Four Tucson boys have been suspended after they took their high school spirit week too far, donning culturally offensive costumes and posing for a photo that spread widely on social media.
The Pusch Ridge Christian Academy sophomores were taking part in “Squad Day,” in which students were allowed to dress creatively within a group theme.
Two of the boys involved sought permission from the private school’s principal to dress as members of U.S. Armed Forces and were approved. Another two, without permission from the school, wore what was apparently intended to look like Middle Eastern garb.
At some point, the four came together and posed “in what appears very much to be an ‘execution’ scene,” said Pusch Ridge Headmaster Rev. Allen Cooney.
Two of the boys are kneeling in the photo, seemingly held captive by the boys dressed as American soldiers. The photo resembles images terrorist groups have posted online of their executions of westerners.
The photo was taken by a classmate who posted it to the social media network Snapchat. While Snapchat photos are automatically deleted after the intended recipients see them, someone took a screen shot of the photo before it disappeared from Snapchat and posted it to Twitter. From there it was posted and shared on Facebook and traded among Pusch Ridge families and alumni like Denver resident Josh Spegman, a 2009 graduate who got wind of the controversy after it popped up on his Facebook feed.
“Quite frankly, my first reaction was disgust and also a little bit of shock,” said Spegman.
In an effort to understand what happened and the circumstances, Spegman, like others who came across the image, contacted the school.
He, and others, received a response from Cooney that read, in part, “The image is contrary to PRCA’s deepest values and highest beliefs” and said, “The administration, faculty and staff condemn the portrayal. The parents of the boys absolutely disapprove of the scene; and, indeed, the boys regret extremely their foolishness.”
“This is not what Pusch Ridge Christian Academy stands for, teaches, or models,” Cooney added in the message. “On the contrary, all our instruction, policies, and personal modeling seek to follow, albeit imperfectly, the example of Jesus Christ.”
The majority of Pusch Ridge students opted for costumes that were “clever, cute and original,” Cooney wrote. For example, students dressed as M&Ms, Minions, “The Wizard of Oz” characters and athletes .
While the school does not observe Halloween, it is reviewing guidelines for other occasions.
A survey of Tucson-area school districts found that costume guidelines vary by school, but most campuses prohibit masks, heavy makeup, real or fake weapons and fake blood.
In general, costumes must be age-appropriate and not provocative or offensive.
