A few weeks ago, I was at a popular yeshiva day school
in the tri-state area. While I was there, the school was holding a “parade” to
celebrate the boys’ hockey team recent victory in their league’s championship.
The whole school came out to cheer the team on, as the boys were loaded onto
the back of the pick-up truck. The truck was then preceded by a police officer
on a motorcycle, and the team waved gleefully as “We Are The Champions” played
on the loud speakers.
I completely understand the benefits of such a parade.
The parade, very clearly, promoted an amazing amount of school spirit that both
the team and the spectators could partake in. It was almost palpable. Winning
first place is a huge triumph and the school should be proud. I can only
imagine was the 3-year-olds were thinking as their own boys hockey team was
paraded around by a police officer. I’m sure it made them feel proud for going
to such a day school, especially at such a young age.
However, as someone who is merely sensitive to
minorities within the orthodox community – what about the boys who don’t like
sports? And perhaps get bullied for it? What about the few gay children who go
to this school? Who might not like sports and are uncomfortable with that?
By putting the hockey boys on a pedestal, the school
and community are automatically making hockey, and sports in general, elitist.
Which is fine! Sports are an important facet of our society, especially within
the orthodox community.
But if the model UN team won the “championship” – would
they get a parade, too? If a talented, artistic student won an award for their
“Best 8th Grade Painting,” would he or she be recognized as much as
the hockey team was? This, of course, is just hypothetical rhetoric.
I have absolutely no problem – and in fact, I support –
the hockey team’s parade. They worked hard, and the school and team deserve to
bask in their pride and glory. School spirit is an important thing, and this
definitely creates that feeling.
The only thing that is troublesome to me is the message
this parade sends, school spirit aside. Is hockey really the only thing you can
be good at to get a parade? Are sports the most elite thing you can be
successful at within the orthodox community?
I recently saw the movie "Bully," which
is a moving documentary currently in theaters that depicts bullying in American
schools. If a child does not like sports and is uninterested in involving
him/herself in them, what if he/she wants to become a thespian? Or an artist?
Or the team’s manager? Not only will their successes (seemingly) not be as recognized
as much as other students’ success in hockey or sports in general, but also: they are
more at risk at getting bullied.
I have no proof of correlation between the parade,
bullying, and un-sporty children. I only have my observations and thoughts. I’m
just nervous for the future, unpopular kids; I’m nervous their achievements
won’t be as recognized as those students who are recognized for their athletic
talent, and I am nervous that this could, potentially, perpetuate harassment,
depression, and in extreme cases (as mentioned in the film and in the media
recently) – suicide.
Maybe some school administrators, one day, can think
about these things, too, and help to make everyone at school feel comfortable,
safe, and special – regardless of what their interests and talents are.
