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| The mostly black Burlington Township cheerleading team has won 2 of the last 3 Universal Cheerleading Championships beating teams from 33 states |
Who would have thought that an innocent photo of Chester High School cheerleaders practicing outside the school would be so controversial?
That post reveled two things: a unwavering passion for Chester High School cheerleaders, and a vastly different idea of how cheerleading is defined these days.
The very first comment took a jab at the cheerleaders, calling them a pep squad, not real cheerleaders. I followed by calling them more of a dance team. We both agreed that their style is not one that allows them to compete or earn scholarships.
There were just as many comments supporting a formal cheerleading training program for Chester kids. It would be an activity that elementary to high school students can participate in, and they can compete among other cheerleaders while still supporting their teams on game day.
No one can argue (but they probably will) that the Chester High School cheerleader’s routine is steeped in a tradition that has become unique to Chester. Where the rest of the cheerleading world has moved on a different brand of performance, Chester High School has held on tight to the old tried-n-true.
Coach Keddy Harris and I were sitting at a CHS football game and he pointed out a cheerleader. He told me she had a bright future in track but quit the team to join the cheerleaders. He asked her how she could walk away from an almost guaranteed college scholarship to perform as a cheerleader. She smiled and said cheerleading is what she always wanted to do as a little girl watching the CHS cheerleaders.
Percentage wise, Chester High School cheerleaders go to college in greater numbers than the players on the teams they cheer for. However, it appears to be a small minority of people who believe cheerleading should become an activity that pays their way.
The national recognition received by the Burlington Township, New Jersey cheerleaders the past three years has exposed how dominate black girls can become in the sport of cheerleading. What will it take to put more black girls on that national stage? Could some of them actually come from Chester?
You should talk to the cheerleader's coach if you feel that strongly about them competing for scholarship. If you had to go dig up a team which is competing, then you should go into coaching your own team. Leave the cheerleaders alone, if they want to compete, they will compete.
ReplyDeleteForget about me. What do you want?
DeleteCoach Karen and I live 50 yards from each other and have known each other most of our lives. I see her often. This ain't about the cheerleaders. It's about cheerleading. There is a difference.
I didn't have to dig up the Burlington team. They performed on ESPN and I watched them defend their title. It was encouraging.
I really don't care if the CHS cheerleaders compete or not. But is there something wrong with introducing competitive cheerleading in the school district? If so, please explain.
This tem is great and so is the all black Christiana High School Chher Team. You do not need a gymnastics class to perfect flips we did it all day long on a mattress. What we need is to recognize thy change is never easy but it is valuable for these young Chester Cheerleaders. No one is trying to talk negative but if we not talk about change how an Chang occur. Our girls deserve the opportunity to be great and they can't get there own the Chester train track sorry, but that's the truth.
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely nothing wrong with introducing competitive cheerleading to the Chester Upland School District. It is awesome what the Burlington Township Cheerleaders have accomplished. I'm not sure if you or your readers realize that there was a time where pyramids, stunts, and flipping were a part of the cheers that Chester High School Cheerleaders performed. (If you get a few yearbooks from the 70s you may see pics of that.) The cheerleaders have since moved away from that style. To add it back into the program would be the choice of the cheerleading leadership and this commentary is probably best shared with them. My question still remains who is willing to fund our cheerleaders to learn how to flip and do stunts properly? Even hiring a gym teacher that makes flipping part of the curriculum, like we had in school decades ago, would be helpful. (I am assuming the mattress comment is a joke. The liability alone is too great and as we all know the Chester Upland School District does not need any more financial problems.)
ReplyDeleteWe all have our opinion on the perceived problem; let's move to a viable solution on how this can be funded. Stefan since you live in close proximity to the cheerleading coach maybe you can knock on her door, share your concerns in case she has not read your blog, and offer to spearhead the securing of funding. This could enhance an already great cheerleading program, steeped in tradition, tried and true (a fact that you don't have to worry about me arguing against, I fully embrace it.)
Honestly, I'd much rather spearhead a campaign to figure out how to save the schools than save the cheerleaders.
DeleteWell the door is wide open for that too. Good luck!
ReplyDelete