Maryville High School (Tennessee): Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m cited date for alcoa-maryville game in 2006
mNo edit summary
Line 50: Line 50:
[[Controversy]] surrounding the issue received national attention. The former president of a North Carolina [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] chapter agreed with the [[Sons of Confederate Veterans]]'s opposition of the ban, saying that the flag should no longer be considered a symbol of racism. In fact, [[H. K. Edgerton]] organized a walk from [[Johnson City]] to [[Maryville]] to protest the decision, and he subsequently attended every football game of the season dressed in a Confederate uniform and carrying a Confederate flag.
[[Controversy]] surrounding the issue received national attention. The former president of a North Carolina [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] chapter agreed with the [[Sons of Confederate Veterans]]'s opposition of the ban, saying that the flag should no longer be considered a symbol of racism. In fact, [[H. K. Edgerton]] organized a walk from [[Johnson City]] to [[Maryville]] to protest the decision, and he subsequently attended every football game of the season dressed in a Confederate uniform and carrying a Confederate flag.


In 2006, students Josh Ellis and Ellis Metz brought their chosen senior [[mascot]], a stuffed [[raccoon]], into the stadium before the Maryville-Alcoa football game on [[August 25]], [[2006]].<ref>[http://tennessee.coacht.com/inside/schedule.cfm?schoolid=314&seasonid=51&sportid=1 2006 Football Schedule]</ref> A large outcry arose from the public, insisting that the students had racist intentions behind their choice of animals. Newspapers and news channels carried stories about the incident for about a month after the game itself. Though the animal was banned immediately after the game, Dr. Ken Jarnagin has been quoted as defending the students: "These children, I think, did not know [what the symbol meant] at all. It was just another silly thing they were bringing in as a [[mascot]]." Josh later wrote a letter to the community asking that the raccoon issue be laid to rest, as it was causing more problems now that it had become a major community issue. The Raccoon is coincidentally the state animal of Tennessee and the Mascot for the NFL's Tennessee Titans. A "diversity council" has since been formed at the school to raise racism awareness.
On [[August 25]], [[2006]], students Josh Ellis and Ellis Metz brought their chosen senior [[mascot]], a stuffed [[raccoon]], into the stadium before the Maryville-Alcoa football game.<ref>[http://tennessee.coacht.com/inside/schedule.cfm?schoolid=314&seasonid=51&sportid=1 2006 Football Schedule]</ref> A large outcry arose from the public, insisting that the students had racist intentions behind their choice of animals. Newspapers and news channels carried stories about the incident for about a month after the game itself. Though the animal was banned immediately after the game, Dr. Ken Jarnagin has been quoted as defending the students: "These children, I think, did not know [what the symbol meant] at all. It was just another silly thing they were bringing in as a [[mascot]]." Josh later wrote a letter to the community asking that the raccoon issue be laid to rest, as it was causing more problems now that it had become a major community issue. The Raccoon is coincidentally the state animal of Tennessee and the Mascot for the NFL's Tennessee Titans. A "diversity council" has since been formed at the school to raise racism awareness.


In 2008, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals]] affirmed the dismissal of the lawsuit over the ban of student display of the Confederate flag, citing the disturbances which disrupted the school environment as justification of the ban.<ref name="Barr">{{cite court|litigants =''Barr v. Lafon''|vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint = |court=6th Cir.|date =August 20, 2008|url=http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0305p-06.pdf}}</ref>
In 2008, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals]] affirmed the dismissal of the lawsuit over the ban of student display of the Confederate flag, citing the disturbances which disrupted the school environment as justification of the ban.<ref name="Barr">{{cite court|litigants =''Barr v. Lafon''|vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint = |court=6th Cir.|date =August 20, 2008|url=http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0305p-06.pdf}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:00, 15 October 2008

Maryville High School
Location
Map
Maryville
,
Blount County
,
Tennessee

United States
Information
TypePublic
Established1918
School districtMaryville City Schools
PrincipalMike Casteel
Faculty107
Enrollment1553 [1] (October 2007)
 • Grade 9422
 • Grade 10401
 • Grade 11373
 • Grade 12357
Classes146
Color(s)Red and Black
MascotRed Rebels
Websitewww.maryvillehighschool.org

Maryville High School is four-year public high school founded in 1918 in Maryville, Tennessee.

In 2007-2008 there were 1533 students enrolled, and the senior class consisted of 357 students. With 10 faculty members, the staff-to-student ratio was approximately 1:15. The school principal is Mike Casteel.

