Nude Cheerleaders Sue School
Categories: Teens & tweens, In The News
What would you do if your high school daughter:
1. Took a nude picture of herself
2. "Accidently" texted it to someone
3. Found out it was being widely distributed at school
4. Was kicked off the cheer squad for violating the athletic code
Why, sue the school, of course!
Yes, behavior that would once shame a family and land a teenager a four-month grounding and some serious chores is now grist for a family-bonding lawsuit.
According to the families' attorney, they are suing for the girls to be reinstated to the squad and for the incident to be expunged from their school records. They also want an apology from the district for neglecting to discipline the football players and students who viewed the photos and circulated them to their friends via text, since it is a violation of state child porn laws to distribute nude photos of a minor.
The bottom line is that what the girls did was wrong and dumb in the age of internet and text messaging. What the boys did was mean and illegal. What the adult parents are doing is absurd!
This suit is the kind of perverse parenting that has landed us a generation of kids who, according to a recent Josephson Institute study on high school ethics, are not only alarmingly dishonest (i.e. a full 30% have stolen from a store!), but they are overwhelmingly (93%) satisfied with their own ethics.
Immature teens and high school scandals are nothing new. When these incidents happen, kids need adults who will hold them to a higher standard. Instead of backing up the school for enforcing their athletic code, their parents demand an apology and even financial compensation because other students were not disciplined.
Sadly, their decision to sue is an even greater disservice to their daughters, precluding them from enjoying the only positive results that can come from an embarrassing and formative event like this in a young person's life -- the potential for growth and character building.
Perhaps it is the parents who should be sued for incompetence.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Katty 12-09-2008 @ 9:25AM
If my daughter who is currently 2, decided to do something as stupid as take a nude picture of herself and email it to someone and then was "shocked" when it got out, I would say "too bad", you made your bed now lie in it. The behavior is inappropriate and there are consequences.
Now, saying that I don't believe it should be on her school record, something that may affect her college entrance exams, or something along those lines, but I think that losing her spot as a cheerleader is appropriate.
I agree that this is a time to find out why your child felt the need to take a nude photo of herself and build some character, not teach that if you make a mistake you can sue someone to get out of it.
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Bryan 12-09-2008 @ 10:05AM
It amazes and saddens me the lack of resposibilty parents pass onto their children. Being a former teacher, I make sure my reaction to my son's punishment by a teacher is "Well...what did you do to get into trouble?" Not "How dare they do this to my little Johnny."
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hairyfrog 12-09-2008 @ 10:07AM
I disagree with Ms. Campos-Duffy's reading of this.
For thousands of years, children much younger than high school age have been exploring - and showing off - their bodies to each other. (The game "Doctors and Nurses" ring a bell?) That, in today's electronic world, they should do so with digital photos is only new in respect to the technology.
I myself own no camera, but my cell 'phone takes photos. I'd give the girls involved the benefit of the doubt, and accept that that might be their case too. Once the photo had been taken, it's not unimaginable that it should be sent by mistake to any one of the people listed in the 'phone's directory. (Just last week, my own 'phone assigned itself a new PIN while in my pocket [blocking my access], and it has often connected to Internet against my wishes.)
I found this article/comment rather meager on background facts, so I "Googled" a few key words, and came up with this:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/388940_bothell22.html
which contains the following quote:
'Attorney Matthew King, who represents both families, said it also was troubling that the teens were punished, but football players and other students at the school who sent or received the texts were not.
"We're not technically challenging the sanctions as being too strict, we're saying they weren't evenly enforced across the school," King said. "There should have been some punishment meted out to those who were in possession of the photos. ... It seems like the girls are getting the brunt of it." '
So, that puts a completely different slant on the picture. It now seems that it's a good ol' case of double standards.
Ms. Campos-Duffy herself writes: "What the boys did was mean and illegal." But the point is: THEY are NOT being sanctioned.
Here's what the school did (another quote from the link given):
'They sent a letter to all cheerleaders' parents, warning that if inappropriate photos were found, it could result in suspension from the squad.
Football players were told to delete the pictures from their cell phones if they received them, according to the lawsuits.'
So, suspension for the girls, a word of friendly advice for the boys!!!
This additional information is also provided: in one case, a girl knowingly sent a picture of herself nude to her then boyfriend 3 years ago. The fact that the case crops up now makes me suspect that they've since broken up and he's possibly decided on a nasty little piece of revenge for the break-up by passing the photo around. Just as nasty "little" (at least small-minded) boys used to (and still do) boast in the locker room of their "conquests".
