South Jersey school district reverses ban on Eagles gear for teachers ahead of Super Bowl
Winslow Township school district had initially told staff they could not wear Eagles attire this week.
After initially declaring Eagles attire unacceptable for Winslow Township school teachers to show their team pride, the South Jersey school system has had a change of heart.
A controversy ensued this week when Assistant Superintendent Dorothy Carcamo handed down a dress code edict banning Eagles gear in a memo distributed to principals ahead of the Super Bowl. She noted then that the district’s “primary focus remains student achievement.” Winslow enrolls 4,500 students.
“We are not here to represent the Eagles or any other sport team,” she wrote in the memo, obtained by The Inquirer. “Therefore, your staff should not be dressed in any football or other athletic attire.”
The directive sparked a social media backlash in the Camden County community about 30 miles south of Philadelphia. The dress code only applied to staff; students were allowed to wear their favorite Eagles gear, and elementary schools had spirit week.
“This should be a time for communities in South Jersey to come together and cheer for the local team,” said Steven Baker, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Education Association, which represents teachers and support staff.
The school district’s mascot is an eagle and its athletic teams wear green and white, like Philadelphia’s NFL team. Winslow High’s football team in December captured the NJSIAA Group 4 state football championship, the first time in the program’s history.
In response to concerns, the district on Thursday clarified its policy against sports-related attire, except at designated spirit days. The longstanding policy applies to all teams and events, regardless of the circumstances, the district said.
To celebrate the Eagles’ trip to the Super Bowl, the district now plans to hold a special “Green Day” Friday, and students and staff can wear Eagles gear or other team-related attire, Carcamo said.
“We value our school community’s excitement and appreciate everyone’s cooperation in upholding our school’s policies while still fostering a fun and engaging atmosphere,” Carcamo said in a statement. “Go Birds!”
Schools, businesses, and towns across the region are getting ready for Sunday’s Super Bowl with spirited pep rallies and activities. Some schools have scheduled a two-hour post-game delay on Monday.