School District Apologizes for “Offensive” and “Crass” Sign
This video is no longer available.
DYERSBURG, Tenn. — A school district is apologizing after students held up an “insensitive” sign during a football game. On Nov. 15 during the Dyersburg High School football game against Jackson Northside, students held up a sign that read “Trail of Tears.” The Northside mascot is the Indians. Photos of the students holding the sign were put on a Facebook page managed by the Dyersburg coaching staff. The principal of the school says that he was not aware of the photos or the sign. Below is the full statement from the school district: “Dyersburg City Schools does not condone the statement made on the sign at the football game against Jackson Northside on Friday, November 15th. The statement was crass, insensitive, and offensive. Although our system does not represent every ethnicity, we are an eclectic school system that prides itself on our diverse ethnic background. As with any community or large family, mistakes will be made; as with family, we correct those mistakes in order to mold our youth into culturally empathetic adults. And, as with family, we wish to deal with our internal issues in a non-public manner. Rest assured, we have spoken to our students and staff, taken action, and hope that our entire community can use this as a learning experience to become more culturally sensitive. We make mistakes. We deal with our mistakes. We learn from our mistakes. And just as we teach our students to become more culturally accepting, we ask that those who have been offended may be forgiving as well. Neel Durbin Director of Schools WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News asked if any punishments for the students or staff have been handed down and received the following response from Sandy Baker, the Assistant Superintendent of Dyersburg City Schools: “To best answer your questions, discipline of a minor is confidential information and cannnot be shared/discussed except with parents/guardians. Our Social Studies department will be addressing the concern with our students. Professional Development is done annually.”