In the second case, two girls knowingly took nude photos of each other (using cell 'phones), then one of them accidentally (?) sent one photo off. It was then passed on... and on... and on.
Whether it SHOULD be illegal for a minor to send naked photos of HERSELF via text or e-mail is surely a debatable point. Who is she harming aside from herself?
But for others to pass on those photos - certainly WITHOUT her permission - and then escape punishment when the "injured" party IS punished seems to be bizarre. And is the reason that this case is being brought to court.
If the first girl were MY daughter, no, I WOULDN'T punish her. But I would have already warned her about placing too much faith in "for ever and ever". And in the second case, I would have cringed in sympathy with my daughter's embarrassment, hugged her, and told her be careful with those ... cell 'phones.
And yes, I WOULD have been angry with the boys involved, and possibly with the school. And I might have been angry enough to sue.
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Megan 12-09-2008 @ 10:16AM
I don't think it's wrong to sue the school, because THEY were the wrong ones. School's are way over stepping their boundaries nowadays. While they should have stopped the picture from being distributed at school, what the students do outside of school does not concern them. School's have no rights to punish a student for what they did with their bodies outside of school.
"Immature teens and high school scandals are nothing new. When these incidents happen, kids need adults who will hold them to a higher standard. Instead of backing up the school for enforcing their athletic code, their parents demand an apology and even financial compensation because other students were not disciplined.
Sadly, their decision to sue is an even greater disservice to their daughters, precluding them from enjoying the only positive results that can come from an embarrassing and formative event like this in a young person's life -- the potential for growth and character building.
Perhaps it is the parents who should be sued for incompetence."
No, what kids need is for people like you to stop crying "evil!" and "immoral!" every time something like this happens. Hate to break it to you ladies but your daughters are going to be thinking about things like this (not necessarily this exact thing) and trying to make them become nun's and saying feeling those things are wrong isn't going to help anything.
Eh, I'm removing this from my Yahoo page. The posts here are all arrogant, harsh, and negative. Every blogger here thinks they and their views are better than everyone else and that sheltering your kids from everything little thing is good. This site and the OPINIONS (because that's what they are, YOUR opinions) are ridiculous.
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hairyfrog 12-09-2008 @ 10:51AM
Sorry to be losing you, Megan. I found your comment a breath of fresh air after this article and the first two comments. If those two comments were based solely on the article, I feel that they were slightly misled about the underlying HYPOCRISY of the school's action (see my own comment, and the link it provides). The article writer surely should have been in possession of enough of the facts to write a more balanced comment. (It only took me a few seconds with Google, and I picked the first entry on the resulting list.)
But all three show a saddening prudery and lack of faith in, and respect for, their own children. Bryan wrote: 'Being a former teacher, I make sure my reaction to my son's punishment by a teacher is "Well...what did you do to get into trouble?" ' I can only agree with this to a point (the point that children shouldn't be encouraged to run away from accepting responsibility WHERE IT IS APPROPRIATE).
A better (opening) question would be: "Why don't you tell me YOUR side of the story?"
And then YOU wrote: '[..] trying to make them become nuns and saying feeling those things are wrong isn't going to help anything.'
I couldn't agree more. In fact, I would go so far as to suspect that the vast majority of unwanted teenage pregnancies are at least partly due to the parents' prudery and not dealing fair and square with teenage sexuality.
How can we expect them to come to us for advice - or respect the advice we're so willing to throw at them - if we condemn their natural feelings and curiosity?
hairyfrog 12-09-2008 @ 11:30AM
Let me repeat that quote about what the school did (a quote from the link given in earlier comment):
'They sent a letter to all cheerleaders' parents, warning that if inappropriate photos were found, it could result in suspension from the squad.
Football players were told to delete the pictures from their cell phones if they received them, according to the lawsuits.'
I ask everybody to reflect on the following:
If a cheerleader (or two. or three, or...) is suspended, that means disgrace for her. As Katty wrote: 'I would say "too bad, you made your bed now lie in it. The behavior is inappropriate and there are consequences." '
However if a FOOTBALL player (or two, or...) is suspended, the team might be more likely to lose, meaning disgrace for the school.
I can UNDERSTAND why the school should have acted so hypocritically.
But it has still disgraced itself in my book.
****
And since I'm on here again, I'll answer those 4 questions.
