it’s largely pity.
A fake trophy is pity, a celebration of nothing.
You want a retarded young man to feel part of high school?
Let him work for the team and earn a manger’s letter.
Why you want to deprive a kid of accomplishment -real accomplishment- is befuddling to me.
My Mom hated when people did that to my brother.
And Pogo, it’s SPORT, not academics. You give sports wayyyy too much importance.
This was handled badly not because his letter was taken away, but because no attempt was made to give him something to replace it. Was the team OK with him wearing the letter? It seems so – it was just some adult who complained. Myself, in HS I never cared for who had a letterman’s jacket and who didn’t.
Pogo, when you treat a patient I hope you show more empathy and understanding tham you do here.
Grades are only a letter.
Why not give him straight A’s?
Because it’s only a letter. ONLY a letter. The lesson the athletes will learn is empathy, and that’s more precious than a sport. The kid has athletic achievements too, if the student athletes don’t mimd, the parents should butt out.n
See, some of the retarded will have their parents die before them.
If they were handed everything, once their parents are gone, life becomes very hard indeed.
You’re teaching a very bad lesson just to make yourself feel better for a moment.
Why not demand a slot on the debate team?
I mean, it’s just high school.
Why not demand he start at shortstop for varsity baseball?