The Tale of Two Schools

...and love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Mark 12:31

This week the media covered a story about a 16-year-old girl at Ogemaw Heights High School in Michigan who contemplated committing suicide after she had been placed on the homecoming court as a hoax - a joke - a laugh.  The small town where the school is located rallied around this young lady, providing her with the means of experiencing a wonderful homecoming celebration in spite of those bullies who tried to wound her.

Contrast this with Freeburg Community High School in Illinois.  Shelby is an 18-year-old senior at Freeburg and an active member of the cheerleading squad.  What is so unusual about that?  Shelby has Down's Syndrome.  Mind you, she is not the cheer mascot, but an active member of the team, learning the routines and performing right along with the rest of the squad.  One of her fellow cheerleaders said, "She tries really hard and inspires us all."  Another said, "She is our rock in practice.  To know that if she can do it, we can all keep going and not give up."

This year when homecoming rolled around, the cheer squad went to the principal and told him they wanted to nominate Shelby to the homecoming court.  The principal checked with Shelby's parents to be sure they were supportive of the idea (and to reassure them this was not a hoax), then placed Shelby's name in nomination.  The night of Homecoming, each of the 500 students present voted for Homecoming Queen as they entered the building.  When the court was presented, Shelby entered the gym on the arm of her escort as cheers erupted from the stands.  When it came time for the big announcement, the M.C. said, "Our 2012 Homecoming Queen is... Shelby!"

Home video records Shelby wearing the queen's tiara being seated on the queen's throne with a smile that "...lit up everywhere and every one" while cheers flowed through the room.  Freeburg's principal said, "The teachers and parents get a lot of credit for this, because they teach them (the students) more than adding and subtracting; they teach them right and wrong."   Someone at some point taught these young people that we are all created equal and have the same value, regardless of race, color, creed or disability.  The citizens of Freeburg should be tremendously proud of their high school, their kids, and their new homecoming queen.