Huntsville City Schools (HCS) in Huntsville, Alabama, postponed this week a rivalry football game between Grissom High School and Huntsville High School after academics of both exchanged violent and racially motivated messages on social media.
In a message sent to families at Huntsville and Grissom High Schools on Wednesday afternoon, Superintendent Christie Finley said the game, originally scheduled for Friday, was “postponed by September 24.”
“I have become aware of examples of social media posts that have been created and shared through various academics,” Finley said in a statement, shared with USA TODAY Sports through HCS.”These messages have turned violent, race-motivated photographs into ‘rivalry material’.The academics involved in this incident trivialized racism and violence.Schools in the city of Huntsville do not tolerate or tolerate racism or violence and, frankly, I expect more from our academics.”
Finley said postponing the game was to ensure an environment.
“I would like to say that the postponement of the football game is not intended to punish academics trying to be everything we expect from our academics.Instead, this postponement allows us to make sure that the gaming environment at the end of this month will be useful.as an opportunity for the best schools in Huntsville and Grissom to address the disorders presented through those social media posts.”
When asked if academics concerned about social media posts can be punished, HCS said in a USA TODAY Sports statement: “While the district is not relaxed to talk about student punishments, the academics involved in the incident will face disciplinary action according to the district’s behavior.Learning guide.”
Finley said teachers in Huntsville and Grissom “will continue conversations about respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion as a component of their distance classes,” and classes will continue around September.
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