MARYSVILLE-
A student at Marysville High School said she was in tears after attending a pre-holiday school rally featuring a battle of the sexes.
The rallies are not uncommon and pit boys against girls in singing and dancing contests along with other competitive games.
But senior Haylee Spence, who is new to the school, was upset with posters on the gym wall calling on girls to stay in the kitchen to make sandwiches and to get on their knees and scrub the floors.
“I see it as a stereotype and shouldn’t be said about women at all,” said Spence.
Some boys at the school said the posters were all in good fun and some other girls didn’t seem offended.
“I was just having fun, everybody else seemed to be having fun but I guess not now from what we’re hearing,” said student John Flores.
Dylanne Brown, a recent graduate of nearby Lindhurst High, has attended numerous battle of the sexes rallys at her school. She saw pictures of the posters and saw nothing wrong with them.
“It’s all in good fun. No one really means those things anymore because it’s not true, that’s now how life is anymore,” said Brown.
Marysville Joint Unified School District Assistant superintendent Ramiro Carreon said the school acted when notified of the complaint. He praised Spence for bringing her concerns forward, which is encouraged by the district’s anti-bullying policy.
“This is about making sure all students and staff are comfortable and safe,” said Carreon.
He said posters don’t always get the scrutiny that is required from staff or teachers because they are often made at the last minute.
“The rally was not intended in any way to bully, harm, be sexist or insensitive to anyone,” said Carreon.
He added,”Thanks to Haylee, the dialogue is broadening to prevent such insensitive occurrences.”
