Parents say Joplin High School student section hurled racial slurs at Parkview basketball players

Springfield Public Schools officials have lodged complaints about the behavior of the Joplin High School student
section during a game Tuesday night in Kaminsky Gymnasium, claiming the students yelled racial slurs at Parkview students with Hispanic surnames.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that the slurs and comments included chanting "call ICE on them at the end of the game," referring to U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Speaking for the Joplin R-8 School District, director of communications and public engagement Sarah Coyne told the News-Leader the district takes the allegations seriously and remains committed to "fostering a positive and respectful environment for all students, staff and visitors."

From the statement provided to the newspaper:

"During the game, our administrators worked with the on-site Parkview administrative staff to take immediate action in addressing exchanges between students from both schools. When reports of inappropriate conduct surfaced, our administrative team responded immediately to investigate and address them."

The statement also noted the district does not "condone any type of inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behavior" and that the allegations will be investigated.

"Joplin Schools leadership is reinforcing expectations with our students and staff, emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship and respect at all school events, especially when emotions become heightened during athletic competitions."

The News-Leader article said that some Springfield parents sent a letter to R-8 Superintendent Kerry Sachetta, High School Principal Randy Oliver, Athletic Director Matt Hiatt, Joplin School Board members and the Missouri State High School Activities Association, describing the actions they say took place at the game.

The letter referenced the ICE comments and said the Parkview locker room was defaced with a racial slur, which was removed by Joplin officials, but only "after the insistence of Parkview administrators.

The parents claimed Joplin administrators did little to control the behavior of the student section.

"The inaction in this case sends a dangerous message: that racially motivated taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct will be tolerated," the parents wrote. "Such indifference not only harms the students who were targeted but also reflects poorly on Joplin High School and its community."

The complaints about the behavior at the Joplin-Parkview game continued in the comment section of the News-Leader's Facebook page, including these, some of which questioned whether the allegations were accurate.

So happy to see this article and hoping real action is taken! 2 years of having to travel to Joplin for volleyball and both years were dreadful. Taunting and trying to pick fights with our girls. Student section making fun of a student that leads chants. When I asked the administrator who was watching it all if he was going to do anything he said we had started it which was not true. We had a crowd outside taunting as we left. A parent asked me who my kid was and when I politely said it was none of her business she said “I’m sure she’s really proud of you” after I had done nothing. Joplin administration needs to step up and fix the behavior…and the reffing…at their games.

These things have been going on since the late 90's by the student section of Joplin HS. Seems like the Admin. is afraid to discipline students because their parents might go to the board.

I've been a lifelong resident of Joplin and the Joplin area and I am deeply ashamed that this happened. This is what comes from children being indoctrinated by MAGA that being racists is not just acceptable and but encouraged. It's unbelievable that we're dealing with this type of thing 80 years after we thought we'd stamped this nazi type crap out.

I watched a replay of the game on HUDL and it looks like something happened near the end of the first quarter when a Parkview player appeared to get T'd up for saying something to Joplin's student section, probably in response to something directed his way. Almost immediately, officials from Joplin stepped in to move the students further away to the bleachers on the baseline. So I am a little confused in that email why it is being alleged the Joplin administration didn't do anything. Maybe that action wasn't enough, but I don't know if they would have heard what was allegedly being said either. I hope the Parkview folks documented whatever was left in the locker room, it's wild that Joplin students or fans or whatever would be in that area during a game.

One potential avenue for change ... the other COC superintendents, principals and ADs need to band together and tell Joplin to get its stuff together or find a new league. There always seems to be a different vibe when you drive just an hour to the "teams out West" that shouldn't be there if you're going to be in the same (one) league. You don't seem to see these issues crop up with Webb City and Carthage ... but Joplin seems often to march to its own drummer in recent years.
Threatening to kick them out of the COC and thereby forcing them to play (and schedule) as a Class 6 independent if they don't clean it up might be enough to start getting them to more actively comply.

Our kids deal with this all the time. Racism is real. And it’s everywhere. But we don’t have to put up with it.

They forgot the part where admin moved the students and then stood there the rest of the game. Or the part where PVs JV team came out and sat right over the student section in Joplin and had to be moved by their admin.