Four student-athletes at Riverhead High School were disciplined this week for imitating popular NFL quarterback Tim Tebow's trademark kneel down.
Administrators said they punished the students for "Tebowing" because they created an unsafe environment by blocking the halls, resulting in one-day suspensions for two of them.
The students were part of a larger group seen in a YouTube video kneeling in the halls of the school, a move one of the students told Yahoo! was "out of respect for Tebow, and because 'Tebowing' is the new thing to do."
Tebow — a second-year quarterback who has led the Denver Broncos to six straight wins — is known for his devout Christianity and intensity on and off the field. The act has gained popularity as the Broncos have continued to pile up late-game wins.
The students — brothers Tyler and Connor Carroll, and their friends Jordan Fulcoly and Wayne Drexel — had reportedly started the practice on Monday, according to a report in the News-Review.
Yahoo! Sports broke the story early Thursday, later making it to local media. The story also was featured ESPN's Sportscenter, which reported that two of the students' suspensions were lifted after administrators found that they were not previosuly warned.
"It’s wonderful that our students look up to sports heroes such as Mr. Tebow, but we can’t allow students to create unsafe situations in school," Superintendent Nancy Carney said in an email. "Students cannot block hallways and prevent other students from getting to class. A couple of students who were spoken to previously did not heed to the warning given by administrators, and they were disciplined accordingly.
Correction: An earlier version of this story reported that four students were suspended.
1. If kids get backed up in hallways pushing and shoving could cause physical altercations. 2. Students who might need to get to the bathroom might be blocked from doing so. 3. Classes that need to get started because of testing or complicated science labs may be delayed due to this blockage. 4. If an emergency situation such as a fire were to happen this blockage could lead to panic. I could go on and on but this should get you started. People who haven't spent a day in a school for years have no merit in their statements about what a high school hallway is like during class change because they speak from ignorance.
Luke 9:26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Anti God, God haters, in America try to intimate Christians. Tebow is inspiring Christian youth to be bold and courageous. Bravo Tebow! Bravo students!
What a great post. And I agree. It's a shame that they do things in God's name just to elevate themselves or excuse bad behavior. If Tebow thinks that marketing himself and making a spectacle is God's will, then that's in his own head. Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they want. But then that is extended to kids, and they worship or mimmick him, not sure which, and create a safety hazzard and that is ok because Tebow did it and it's God's will, again. Then someone new will come along and do the same thing, and HE gets copycats. Meanwhile, we're getting one step, two steps removed from God and it keeps going on down the line. 50 years from now, God's will be whatever the most powerful or popular or influential person claims it is. There's a good reason that scripture says not to be a spectacle and instead pray humbly alone in the closet. We all can be one with our God with quiet reflection. We don't need to follow other people.