Skyline High uproar – Why teenagers are warned about social media decisions

Warren County Public Schools finds itself enmeshed in a rising social media uproar after 18 Skyline High School students posed for a photo prior to last Friday’s (September 28) football game against Strasburg.  The photo featuring students sporting dark attire related to the game theme “Back in Black” was posted on social media at some point over the weekend.

In the photo 17 female students and one male surround four posters – one sporting the old AC/DC song title “Back in Black” and three containing profanity and sexually-tinged slams at Strasburg, the town, high school and student body.  One appears to reference an incident of sexually abusive behavior involving a Strasburg athletic team last year; another indicates an incestuous predisposition of those wearing white – perhaps ironically Skyline wore white visitor’s jerseys in the Friday evening game, which Strasburg sporting home purple won 28-3.

A critical backlash soon developed online – “So this is school spirit these days??? Skyline High School in Front Royal, VA, folks” was one posted on Instagram.  It carried a “PS” alleging the involvement of two children of school administrative officials.

The online-posted photo at the center of the Skyline High School student social media uproar

Some of what Drescher said were over 600 online comments suggested the involved students all be expelled – a perhaps harsh assessment for adolescent bad judgment, but also perhaps indicative of a social media tendency toward, not only bad judgment, but also over-reactive hyperbole.

The very public controversy led Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Greg Drescher to post a Facebook apology online Sunday.

“I am embarrassed.  We are better than what is depicted in that picture.  The students in the picture are better than what they showed us Friday evening,” the Warren County Public Schools superintendent wrote.  He added that the school system was taking the incident “seriously” and that information was being gathered related to potential disciplinary action.

“Part of growing up is about making mistakes, we have all made them, but it is also about learning to take responsibility … whatever decisions I and the school makes regarding this incident will be done with the intention of making amends, focusing on what can be learned from this, and ensuring that it will not happen again … While not a lesson anyone has asked for, I do believe that we can learn from mistakes and wish just that for all involved,” Drescher concluded in his written apology.

Public School Superintendent Greg Drescher apologizes for Skyline High student online post, calls for discipline leading to a learning moment. Photo/Roger Bianchini

They were themes he would revisit in his oral remarks to the Warren County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning, October 2.

“It’s unsettling – there is no condition that makes doing something like this okay.  It goes against what most parents teach their children; it’s contrary to what students are taught throughout their school careers.  Schools teach character education, we have many programs and curriculums that focus on appropriate and helpful behaviors,” Drescher told the county supervisors.

He reiterated that any disciplinary actions taken by the school or the school system would be taken “with the intent to learn … that actions have consequences … – and that is the true intention of discipline, to teach,” Drescher stated.

Of the role of social media in spreading some teenagers’ miss-judgment in how to express school spirit or athletic competitiveness, Drescher said, “When that happens it is on a world stage – it’s not just happening in Front Royal or Virginia, it’s around the world.”

Then the school superintendent addressed the reactions, both positive and negative, to what a group of high school students have done to their, their school and their community’s reputation.

“Our community is going to make the difference in what happens going forward.  I can say I am disappointed in some of the responses and suggestions I’ve heard.  However, overwhelmingly I have received comments that talk about lessons learned, being supportive, making sure these students know the issue at hand, but not for me to be heavy-handed.  These are our kids, and I feel each of us has a role in teaching them how to become helpful human beings and helpful citizens.

“So, we’re taking it seriously; we’re still working on it – it takes time to go through some of these things – I’m very sorry it happened,” Drescher concluded in referencing his earlier written Facebook apology.

Drescher also verified that the photo had been taken at Skyline High School Principal Dr. Michael Smith’s home property, though he told the supervisors that Smith had not been aware of the content of the signage displayed by the students gathered at and outside his home.  Drescher also indicated prior to the meeting that information that the majority of female students in the photo were on the Skyline volleyball team was accurate.

Skyline High School Principal Dr. Michael Smith found his home pre-game ground zero for a crash course in ‘adolescent bad judgment 101’ – Photo Skyline High website

Noting he was a lifelong resident of Strasburg, Skyline Principal Smith also posted an online apology:

“This situation affects me not only on a professional level but also on a personal one as well. As a resident of Strasburg I am appalled at the messages that were sent out via social media.  As a Principal I am embarrassed that my students would make such derogatory signs aimed at the people of Strasburg.  These words may go on deaf ears as they are only words but I assure the people of Strasburg that this situation is not being taken lightly.  The Superintendent is handling this situation with the utmost importance and discipline will occur from the top down to the students. Again I wholeheartedly apologize for this situation.”

Perhaps ironically, earlier during Drescher’s monthly update on school system business, he noted that October is “Bully Prevention Month” – online aggression being a growing part of adolescent bullying.

And as he noted, this all comes despite programs designed to alert students to the trappings of negative social media postings and Internet bullying.  In fact, a quick trip to the Warren County Public Schools website reveals this on “Internet Safety” within the school system:

“Warren County Public Schools is committed to providing a safe learning environment for our students. Through internet safety awareness we encourage our students to take appropriate precautions when online. While at school, students are protected by our filtering system. It is important that students be made aware of possible risk factors that exist when using the internet at home.”  This summary is followed by a list of “useful resources that provide safety tips for internet use”.

One guess is that there are at least 18 Skyline High School students who may be paying a little more attention to these “Internet Safety” initiatives this week than they have been in the past.

Watch his comments to the Board of Supervisors here:

Video courtesy of Warren County.