"What would you do if your high school daughter:
1. Took a nude picture of herself
2. "Accidently" texted it to someone
3. Found out it was being widely distributed at school
4. Was kicked off the cheer squad for violating the athletic code "
1. I would respect her right to do so. After all, we have always told her that the human body is a beautiful thing, and encouraged her to be proud of her own. If she chose to make a record of that beauty at its present stage, I would be pleased with that pride. I WOULD warn her about the risks of sharing that image with others, ESPECIALLY boys.
2. The key word here is "accidentally". As I've already written I would remind her to be extra careful about such accidents. If she CHOSE to send it, I would point out that it's illegal to do so. In neither case would I PUNISH her.
3. Kick up a fuss on HER behalf. She's MY daughter, and until she's of legal age, I've promised to protect her.
4. Ditto, AFTER checking the facts. According to the lawyer for the family in this case, apparently it WASN'T "violating the athletic code" because that code didn't anticipate any such scenario. The school was making up the rules as it went along. And anyway, if my daughter was being punished, but others even guiltier were getting off scott-free, I certainly WOULD kick up a fuss!... Wouldn't YOU?
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michelle 12-09-2008 @ 11:43AM
hairyfrog and Megan - you are the reason I won't bring children into this world.
Thank you, Rachel for this blog post and for fighting the moral decay in this country!
SKL 12-09-2008 @ 11:31AM
OK, first of all, am I the only person who is sad that these people consider it more important that their daughter be a cheerleader than that she keep her privates private? What is this world coming to? What is so important about her ability to jump up and down half-naked in front of those boys that the parents claim to want punished for "their" indiscretions?
Secondly, how is it less offensive to create and send a nude picture than to forward it? How can the person who created it complain when, due to her own actions, someone else sees it and forwards it? What possible purpose is there for taking a picture of one's naked body other than to show it to people who can't see such body in person? Was she going to use it for a biology project or what? She is not the victim here. If it weren't for her actions, the other kids who "viewed" and forwarded her photo couldn't have committed these "crimes." If she was too dumb to foresee this, at least now she ought to learn her lesson, not gain financially from causing all this distraction.
Thirdly, I would agree with some punishment for boys who knowingly forwarded the photo. (Not the ones who merely looked at the photo - how is that even their fault?) But I still think the girl who created the "child pornography" in the first place deserves a harsher punishment from the school, AND from her parents. No, I don't think this is a double standard. I'd expect the same result against a boy if he had created and forwarded a nude picture of himself.
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hairyfrog 12-09-2008 @ 1:54PM
SKL wrote: "Thirdly, I would agree with some punishment for boys who knowingly forwarded the photo. [...] But I still think the girl who created the "child pornography" in the first place deserves a harsher punishment from the school, AND from her parents. No, I don't think this is a double standard. I'd expect the same result against a boy if he had created and forwarded a nude picture of himself."
3 points: you say you'd agree with "some punishment". WHAT punishment? Suspension from the football team? Read the first part of my comment at 12-09-2008 @ 11:30AM. The point I made is that the boys WERE NOT punished in any way. THAT is the double standard I was talking about.
I respect your coherency re: "I'd expect the same result against a boy if he had created and forwarded a nude picture of himself."
But I take issue with your equating the photo of a naked minor with child pornography. In this case, any image of a naked human being is pornography (child or adult). And God - or Mother Nature, take your pick - is the biggest pornographer of all time.
I read of a case of a couple who were arrested on a charge of "corruption of minors" for taking their children to a nudist camp. I call that arrest depraved and VERY nasty. Are our children to grow up thinking their bodies are disgusting - or ONLY for sex? A lot of obsession going on here. There a saying: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". So is Filth. So is Filth.
And to save trouble, I'll answer your next comment here:
"Really? You tolerate your kids' breaking the law?"
I do if the law is stupid. If I caught her making nasty exploitative pornography (even of only herself) I'd certainly give her a hard time. But a naked photo? To a friend? And (maybe) by accident? I WOULD point out that it's against the law and advise her not to repeat the action.
If I caught my daughter smoking grass, I certainly wouldn't turn her over to the police. OR punish her. (If I caught her smoking tobacco, I ALSO wouldn't punish her... but I'd give her a good talking to!)
I assume that you're a US citizen. You wouldn't be so if some hotheads back in the 18th century hadn't broken the law.
The USA dropped radioactively coated bombs in ex-Yugoslavia, causing girls of 8-years old to get BREAST CANCER. And let's not forget the land mines that - years after a war is over - continue to tear little children limb from limb. Now THAT I consider obscene. THAT's child pornography. But it's not illegal, because "that's war".
