A middle school in Washington State has come under fire after hosting a bizarre licking game between students and staff. Shocking footage showed the outlandish competition at Desert Hills Middle School in Kennewick, Washington, where schoolkids and their adult teachers were tasked with licking marshmallow cream off either side of a plexiglass pane at the same time.
The competition was proposed as part of a pep rally and fundraiser held before the students departed for spring break. Two plexiglass panes with several spreads of marshmallow cream were positioned in the center of the school’s gym, before teams of students and teachers sprinted towards each other and licked the cream off the glass. The competition often saw the adult teachers and minor students licking their respective sides of the glass at the same time.
Horrified students, some of whom recorded the game and showed their parents, can be heard in the video screaming ‘Ew’, ‘Disgusting’ and ‘That’s so gross’. After the disturbing footage was circulated, outraged parents have hit out at the middle school, with many questioning how the disturbing competition was allowed to go ahead.
The video led many to argue it may be an example of ‘grooming’, however, school officials combatted those claims, saying that ‘there is zero evidence to suggest or support that this was in any way “grooming” activity on the part of organizers or participants.’ Still, numerous parents complained, and school officials admitted that the activity was not aligned with district expectations.
Following the backlash to the competition, the school’s superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce sent a letter to the school’s families. Pierce wrote that ‘this activity does not reflect the high standards we hold for our staff members as outlined in district policy,’ and that the situation was being investigated by the district. Pierce added that school officials would be ‘taking appropriate actions to address the situation’.
Parents have also said that one of the educators licking the glass is a vice principal, while the school’s principal, Casey Gant, was seen filming the game himself. After initially calling other parents to question whether she may be overreacting in her outrage, Megan Sa, whose daughter filmed the game and later sent it to her, added to Fox News that she immediately emailed school officials to demand an explanation.
Sa said she was ‘most’ disturbed by a security guard, who she claimed ‘looked like he was licking the marshmallow off of the plexiglass in a sensual way.’ Many parents were shocked and outraged that adults in the room allowed the game to continue without intervening.
Desert Hills Middle School Principal Casey Gant apologized for the incident in a letter to parents, saying: ‘As building principal, I take ownership for the events that occur in my school, and I recognize the impact that this situation has had on our school community. I am committed to the safety of our students and staff and will ensure that all future activities meet the highest professional standards and adhere to district policy.’
Overall, the disturbing and bizarre game at Desert Hills Middle School has sparked outrage and led many to question how such an inappropriate activity was allowed to take place. While school officials maintain that the intent of the activity was innocent, it is clear that the situation was not aligned with district expectations and appropriate action will be taken to address the situation.
