Im not one to post recent happenings on Facebook, but this is something that cannot be overlooked. Last night while setting up for the SHS Football game halftime show, the director of the band told an intellectually disabled member to sit on a stool by the fence and wait. As the band set up, someone came by and took his stool and never said a word to him. Then, when the band was performing, this individual was obviously trying to signal to someone, but no one paid any attention. As if this wasnt bad enough, after the band had finished and cleaned up, all the members stood on the end line to watch the Merrimack Band perform. No one came to get the individual standing by the fence. An older member who wasnt in uniform walked right by him and the individual was clearly trying to speak to him, probably asking if he could join the rest of the members, and the guy acted as if he didnt exist. Finally, this boy stood up for himself and slowly made his way over to the rest of the band. I did not watch the bands performance, and I sure as hell didnt clap for them. I am fully aware of the prestige surrounding the SHS Band, but the actions I saw tonight brought me to tears. If it hurt me that much to watch the mistreatment of that individual, imagine how he felt. The game started, and the boy continued to stand by the fence. Not ONE person went by to speak to him. I was again brought to tears, and decided to go talk to him myself. His name is Shane and hes a drum major. From talking to him for 15 minutes, I gathered that he is a kind, warm, friendly, gentle person who is passionate about the band, the band who displayed such disrespect to him last night. When I asked if he was sad that he was alone, he said yes. When I asked if he was upset that the director made him wait, he became physically upset and could barely communicate his feelings. The way Shane was treated last night was unacceptable. Although he faces more challenges than most of us, that doesnt make him any less of a human being and deserves to be treated with respect. In this day and age, where everyone is fighting for equality of all walks of people, it is clear that we are still far from where we need to be. Ive sent an email to the principle of SHS retelling the happenings of last night, and I expect at the next games halftime performance to see Shane out there with his peers where he belongs. If the school is going to allow him to dress in uniform, travel to the away games, and be a part of the band, then he deserves a spot out there in the field, just as every other band member does. I was ashamed in the members of the band. In a typical high school community, the band is usually near the bottom of the totem pole on the popularity scale, and one would think that they understand the emotional side affects of being left out and mistreated, and that they would make MORE of an effort to include individuals like Shane. I was disgusted by the actions of the director himself, for leaving Shane alone to wait and never coming back to address him again. I challenge everyone who reads this to reflect on this situation, and think about where you stand. Try putting yourself in Shanes shoes, or in another band members shoes, how would you have wanted to be treated? Shane is just as human as every other member of that band, and its time to start showing off his abilities, too. I am thoroughly disgusted in the actions I saw last night, and I hope that everyone who reads this takes it upon themselves to step up from being a bystander and act in situations like these. Shane is a wonderful person, and he deserves to be treated as such.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:09:22 +0000
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