What began as one principal’s decision to change a fundraising event from tackle to a flag football game has flared into a controversy over sexism and tradition entangling scores of frustrated students and parents, the Palm Beach County School Board and the Jupiter Town Council.
Every year since 1966, 11th and 12th grade girls at Jupiter Community High School have faced off in a tackle football game to raise money for the boys’ team, known as a “Powderpuff” game. But this year, school Principal Daniel Frank said the game could not go on unless it became flag football, citing safety and liability reasons.
First, it was the pads: school officials said having girls wear boys’ equipment would create a safety risk. Then, a local athletic association offered to provide whatever was needed. Next, it was practice: The school said the girls would need a full month to learn how to tackle properly. Then 12th grader Savannah Tardonia cited the state’s high school football coaching manual chapter and verse at a local School Board Meeting. “Policy 41.4.7,” she read, states that “beginning Day 6 of practice, full gear can be utilized and body-to-body contact is permitted.”
“The community’s in an uproar. The board office got lots and lots of emails,” Palm Beach County School Board Member Frank Barbieri told his colleagues. “I mean, if the parents want it, the community wants it, the girls want it, it’s safe. I don’t understand why they’re changing a procedure that’s been in place for 50 years.”
Ultimately, though, the school board voted that the game would have to be played somewhere other than school property, so the controversy continues.
An online petition has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures.Powderpuff supporters are planning to turn out for a meeting this Tuesday to convince Jupiter’s Town Council to let the game take place.
