Boy with Down syndrome crowned homecoming king at Papio-LV South
Source: Omaha World Herald
By Joe Dejka
Jacob Gehringer, a boy with Down syndrome, was crowned homecoming king Friday night at Papillion-La Vista South High School.
A capacity crowd erupted wildly at the election of Gehringer, 18, whose crowning took place during a ceremony on the football field at Papillion-La Vista's Foundation Field.
The announcement brought some in the crowd to tears.
Gehringer and the homecoming queen, Adyson Goodnight, 17, took the traditional chariot ride following their selection.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130920/NEWS/130929752/1685#boy-with-down-syndrome-crowned-homecoming-king-at-papio-lv-south
Nomination (Boy with Down syndrome among nominees for homecoming king at Papio-LV South) post here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023700591
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)K&R
7962
(11,841 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)Good kids, all. Good parents, too.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)This is as much about the rejection of the star football player/cheerleader dominating the school as it is about encouragement of the differently abled!
dhill926
(16,234 posts)good job students.
Nine
(1,741 posts)...and I DO think that this was nice and that hearts were in the right place...
...but may I be permitted a tiny twinge of reservation about it? I just have a teensy uneasy sense that there's some bit of condescension inherent in this gesture, something that just robs this boy of his dignity to some slight degree.
I also ask myself whether this could be considered "slacktivism"? Casting a vote in a homecoming contest doesn't cost much in personal terms, but I wonder how much these other students try to interact with this boy on a daily basis and how much consideration they normally give him.
Again, not trying to crap on this, but I think there are issues here worth looking at a little more closely and thoughtfully.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,273 posts)But I see your point.
Nine
(1,741 posts)I was hesitant to post.
Cha
(295,929 posts)Gehringer's mother said the inclusive environment at Papio South was a big factor in his nomination.
Classmates got to know her son because they grew up alongside him. He takes the same classes as they do, plays cymbals in the band and is on the bowling team.
His mother said inclusion benefits his classmates, too, opening their eyes to the potential of people with intellectual disabilities.
I went to the link to see what else it had to say.. and sure enough. "... acceptance is ingrained in the culture."
No condescension going on.. they know him. Bam.