Maryville High School has been designated by the Governor of Tennessee as an A+ school. Five National Merit Finalists graduated from Maryville in 2003.[2]

The schools athletic teams go by the name "Red Rebels." The football team has won seven out of the past eight 4A state titles. They currently have a 68 game win streak, and have won four consecutive 4A state football titles.[3] During the 2007 basketball season, the basketball team won the state championship in class 3A.[4]

History

The northeast wing is the oldest part of the current building, built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration. The school has been extended several times to the northeast. The school once included the Maryville Polytechnic Institute building, which faced onto Broadway Avenue, but this building has since been demolished.

Controversy

Since 1938, Maryville High School teams have been using the name Red Rebels, and since the 1960s (around the centennial of the Civil War) the Confederate flag.

In 1999, Dr. Christie English, a local doctor, filed a civil rights complaint against the school board, equating the football games with Ku Klux Klan rallies. The school board promptly changed the school's flag, but fans, almost exclusively students, continued displaying, wearing, and bringing the controversial symbol to support the rarely defeated football team.

Supporters of the school board defended their position by stating that the flags (most of which were fastened on poles used to make more celebratory noise by banging on bleachers) were a security issue that could cause serious injury. Opponents argue that the ban is obviously one on the symbol itself, a symbol which, in their minds, no longer represents racism, but is merely an emblem of their beloved school.

Despite administrators' attempts, the student body still managed to bring the Rebel flag into their stadium and others on their clothes, tied around their waists, or even painted on their bodies. When assistant principals attempted to suspend students for wearing the flag, a $20 million lawsuit was pressed against the school for denying the right of free speech. In response, students created facebook groups with names like, "Don't like the rebel flag? Well, don't fly it and shut the hell up!" where they argue that the flag is not a symbol of racism because the Civil War was not fought over slavery, but over states' rights.

Controversy surrounding the issue received national attention. The former president of a North Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter agreed with the Sons of Confederate Veterans's opposition of the ban, saying that the flag should no longer be considered a symbol of racism. In fact, H. K. Edgerton organized a walk from Johnson City to Maryville to protest the decision, and he subsequently attended every football game of the season dressed in a Confederate uniform and carrying a Confederate flag.

On August 25, 2006, students Josh Ellis and Ellis Metz brought their chosen senior mascot, a stuffed raccoon, into the stadium before the Maryville-Alcoa football game.[5] A large outcry arose from the public, insisting that the students had racist intentions behind their choice of animals. Newspapers and news channels carried stories about the incident for about a month after the game itself. Though the animal was banned immediately after the game, Dr. Ken Jarnagin has been quoted as defending the students: "These children, I think, did not know [what the symbol meant] at all. It was just another silly thing they were bringing in as a mascot." Josh later wrote a letter to the community asking that the raccoon issue be laid to rest, as it was causing more problems now that it had become a major community issue. The Raccoon is coincidentally the state animal of Tennessee and the Mascot for the NFL's Tennessee Titans. A "diversity council" has since been formed at the school to raise racism awareness.

In 2008, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the lawsuit over the ban of student display of the Confederate flag, citing the disturbances which disrupted the school environment as justification of the ban.[6]

Student Life

Like at every other high school, Maryville creates lasting relationships for the students. The students attend four classes a day in a block schedule, with a fifteen minute break in between first and second block.

The clubs that are available for the students are as follows: Band, Amnesty International, Anime Club, Art Club, Chess Club, Chess Club Fan Club, Cultural Awareness Club, Cycling Club, Dance Team, Debs, DECA, Drama, Echoes Literary Magazine, Equestrian Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Forensics, Interact Club, Jazz Band, Juggling Team, Junior Classical League, Key Club, Maryville Scholars, Maryville Singers, Miniature Golf Club, Mock Trial, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Orchestra, Outdoor Activity Club, Positive Role Models, Recycling Club, Red & Black School Newspaper, Religious Understanding Club, Rock Climbing Team, Scholars' Bowl, Step Team, Student Council, Trebelettes, Xbox Club, and Yearbook Staff.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ MHS By the Numbers Page 1 (.doc)
  2. ^ School Review - Maryville High School
  3. ^ Historical Maryville Football Scores (1926-Present)
  4. ^ 2007 TSSAA 3A Boys Basketball State Championship Bracket
  5. ^ 2006 Football Schedule
  6. ^ 'Barr v. Lafon' (6th Cir. August 20, 2008), Text.

Other sources

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maryville_High_School_(Tennessee)&oldid=245452559"