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Subscribe to RSSA high school principal is apologizing for pep rally prank earlier this month in which blindfolded students were surprised to find they had kissed their parents in front of classmates.
ROSEMOUNT, Minn. -- The gag at Thursday's pep assembly at Rosemount High School was supposed to be a joke. But when it went viral on YouTube some people didn't find it the least bit funny.
"As principal I am responsible for everything that happens in the school so, ultimately, I am the person that needs to answer for this," school principal John Wollersheim said Wednesday.
Staff at the school planned a prank for the assembly during which each of the winter sports team captains were blindfolded and kissed.
The idea was that the students believe the kisser was another student and then guess who it was but the joke was the mystery kisser was that student's mom or dad. It was a gag that ultimately went awry.
Read the original story on kare11.com
"I know there are people who are upset about what they have seen and as principal I am responsible for what happens here. For all the people who are offended, they are genuinely offended, and I owe them an apology," Wollersheim said.
Why people were so put off possibly has a bit to do with context.
What some are upset about is what they saw in a 59-second YouTube clip, which, according to Principal Wollershiem isn't 100-percent indicative of what happened at the assembly.
It is just a clip taken from an activity that went on for nearly a half an hour.
"A lesson to be learned is that what you see on the Internet, sometimes you just see portions of what really happened and it can lead you to think a certain way," he said.
But he isn't making that an excuse. Wollsershiem's main point is to apologize, plain and simple.
"This is supposed to be a fun event and it should leave everyone feeling pepped and if it is leaving people not feeling good or embarrassed or hurt that is absolutely the opposite of what we are trying to do."
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Oh well. If somebody's not offended these days....you're not doing something right.
Oh! For Pete's sakes! When I was in high school (about 1948-9) They once had the school's football team and the cheerleaders on the stage at assembly. At one point the team's star player was in front and the coach said, "We will now demonstrate a forward pass." Where upon the football player turned, ran over to the cheerleaders, grabbed one and gave her a hug and a kiss, which elicited a hearty laugh from the audience of about 2,000, students, teachers and other adults. There were NO angry parents mouthing off afterward.
People need to stop getting their panties in a wad. This is hilarious! My school made us dress the girls like "ruggity men" and the boys like fairy princesses to see who was the manliest and who was the fairest of them all. We also had to dig gummy worms out of a cream pie with a guy/girl partner helping. It was practically like kissing because our mouths were extremely close to each other, but it was a lot of fun :)
On a side note - hilarious choice of music for this. "Girl look at that body. Ahh... Girl look at that body. Ahh... Girl look at that body. Ahh... I work out. I'm sexy and I know it." ;)
??????? Um...ok?
Dammit, I just waste my time on a non-story. It's the children parents, so what is the big deal? I think it was rather cute.
Mr.Wollersheim, if you can read this, YOU are not to blame , oh for petes sake, will you up tight liberals just one time quitcherbitchin. 1. The parents knew about it and helped pull it off. period. that should tell you that somebody was just trying to have some good clean fun.2. Nobody got hazed hurt or molested. now back off and let some NORMAL people have a little fun even if it is a little different.
Harley.....I find that the people who start crapping all over anything fun were NOT involved in it, were NOT harmed by it, and typically stand to the far right of center and logic.
ok, so the kids may have kissed one of their parents? was tongue involved? If not, who cares...if so...EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
I think it's refreshing news and certainly beats reading of another negative story about violence. Live and love
Blue Devil and Harley, there isn't anything political about this at all. Leave your trashy comments where they belong; an article that is actually about politics.
Back on subject, why on earth would people be embarrassed by this? As a team captain, these students should be used to being in some tight or strange situations.
edit: after reading some more posts, I am getting the feeling that it wasn't the students at this school who got worked up over this.
it looks like it took way too long. really gross. maybe they believe incest is best.
A Principal makes upwards of 60,000 a year this is what we get for our money.
So what is offensive here? Parents kissed their kids, in public? The article jumps from the pep rally to the principle apologizing. For what?
Huh?
Why is anyone 'offended' over this? Embarrassed? Hurt?
BTW, no one has a 'right' to never be offended by anything in life. They'd probably be much happier if they weren't constantly looking for a reason to be 'offended.'
I agree, did the parents stick their tongues inside their children's mouths? I am confused, I checked the Youtube clip and it looked like it was dramatized to make it LOOK like they were French-kissing (like they do in the movies), when in reality they weren't. The kids were even laughing. I doubt it was anything serious or perverted like some are trying to imply.
I'm an alumni of the highschool and trust me, this is blown out of proportion and taken completely out of context. The people that I have talked to that participate thought it was funny and did not have a problem and all the student that were present thought it was funny. The people that made a HUGE deal about this situation was a rival high school who took it completely out of context and started posting about it via twitter and facebook. There were no tongue kisses from what I was told and it was all dramatized.
Cousin Vicky: "I'm going steady; and I French kiss."
Audrey: "So. Everybody does that."
Cousin Vicky: "Yeah, but daddy says I'm the best at it."
--National Lampoon's Vacation, 1983
Agreed, we have situations like the Penn St scandal going on and someone takes a lighthearted (well-intentioned) activity and ruins it for everyone involved. Brilliant!
