by Kelly Moser

Created on: January 07, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

CHEERLEADERS GONE WILD: A LESSON IN POWER

Plugging "Cheerleaders gone Wild" into a search engine will currently pull up more than rather risqu pictures of cheerleaders frolicking. Texas, the land of living large, has once again given the nation reason to think about the lessons we teach our children and the responsibilities adults have in behaving like adults. The frightening aspect of this story may not be the total lack of morality and wisdom exhibited by the Texas community that allowed a small group of high school cheerleaders to "rule the school". The truly frightening lesson taught by this story is how nepotism and power are misused by leaders of a community for extended periods of time before being brought to a halt. It is a lesson that every child who attended McKinney North High School has learned very well.

The "Cheerleaders Gone Wild" story involves a group of high school cheerleaders (the Fab Five), who were allowed to openly flaunt school rules, terrorize staff and violate underage drinking laws. School authorities and parents were complicit in the girl's behavior. It is not a coincidence that the ring leader of this group of cheerleaders was the daughter of the school principal. After the cheerleading coach went to the media with the story, the situation at McKinney North High School in Texas was investigated and the principal was forced to resign, after receiving $75,000 dollars and a letter of recommendation. The principal had apparently raised the schools academic rating to excellent.

The students of this Texas high school did receive an excellent education, especially in the politics of power and favoritism. One can only hope that the lesson that those who abuse power are eventually brought down has also been as effectively taught. Given the severance package the principal received, and how it took media attention to remediate the situation, I doubt if the penalties for abusing power have been as effectively taught as the benefits. I guess you would need to ask the kids which lesson was taught more effectively.

The McKinney principal had communicated to her staff that her daughter and her friends were not to be disciplined. In adult life how often are well connected individuals allowed to operate outside societies laws for extended periods of time? One only has to review the recent corporate and government scandals to see how being well connected allows certain individuals to be exempt from the rules the rest of us are required to follow. In

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>