A high school assistant principal was suspended for saying that “girls ruin everything”
Another year, another round of sexist school dress code incidents. And the most recent egregious event entails a Tennessee assistant principal saying that “girls ruin everything” in relation to a ban on athletic shorts—and he said it on camera.
Jared Hensley, Soddy-Daisy High School’s assistant principal and athletic director, produced a televised PSA for the student body in which he explained that athletic shorts were no longer appropriate school attire. He threatened students with detention if they did not comply with the new rules.
"And if you really want someone to blame," Hensley said, "blame the girls, because they pretty much ruin everything. They ruin the dress code, they ruin—well, ask Adam. Look at Eve—you can really go back to the beginning of time."
Hensley was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday, September 26th, hours after his comments aired.
The video was initially posted to a YouTube account connected with the school, but it has since been taken down. The Chattanooga Times Free Press obtained and reposted the video on Wednesday afternoon. In less than 24 hours, it had been viewed over 68,000 times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Vt0Wm3__U?feature=oembed
Many people, including present and former Soddy-Daisy students, have taken to Twitter to express their disgust over Hensley’s blatant sexism, calling his comments embarrassing and unacceptable.
Tennessee high school AD put on leave after saying girls 'pretty much ruin everything' – USA TODAY Women Really Ruined Everything Since Adam & Eve?
I Dont remember Women Being Responsible for WW1&2,Priests Abusing👦🏻,Inquisition,Slavery, Holocaust,Napalm? https://t.co/DJBxgM1SH1— Cher (@cher) September 27, 2018
Cher, I go to Soddy Daisy High and I can’t thank you enough for your support and your defense. I’m crying right now. He has said some horrible things off camera as well and I just find it amazing that someone like you will stand up for us and in a way me. Thank you so much.
— Hanna Nikole Goins (@little_miss_nd) September 27, 2018
Good ole Soddy Daisy High School in Tennessee with their chauvinistic staff. #sexism pic.twitter.com/PtywFwWxJ5
— Jennifer D. Meglich (@JenniferDSayle) September 26, 2018
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However, there are also students who are sticking up for their assistant principal. They claim that his positive actions in the Soddy-Daisy community outweigh this single negative comment.
I’m a FEMALE senior at soddy daisy highschool and have attended there for all 4 years and just wanted to put it out there that girls DID ruin the dress code in all honesty. And coach Hensley has been a great leader in our school for so many people, myself included. It was a joke
— Morgan (@mlo46_morgan) September 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1045114862471393280
This is OUR Vice Principal, Jared Hensley this afternoon during the chaos of the downpour and severe weather making sure everyone gets home safely. You cannot tell me that this man doesn’t care for the students of Soddy Daisy High School. #teamhensley pic.twitter.com/YCMRj4RjUb
— Gavin Chambers (@gav_chambers) September 26, 2018
Soddy Daisy is freaking ridiculous man. Everyone and anyone knows who the most caring individual is in that school. If you say otherwise, you obviously haven’t spent more than 5 minutes with him.
— Dillon Clift (@DillonClift7) September 26, 2018
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On the afternoon of September 26th, Hamilton County Superintendent Bryan Johnson said in a statement per USA Today, "We find the comments about young women in this video inexcusable, as the sentiments expressed do not align with the values of Hamilton County Schools. The situation is under investigation, and this employee has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately."
Hensley’s comments are absolutely unacceptable—regardless of what positive things he’s done in the past. What we say matters—whether in jest or in earnest—and we expect better from our educators.