Terelyn, I agree. The principle had no reason to apologize to people who saw the video on youtube and were offended. The principle answers to parents and the school board. If they knew what was going on and didn't have a problem with it then he doesn't owe a thing to the folks who saw only a short video.
I commend him for his "buck stops here" accountability, but he's jumping the gun here.
On the other hand, I'm not sure how watching football players kiss their moms (and dads!) is supposed to get the team fired up. Not offended, just confused.
LOL! I thought it was funnier than parents giving little kids stupid gifts just because Jimmy Kimmel told them to do it. Oh well to each his own. I guess we all need to lighten up.
Much ado about nothing.... as usual.
I'm offended that someone is offended. Give us all a break.
You're offended AND you want a break?! Now I'm offended.
lol
I'm offended that you're offended about being offended about giving ann a break because she's offended.
... I think I got that right. Don't take offense if I am mistaken. :P
It seems like everything, and everybody offends someone. Get a life, I thought it was a cute gag, and lighten up. We had an incident in one of our High Schools last year. I remember an incident in which a boy painted a paper sign and hung it on the school building asking a girl for a date. It wasn't painted on the building but they got in an uproar, and expelled the kid. I guess it got resolved and they readmitted him to school. I hate to think of some of the things I did in High School, in today's era. I would probably be sent to reform school.
I am really, really beginning to be "offended" by that blasted word "O-F-F-E-N-D-E-D"!!! Good grief, people need to grow up and stop acting like temper-tantrum-throwing two-year-olds!!! I'm having to see my chiropractor more often because of shaking my head at all the nonsense people come up with! Lol.
I am offended by the word. No one can say it any more! Problemo solved. ;)
Hi - you're cute.
Its not funny its stupid and nasty. Why on earth would you have a parent act like they were passionately kissing their own kid. Everyone of the teachers and administrators involved with this should be suspended without pay.
I'm sure the NAMBLA can allow you supporters of these acts into their organization, since you think this is normal you'd fit right in. Hey maybe you were born thinking playing tonsil hockey with your parents was normal and all the world should watch you do it.
4thepeople,
Unless you were there, you can't really know what went on... Seems like the parents thought it was funny - given the whole context of the assembly (as the article implies). Maybe trusting them to know what is or isn't offensive might be a good place to park any offense....
Kat Mandu
First of all you don't know if I attended. Maybe I can trust you to not jump to conclusions as to whether or not I was there. Oops I guess not. Maybe I could trust the principal to stand behind the good judgment of these parents. Ooopsie dee I guess not. Maybe I could assume that schools shouldn't be endorsing any types of public affection as a way to get fired up for winter sports. Do you kiss other teams frequently where you live during competition??? Wouldn't that make the NFL more fun on Monday night???
Curious that so many were offended that it became a story line on a liberal website. Less than 10,000 views of it and likely half or more than half after this article. So if it was enough to make people upset and become and article on MSN it merits review.
The teams weren't participating in LipOlmypics , a National Kissathon, TonsilHockey Champonship so why would kissing someone blindfolded in front of the school be funny. And why a parent. Be funnier to have some gay dude kiss the football captain don't you think the school would erupt in laughter??? Myself and all of my friends would still be laughing today, we would have chuckled every time we spotted el Capitan, we would have shared spirited cries and kept him fired up for the next event. What better way to get everyone in the mood for fun than laughter right?
It was stupid, the principal will be lucky to have a job, apologies were offered. In other words much of the normal world (with the exception of those in Arkansas) would think this was abnormal and wierd.
Generic61 - Careful. You may offend Jaime 77 or be charged with sexual harassment. Don't you know giving a woman a complement now days can get you in trouble?? lol
4thepeople - did you have a point? Like most 'offended' people you seem to have trouble framing a coherent explanation of exactly what offends you.
Classy
I am offended that people are offended... ;)
I really don't get the controversy here. Was nothing else going on so people had to just find an innocuous clip on the internet and find a way to be offended by it? If they should be up in arms about anything, it's that stupid song "Friday". I know it's old news but I still hate it with a passion.
Word. I will go up in arms with you over that song. Time to get OFFENDED!!!
That song "Friday" is absolutely hilarious and indescribably .........well, just plain bad. Love the girl who did it, though.
The Friday song had some of the worst lyrics I've ever heard. Katy Perry later did a video with her and showed her that "Last Friday Night" is how you do a Friday song properly.
I actually loved the Friday song, as well as the young lady who sang it.
Maybe if the girl who sang the "Friday " song had a video for it where she was making out with her Dad it would be more popular. I don't mean cutesy little cheek pecks, I mean full on tongue.
People are so sensitive these days. I just don't get it. And every group has to have some sort of advocate for them. Give me a break. Grow up, get some stones, and learn to deal with the world as it is. Life is not now, nor has it ever been fair...if it were babies would not be born blind, women would not be assaulted, and children would not be abused.
.
I'm offended,
my whole world, has been up-ended,
"Just a kiss", they pretended,
Dad ,I had no clue, that the kisser was you,
but Mom and the school did,
now I'm on You Tube,
And I'm feelin' like a real boob,
please don't ever invite me, to another school assembly,
cause it aint cool.....make me look just like a real fool
There's a song in here somewhere....
