Thirteen cheerleaders at Evans Middle School in Lubbock, Texas, are recovering from first and second-degree burns. The eighth-grade girls say they were forced by their cheer coach to perform “bear crawls” and “crab walks” on a hot track as punishment, leading to their injuries.
🔥 Why It Matters: Forcing students to perform exercises on a hot surface goes beyond traditional discipline and directly endangers their health. Parents are now questioning the school’s disciplinary measures, with some demanding criminal charges.
🔍 What’s Happening: The cheerleaders claim they were disciplined for performing an unauthorized cheer during a football game. According to the students, the punishment involved physical exercises on the outdoor track, where temperatures exceeded 125 degrees:
• The exercises reportedly caused severe pain, forcing some students to stop and others to become physically ill.
• Despite students’ complaints about burning pain, they say the coach instructed them to continue.
🚨 Between the Lines: This incident raises serious concerns about student safety and the judgment of the adults in charge. According to the parents, the coach allegedly threatened the girls’ future in cheerleading if they failed to complete the punishment.
⚖️ The Big Picture: The Lubbock school district has acknowledged the incident, placing the teacher on administrative leave and stating that an investigation is underway.
Parents are left hoping for justice, as they await the outcome of the investigation into a punishment that has left their children physically scarred and emotionally shaken.
The School District’s Statement: Below is the school district’s statement about the incident.
“Lubbock ISD administration is aware of an incident at Evans Middle School involving a teacher’s disciplinary method that resulted in several students receiving burns on their hands. The teacher directed a group of students to perform “bear crawls” on the outdoor track, which was heated by the day’s high temperatures. This action resulted in multiple students being injured.
We are heartbroken over these events, as the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. This type of incident does not reflect the standards or values of Lubbock ISD and Evans Middle School. We are addressing this matter with utmost urgency, and are fully committed to investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The teacher involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation.
We want to express our deep concern and regret for the pain and distress this has caused the students and their families. No child should ever be subjected to harm in a learning environment, and we are fully committed to ensuring that incidents like this do not happen again.
Lubbock ISD has policies in place regarding appropriate disciplinary actions, and any deviation from those standards is thoroughly reviewed. We want to assure our community that we are addressing this issue in accordance with district protocols and applicable laws. Our goal is to maintain a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all students.”
