It was a classic teaching moment for Wichita East High School parents, teachers and administrators.
A parent at Wichita East where Michael Kelley attends expressed “concern,” to the school’s teachers that Kelley was wearing the coat without earning a varsity sports letter. Kelley, who is afflicted with Down Syndrome and autism, participates on a special needs extracurricular basketball team.
Some yahoo teacher forwarded the parent’s whiny complaint to the school principal.
Rather than dismiss the parent’s complaint and work quietly behind the scenes, school officials ruled that Kelley couldn’t wear the Wichita East coat that his mom Jolinda Kelley bought for him because he had not earned a varsity letter.
Wichita East principal Ken Thiessen confirmed that teachers and administrators decided that a varsity letter jacket “is not appropriate” for Kelley.
Is this first grade?
First of all, I don’t believe for a minute students were upset that Kelley wore a Wichita East jacket with a letter on it. He was proud of his high school.
The story about the kind-hearted youngster who isn’t allowed to wear his letter jacket has gained national attention for Wichita East.
A Wichita East student started dialogue for special needs students to earn positive recognition.
“When I learned that Michael wasn’t allowed to earn a varsity letter, I thought it must have been a mistake,” wrote Wichita East student Libby Hastings. “Wichita East High School is an amazing school in a community with a big heart. I was surprised to find out that the school district doesn’t have a policy that ensures varsity letters can be earned for participating in special needs sports.”
A Change.org petition has called on the school district to outline a policy for awarding special needs students varsity letters.
“They should provide an avenue for special needs athletes to earn the same varsity recognition as all other students,” Mrs. Kelley said. “It’s about the school district creating a policy for all its schools that treats every student with the same level of equality and compassion.”
As far as Wichita East’s school leaders?
They failed miserably. Give them an “F.”

Jim Misunas