Re: Vuvuzelas Need to Go

I checked in with Helen Williams at HPISD regarding the vuvuzelas. Here’s what she had to say:

I am forwarding an e-mail that Walter Kelly recently sent to a parent in response to a question about vuvuzelas.

To answer your question about sales, the entrepreneurial student who was selling the vuvuzelas did not have permission to do so, and he was told to discontinue selling them immediately, which he did. Student groups and booster clubs need permission to sell items on school property.

Also thought you’d want to know that vuvuzelas are not allowed at any indoor events, including pep rallies.

Thanks,

Helen

Helen Williams
Director of Communications

>>> Walter Kelly 9/9/2010 11:03 AM >>>

Following the World Cup, vuvuzelas have become a rather loud, and cheap, noisemaker fad for sporting events. We will be managing this in the following ways:

  • We did encounter the student and disallowed the sale of them on stadium grounds. We will continue to monitor and enforce this.
  • Currently, UIL allows for these devices for outdoor events. To avoid significant differences and possible confusion with other schools and sites, we will not specifically ban vuvuzelas at this time.
  • We will require that students do not use them during half-time to show respect student performers. We will collect them from students using them during this time.
  • We will monitor the situation to determine future action.

I appreciate the feedback, and we will continue to work on this. Thank you for attending the game.

By Merritt Patterson Sep. 9, 2010 | 11:36 am | 12 Comments | Comments RSS
12 comments to "Re: Vuvuzelas Need to Go"
  1. SKA @ September 9, 2010 at 12:54 pm
    Listen here Patterson, why are you so desperate to get rid of these things? It’s parents like you that caused school tradition to take a turn for the worst the past few years. You should be thanking the senior class for trying to restore the school spirit and pride HP used to have.

    -$KA

  2. Avid Reader @ September 9, 2010 at 2:03 pm
    @ska, what specific school spirit(s) have been lost that we “used to have”, just curious.

  3. grump @ September 9, 2010 at 2:08 pm
    I’m president of PETOVUVU(People for the Ethical treatment of Vuvuzelas).
    Vuvuzelas don’t deafen, people do.

  4. bc @ September 9, 2010 at 2:17 pm
    I’m officially starting all future written communications with Merritt like SKA did. “Listen here Patterson!” It reminds me of a mustachioed newspaper editor with suspenders and a banker’s collar yelling at the rookie columnist.

    So, listen here Patterson! I really like your work.

  5. D @ September 9, 2010 at 2:47 pm
    SKA,

    I agree. But let’s not stop at Vuvuzela’s. Let’s bring air horns, pots and pans, cowbells, cymbals, those long horns that swedish guys wearing lederhosen blow in the alps. NOTHING says school spirit like loud noises!

  6. mk @ September 9, 2010 at 4:18 pm
    “Listen here, snarky Scots senior!” I’d bet 100 bucks you wouldn’t address a teacher, coach or your parents like you just did Merritt. What’s up with that?

  7. E @ September 9, 2010 at 4:27 pm
    SKA- Junior here, and those vuvuzelas are not restoring school spirit. They’re just annoying. Sing the fight song or something. The first half of the game last week was just obnoxious because I couldn’t talk to my friends or hear myself think. Cheer and actually watch the game to show your spirit.

  8. SKA @ September 9, 2010 at 5:04 pm
    E, you have no room to talk here. You’re time will come next year don’t worry. Avid reader, the past couple of years the grades above us have forced the administration to take away certain things from us (ie: the howdy dance, Scotsmen skits, and the backlight pep rally). Only this year was the howdy dance put on again and at our first pep rally the Scotsmen were able to do a skit. The administration loves our grade because we have shown school spirit out the wazoo and they appreciate the support. Mk, cute picture of your cat..

    $KA

  9. SKA @ September 9, 2010 at 5:09 pm
    And Bc, thank you for appreciating the humor I was trying to throw in that first comment. I’ll consider growing a mustache and wearing suspenders

  10. E @ September 9, 2010 at 6:24 pm
    SKA- I agree with mk. You wouldn’t say that in front of our faces. I am allowed to state my opinion, and I believe, correct me if I’m wrong, that I am doing it in a respectful way. I would not feel ashamed to say this to your face at all. All I’m saying is that their are other ways to show spirit and ways that are fun for everybody, like the Scotsman skits. Those are great and not deafening.

  11. JGA @ September 9, 2010 at 8:57 pm
    okay you guys seriously need to chill out. were showing school spirit and i think its perfectly okay if its while we are on defense. on offense i also agree that we should not be blowing them as it can interfere. its better that now people are actually engaged in the game instead of everyone standing and talking and it being a massive social event. now that people actually watch the game and cheer their team you parents and adults freak out? come on..

  12. JGO @ September 12, 2010 at 12:23 am
    I love $KA and I love that you guys can throw in the $ sign for the S this year. While it is unlikely that $KA would address a real live adult and not the internets with “Listen here…” it’s also unlikely that the regulars on this page would truly repeat their gripes and “just sayin’” kvetching out in the real world either. Who’s calling for the Grenade Handler at the next PTA meeting? Isn’t one of the great features of the internet the promise of relatively anonymous griping? And isn’t the glory of being a senior at a school as great as HP the unbridled confidence of youth? Lord knows that can take a hit freshman year.

    $KA thank you for ’11s invaluable contribution, however great or small, towards bringing back the Howdy Dance and all the other things High Park High grads love so dear. I hope you guys are playing over Thanksgiving and that the horns are deafening.

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