A Tennessee high school athletic director has been put on administrative leave after he made sexist comments in a video banning athletic shorts.
In the video, addressed to students, Jared Hensley discussed the fact that athletic shorts had been banned at Soddy-Daisy High School. He specifically addressed the male students explaining that he was forced to make this decision due to the girls breaking the dress code.
“I know, boys, you’re thinking, ‘I don’t understand why, it’s not fair, athletic shorts go past your knees’ If you really want someone to blame, blame the girls. Because they pretty much ruin everything,” said Hensley.
“They ruin the dress code, they ruin … well, ask Adam. Look at Eve. That’s really all you really gotta get to, OK. You can really go back to the beginning of time. So, it’ll be like that the rest of your life. Get used to it, keep your mouth shut, suck it up [and] follow the rule.”
The Chattanooga Times Free Press uploaded the video to YouTube.
The Twitter community was quick to criticize Hensley asking followers to contact Hamilton County School to express their concern.
(1/4) The events of yesterday and today are on our minds and hearts. As an organization, we will not stand for language and sentiment, joke or not, that makes any students feel less-than or to blame for problems they did not cause.
momsforsocialjustice (@momsforsj) September 27, 2018
(2/4) Our community came together and called school board members in the Hamilton County Department of Education and contacted local media outlets and journalists to make them aware of the situation.
momsforsocialjustice (@momsforsj) September 27, 2018
@LatriciaTnc9 Jared Hensley should be fired immediately. There’s no excuse for that kind of misogyny in our educators.
Kathy MacLaren (@AllUKnead) September 28, 2018
Jared Hensley,
I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the women in my life. My wife makes me stronger and loving. My little sister makes me wiser and caring. My friends make me compassionate and welcoming.
You’re view of women is not only wrong, it’s repulsive! Do better! https://t.co/jMCDA6fsGD
Mr. Rattlebone (@BradyLikeBunch) September 28, 2018
Hamilton County superintendent Bryan Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday, “We have reviewed the video content. 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.”
