The fall semester of Bailey Griggs' final year at Cramerton Christian Academy in Gastonia was to be filled with special moments with her friends. All that ended abruptly when Bailey's mother, Jennifer Griggs, received an e-mail with the bad news. Mrs. Griggs felt that school, and participation on the cheer team, were "ripped away from her" by Cramerton Christian Academy.
Taken from the school's handbook:
"The school prohibits students from 'attending night clubs or bars' and 'attending gatherings with alcohol or drugs present.'
“When you look at the handbook and the way it’s written, it says that she’s not to be gathering in places where there’s alcohol and drugs,” Jennifer Griggs said. “And she’s not gathering, she’s doing her job.”
Bailey Griggs’ agrees, saying she is at these venues to play music. “I’m the performer and I’m not drinking. I’m underage,” she said.
Jennifer believes her daughter was singled out. “The other kids in the schools, there’s post, many, many posts of them attending music concerts,” Jennifer Griggs said. “If anyone knows, when you go to those concerts, you’re surrounded by alcohol.”
Bailey believes the rules are not being applied consistently. “If you’re going to kick me out, then probably kick the whole school out,” Bailey told WCNC.
Due to my own experience of going to a private Christian school, I am inclined to speak out about this, in part, because it infuriates me to see such a bright, and talented young lady expelled over such nonsense. There were rules about what students could not do off campus at the school I attended. Off-campus behavior should be observed by parents, not by schools. Having a dress code was bad enough. You had to tuck your shirt if it was too long. It was your responsibility to change your shirt or pants if they were too tight or too loose. Infractions were issued for violating the dress code too many times. Too many infractions led to demerits, which inevitably led to three o'clock detention.
Kids have it hard enough without making it harder, and this particular school was WAY out of line. I agree 100% with Bailey Griggs and her mother, Jennifer Griggs. Bailey was not "gathering," she was PERFORMING ON STAGE. Newsflash for Cramerton Christian Academy, musicians do that! As an artist, she was doing her JOB. You have to play wherever you can get booked. You gain more exposure the more shows you play. Unfortunately, that means playing where alcohol is served.
In regards to alcohol, her mother had a good argument. I guarantee you this school's students eat out at restaurants with their families, and guess what? Those restaurants most likely serve alcohol. Any Applebee's, Chili's, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster, you name it, has an alcoholic beverage section on the menu. Even some movie theaters serve alcohol. You can't tell me that kids don't frequent the local movie theater with their parents and/or friends. Chances are teenagers at Cramerton Christian Academy see a movie at least once a year, if not more often. What about sports stadiums and ballparks? There is always alcohol available.
So, why aren't those other students called into question? Why is it only Bailey Griggs who was expelled, hm? Would any other student be expelled if caught at a restaurant, movie theater (serving alcohol), or sporting event? My intuition tells me they wouldn't, considering that restaurants, movie theaters, and sporting arenas are considered 'family-friendly.' I can't imagine a school prohibiting students from eating at restaurants. Concert venues should not be any different, especially when she is performing. This young lady's job is to perform. There is nothing wrong with her being an entertainer.
Drugs aren't present at every live music show, or at least not at the ones I've attended. That is not to say someone cannot sneak a joint into an outdoor music festival. Smoking indoors might be harder, since many indoor venues have strict anti-smoking policies. My local theater strongly prohibits smoking cigarettes, so you couldn't even enter with weed. Nothing that emits smoke, let's just say that. If you smoke, you must do it before entering.
After just a few years performing in North Carolina, Bailey was discovered by Dolly Parton's producer Kent Wells:
In spite of this controversy, Bailey has been invited to perform at the Field and Stream Music Festival in South Carolina. She will share the stage with country music superstars Eric Church and Lynyrd Skynyrd. She is moving on up, and is already looking into other homeschool programs to finish out her senior year. I applaud Bailey Griggs for standing up for herself. Wafflesound Music supports her and her family fully and unwaveringly.
Source link to main article: https://cafemom.com/news/teen-kicked-out-of-christian-school-for-performing-at-bars
Another great article: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13635917/girl-expelled-cramerton-christian-academy-high-school-revenge-teachers.html
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