"Parents, wake up. You are supposed to be preparing your kids for the real world, not protecting them from it at all costs."
I try to encourage my children to be the best people that they can be. And that doesn't include making them ashamed of their bodies - or their sexuality.
This last comment must surely confirm "michelle" in her resolve to never bring a child into a world where such wicked people as myself and "Megan" exist. For which I suppose that I'm thankful...
SKL 12-09-2008 @ 11:38AM
"If she CHOSE to send it, I would point out that it's illegal to do so. In neither case would I PUNISH her."
Really? You tolerate your kids' breaking the law? What the hell WOULD you punish your child for then? Shooting her granny?
BS that this was an "accident."
Parents, wake up. You are supposed to be preparing your kids for the real world, not protecting them from it at all costs.
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Mommacrystal 12-09-2008 @ 6:05PM
Wow, this is disgusting, in my opinion whoever is in the nude needs some serious reprimanding and if sending nudes via cell phone is how she uses her cell phone then she no longer needs it, in my opinion. Anyone and I do mean anyone, caught with said pics should be punished no matter what sport they do or do not play. Double standards are seriously crappy and shouldn't be happening although I do know they are still there. If it were my daughter I wouldn't sue the school I'd be flipping amazed if I, as her mother, could still walk in the door with my head up. WTH are ppl teaching their daughters? Yes your body is beautiful I do not disagree with that at all but the fact is you are underage and if you even think about taking nude pics of yourself until your 18 and responsible then the consequences will be severe. It's a parents job to guide a child not say it's OK we'll just sue! That's what's wrong with the world today!!!
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DCM 12-10-2008 @ 1:51AM
I found it interesting how this article divided up the rest of the students up between 'football players' and 'students'. How is the fact that they play football at all relevant to this?
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Rob O. 12-11-2008 @ 2:02PM
The fact that some of those involved play football is relevant in that high school athletes - especially football players - are often above the law. Their prowess on the field is so revered that shoddy academic work and questionable behaviors are frequently swept under the rug.
I attended a high school where winning games on Friday nights was far more important than anything that occurred during school hours and football players were treated like Hollywood celebs.
Sifrina 12-11-2008 @ 8:50PM
How remiss these parents are in their duty to teach their daughter the consequences for her actions. I'm not at all condoning the teenage boys' behavior as this is very serious (and illegal), but so is the teenagegirl's behavior. She desperately needs to learn from this!! And I have to agree with SKL that these parents' priorities are so twisted they are only concerned by the fact their daughter is no longer a cheerleader ?!! How utterly sad AND scary!
As for the lack of ethics and morality in today's youth, children watch their parents. If you want to teach your child to be honest, modest, generous, orderly, self-respecting/respectful, mature, decent, empathetic, hard-working, etc., you need to lead by example. "Do as I say, not as I do" only teaches your child you are a hypocrite. Something for parents to think about the next time they try to "bend the rules" for their own convenience/benefit.
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kellyb 12-15-2008 @ 4:53PM
Wow. All these comments are making homeschooling sound like a better choice than sending my kids to public school.
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mikat 12-19-2008 @ 11:06PM
Typically in high school they make you sign a contract stating that you with follow the understated rules. My high school's contract specifically makes you state that you won't do anything out of line in uniform. I definitely think that both parties should be punished for their actions. The football players for sending them and the girls for being stupid enough to take and then send them. But I highly doubt sending the pictures was by accident. This is just another patch of sue happy people trying to scalp some money off of something that most likely needs the money....
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RockWebcst 12-26-2008 @ 11:34AM
First there should not be a distinction between "football players" and "students". Contrary to popular believe football players are not above the law.
Second the students that distributed the pornographic pictures of these minor girls should be prosecuted for their crime, that is distribution of child pornography. There simply is no gray area here. Doesn't matter if you're 12, 21 or 41 sending a picture of a naked minor child is illegal.
Third it's appalling that these young girls thought is amusing to take pictures of themselves in the nude and keep them at all, much less on their phones. They sort of deserve some degree of humiliation over it. But again they are minor children, no matter how totally HOT I'm sure they look. Should they be kicked of the squad, yes of course they should. Not because they took the pictures but because their continued presence on the squad will surely detract from its true value/purpose. Let's be real, every boy (and girl) and man and woman that looks at them on the field will be envisioning them naked. Granted, that's what they do anyway, but imagination and recalling what one has actually seen are two very different things.
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