I hate rap crap...but that was funny LOL
Best rap song I ever heard was "I'm the Man (Extremely Def Ill Live)" by Anthrax. ~_o
wasn't 'rapped'. Should've heard the tune in my noggin...........
Someone..somewhere will be offended. Offended people need to lighten up and get a life. GEEZ
It's not okay.
Why would a school force any sexual activity upon any student for any reason?
It shouldn't.
If this is so okay, why stop at kissing?
I'm sure the (real) incest victims (children) at home really appreciated this.
Don't kid yourself.
They are out there and they are in your schools and neighborhoods.
your over thinking it. kissing is not always a sexual activity. many cultures kiss as a sign of respect or just to say hi, i know because my culture is one of them. we kiss everyone even strangers and there is no sexual undertone.
Ok, i'm sorry but are you seriously calling this a 'sexual activity' where is your mind? This is an innocent prank (and that's an excessive word as it is). They kissed them on the nose and the cheek your reacting as if they tried to make-out with their child.
My family didn't do it but I have known other families who kiss on the lips upon greeting. It's not a big deal unless someone was french kissing and I highly doubt that in a public high school with parents involved. Seriously.
Nancy, if you're serious, you're crazy? What's "sexual activity" here? A parent giving their child a kiss is sexual? Are you SERIOUSLY comparing a parent kissing their child incest? If that's the case a lot of people are guilty of incest and probably beastiality then?
Nancy......you really need some "sexual activity"
If you think kissing your own child is a sexual activity, you're a perv.
Their own parent vulanteering to kiss their own kid. how can people get offended?. i thought it was fun and awsome event.
OK everyone gets up-in-arms about schools being expected to parent, and now they are offended when the parents actually get involved. I say work out an award for the first school that does something that offends NO ONE. People really need to get some perspective.
Well one of the kids was grabbing his mom's ass and you can see her pulling his hands off her ass. That was DAMN creepy!
Oh crap, no, the mom put her son's hand on HER ass, not the other way around. Look at the 29-30 second mark on the video. A reverse Oedipus Complex! Go mom go!
if you watch the clip a few times you will see that she was the one that grabbed HIS hand and pulled it down there....
im sure when they mean kiss they mean "peck" i doubt that there was any groping or making out or anything like that. i dont see what the big deal is. they kissed their parents so what, if you havent been hugging/kissing your parents all your life then something is wrong with you (not in a dina/lindsey lohan type way but you know what i mean)
one of the mom's grabbed her kids hand and put it on her ass. that is SICK and considered groping. I don't know how many decades it has been since you were a teen, but It has not been very long for me. This would have been VERY disturbing.
Get over it! So what! Who cares! Have fun! With schools not recognizing Christmas, eliminating peanut butter and balloons, pulling out play ground equipment, ........ Who cares about a smooch on the lips.
I don't get it. What is so offensive about this? I kissed my parents plenty of times in public, school included. I can even remember my parents sneakily coming up behind me and picking me up. I didn't cry. I laughed.
And to think my friends call me oversensitive. If people consider something like this prank offensive, then my friends are wrong. I am far from sensitive.
Morality and Dignity, respect and honor - None of this is happening here, and this should not be taking place in a public school, and neither should it be instigated by the staff. In fact you are telling your children they can be bound up and their 'space' assaulted by anyone. No this is wrong.
You want people to start acting human, you treat them with respect as if they ARE human. Not blind fold them and have them be kissed in front of the entire school. Something about society's morbid fascination with voyeurism at its finest here, and the 'staff' needs to go direct activities in a bar, not a school. And there IS a difference in this world where the 'children' are supposed to have so much fun between a playground/or adult bar and a school.
Really? These "kids" are in high school. Don't get YOUR panties in a wad (unless there is something WRONG with you)Ever hear about "fun"?
So you give your parents long lingering kisses on the mouth in public all of the time? I guess it seems normal if that's what you are into.
I just hope that no one was aroused...
Nancy4366............take your meds, please!
To Midwesterner656324,Agree, or as Betty White is quoted as saying,grow a vagina,those things take a pounding
Bodocks open music jam, tonite; at 150 Riverstone pkwy, Canton Georgia. All the blues you can use. Mention this thread to me at the bandstand and get a free beer, and cigarrettes for your daughter.
people need to quit whining about EVERY SINGLE LITTLE THING BUCK UP
Amen!
There have always been those who make a hobby, even a lifestyle, of finding things to take offense at...It's another form of attention seeking. Growing up is the least of the problem, if that's any part of it in the first place. People say I don't act my age, some say I can be downright immature when it comes to cracking up at the silliest things. I choose to hold forth with my inner child and laugh at silliness in the world which, in itself, some clearly find offensive...
Which of us gets invited out more? Which of us stays home in a pout, offended that no one wants to call or be around them?
To all of this I say....giggle, its easier on your throat than yelling.
I thought I heard dueling banjo's playing in the background.. I am completely textless..
people now a days get offended over every little thing, they just want something to complain about!