Washington high school awards ceremony includes profanity, sex toys and priest jokes
A Washington high school awards presentation included foul language, sex jokes and toys prompting the Bellingham High School drama teacher has issued a formal apology after her awards ceremony upset and enraged a parent who contacted the local press.
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“I sat there with my mouth open in shock and the final straw was when a joke was told on stage about a teacher, a lawyer and a priest on a plane. The plane was going down and the teacher says we have to save the children. The attorney says “F*** the children!” and the priest says “OOOOH..Do we have time for that???” the email to KOMO News read.
The mother, wishing to remain unnamed, detailed the actions of Teri Grimes, the veteran drama teacher set to retire.
In addition to what she considered to be offensive language and the off-color joke, the parent said the awards handed out during the ceremony weren’t appropriate for children. She said one of the categories was for “the horniest stud,” where the award was a sex toy.
“WE need to get the word out there that THIS is the kind of TRASH that is being taught in our schools. I am so shocked right now I am in tears,” the parent said in her email to KOMO.
Grimes addressed the issue in a written statement.
“I deeply apologize for some very inappropriate comments and actions made during our drama students’ end-of-the-year awards ceremony. This is not representative of our students who take such great pride in their school and respect one another. Much of the evening was a great celebration of their work. However, as a teacher and the club’s leader, I take full responsibility and am extremely sorry,” the statement reads.
The district says the school principal held a meeting with drama students and Grimes that was very productive. A spokesperson says everybody involved expressed sincere apologies and regret.
