Friday night football is an exciting time for a high school community. It’s when students, community members, politicians, business owners and relatives come to games to cheer their team on.
In fact, in some communities, businesses empty out because so many people are at the games. We see the beauty of high school football depicted in movies such as “Varsity Blues” and “Remember the Titans” and TV series such as “Friday Night Lights.” These dramas also touch on the pressure of high school football and the high expectations that communities have for their teams.
Unfortunately, in the real world, bad behavior erupts at high school games — fights and even worse. This year alone, brawls at high school games in U.S. cities including Atlanta and Phoenix have led to games being canceled.
The tendency of some youths to make poor decisions and behave in reckless ways is something that worries parents, school administrators and law enforcement, particularly during highly attended events.
Just recently, at a Friday night football game at Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, five students from Frankfort’s Lincoln-Way East High School could be seen engaging in racist behavior, including making monkey sounds and flapping their arms like monkeys. All the while, other people there, including parents, could be seen looking on. Fortunately, the students from Lincoln-Way East were removed, and no violence ensued.
Administrators from both schools are talking, according to reports. Lincoln-Way East released a formal apology, stating the following: “We would like to sincerely apologize to the HF community for the behavior displayed by these students.”
This is a step in the right direction. But what will happen next? Is this a reflection of a lack of diversity in staff? Were these just individuals behaving unscrupulously, or did the community where they reside contribute somehow?
Based on nearly every metric, according to the Illinois Report Card, Lincoln-Way East is an outstanding school, with a rating of exemplary. Its graduation rates are over 96%, well above the Illinois state average of 89%, and math and English scores are well above the state average.
At the same time, of the 150 full-time teachers in 2025, only 1.3% are Black; yet, the school has a Black student population of 11.1%. We could make the argument that a more diverse staff could play a role in helping all students learn how to accept and embrace cultural differences. A more diverse staff doesn’t guarantee youths will avoid engaging in clearly offensive behavior. What we do know is that when people of different cultures talk and work alongside each other, racial relationships improve. The value of cross-race relationships and of an inclusive culture is well documented.
Homewood-Flossmoor and Frankfort are less than 15 miles apart. Both student bodies will see each other at different events, public places and different venues. How parents talk to their children about this unfortunate event will affect how youths from both communities behave toward each other. Kitchen table discussions can escalate or deescalate the matter. All parents should recognize that the five students from Lincoln-Way East High made some poor decisions and recognize that the Homewood-Flossmoor student body responded well by not retaliating. This could also be a teachable moment for Lincoln-Way East. How can it better educate and prepare its students on the topic of cultural awareness and diversity? How can it better prepare students for a diverse workforce when they graduate from high school?
Hopefully, stakeholders from both sides will talk to each other and help all students embrace differences. There is nothing more American than Friday night football. Let’s help our youths make better decisions by teaching them that all people matter.
In doing so, this could help both communities heal and ultimately lead to better relationships.
More Top Picks Arlo Ultra 2 Wireless
Jerald McNair is a school administrator in South Holland School District 151. McNair has a doctorate degree in education and a graduate degree in public policy.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].