By Gary Lloyd
McAdory High School Principal Tod Humphries on the school’s website Monday morning apologized for a bust-through banner that was held up prior to last week’s McAdory vs. Pinson Valley Class 5A playoff football game.
The banner read “Hey Indians, get ready to leave in a trail of tears, round 2.”
“This was not condoned by the school administration, the Jefferson County Board of Education or the community,” Humphries wrote in a public apology. “The person who would normally be responsible for approving such signs is out on maternity leave, and I take full responsibility that arrangements were not made to have the signs pre-approved before the ballgame. Please accept our sincere apologies to the Native American people and to anyone who was offended by the reference to an event that is a stain on our nation’s past forever.”
Humphries said that in response to the bust-through sign used by McAdory High School, all social studies and history teachers will re-teach and/or review units concerning Native American displacement following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
The Trail of Tears refers to the U.S. government’s removal of Indians from areas in the Southeast to Oklahoma. The Trail encompassed the relocation of various Indian nations.
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Stephen Nowlin said the cheerleading squad at McAdory will be disciplined.
“We can use this unfortunate event as an important teachable moment,” Nowlin said on the school district’s website. “We apologize to all Native Americans and to any person who was offended. Our curriculum department will ensure that all students in the future will have a lesson on the Trail of Tears.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.