Flap over Cheer Costs Cheerleader, 6, Her Spot

At just 6 years old, Kennedy Tesch was looking forward to the new season on her local cheerleading squad in Madison Heights, Mich. But her season was cut short when the squad had a dramatic reaction after her mother complained that one of the cheers might be a little inappropriate for young girls: "Our back's are breaking, our skirts too tight, we shake our booties from left to right."

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When Kennedy's mother, Jennifer Tesch, heard the cheer, she said it was too suggestive for such young girls.

Jennifer said, "Flabbergasted, I guess the best word you can say, because one it doesn't make any sense. To say a 6-year-old should be saying those words is inappropriate."

She asked the team to make some changes in the cheer, but the cheerleading league disagreed with her concerns and instead of modifying it, voted to kick Kennedy off the squad.

Ron Messig, a parent from the area, said, "What it really comes down to is what one person wants against what everybody else wants."

Other parents felt that, since the cheer had been around for some time, they didn't find it offensive.

Jessica Hunter, a parent of a cheerleader, said, "Why can't she go to another team that doesn't maybe have that cheer on their team?"

So for now, Jennifer has been told she can be refunded the money for her uniform, but Kennedy is no longer welcomed on the cheerleading squad.

On "The Early Show", Jennifer said when she heard the cheer for the first time, she was in shock.

Jennifer said, "I've been around cheerleading all my life. I grew up as a cheerleader. I started in this organization. I've been a coach, and I've have never heard this cheer. And to hear this cheer out of my 6-year-old daughter's mouth … I really couldn't comprehend it."

Duane Tesch, Kennedy's father, added he too, thought the cheer's content was inappropriate for a 6-year-old.

Jennifer said she told her daughter she didn't feel comfortable about the cheer.

"(Kennedy) understood that," she said. "You know, when I finally told her the other day that they kicked her off the team, you know, I made sure to know it was nothing she did. She wasn't being punished. Just that people are mad and Mommy and Daddy. And because of that, we were going to have to not be able to go back."

Kennedy told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith she still wants to be on a cheerleading team.

Jennifer said she plans to look for another cheerleading team either this year or next.

"It'll be a different team," she said. "And pursuing it, you know, they said we could come back next year. That's not going to happen. I just want them to acknowledge that kicking her off for their reaction to what I did was uncalled for. Regardless of if they thought I did it wrong, I don't think I did, but, if they did, it just wasn't right to punish her."

Jennifer says that, aside from this cheerleading organization, she's had wide support from others.

41 Comments Add a Comment

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allisonzigorski says:: I think it's great that these parents are ganging up on this mother. They should all get together a form a club for their daughters. They can all put on aprons and teach them how to bake, and clean, and be good little wives when they grow up. Maybe even a seminar or two on how to beat the welfare system.As for the Tesch mom, shame on you for speaking out against a school that has refused to move past the 1950's. Because of you, your daughter may feel the need to go to college and become a successful contributor of our society - A Doctor or Lawyer or even worse a Woman's Rights Advocate! Oh, what shame!!! Your family will be the laughing stock of this town for sure!; reply

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tariq42what says:: This is so silly to me, there are far worst things in this world going on than this! In fact is this not why we are at war now? A group of people trying to enforce their morals and convictions on others, instead of minding their own business? Not to mention there was a time when people lined there children up to watch hangings and participate in the burning of a several groups of people who were being persecuted because they were different! Plus they would have them chanting evil things, now everyone wants to play sensitive! Like this isn't apart of their background, and heritage. Come on quit faking the funk, they have to grow up one day and I am afraid this world is far worse than we keep trying to sensor our children from. This why they grow up not knowing how to handle the world going on around them. I just have one question since they have taken away so many peoples rights to freedom, free speech, and expression,etc. What will be next in the name of protecting our children from material that is deemed inappropriate? I guarantee no one thinks Madonna needs to be censored, or Brittney, or Lindsey, or Miley Cyrus and I bet these are her child's idols and role models, as they prance around advertising the use of drugs, alcohol, sex, provocative clothes, and behaviors! Get real, all she had to do is remove her child herself from the program this is what most responsible parents would have done. Stop trying to change something you don't understand nor have any control over, which is the real reason why you are offended, you want to be able to control, others feelings and attitudes toward your views. If you feel others should deem this inappropriate to match your child rearing, because your know best then lets face the facts we need to be discussing Disney Channel dumping their child star's,or sensoring them before they go wild! We shouldn't praise any type of moral indecency,and keep our children in boxes until they are eighteen. Most conflicting to me is how did this situation reach national news, what is this world coming to? Catering to the sensitive parents and their compulsive need for conformity to their views and what is morally appropriate for all. Alert me of real breaking news in the morning, not this mess.; reply

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Andriea_ says:: I think it is absolutely disgusting to teach six year old children to behave in this sexually suggestive way. And to call the mother a lunatic because she did not want her daughter to dance around while proclaiming her skirt was too tight? How somebody keeps their job after attacking a parent live on the air is absolutely insane. It was not only extremely unprofessional but somebody with this attitude has no business working with or around children. Jennifer Tesch, absolutely did the right thing. It is so sad that the organization punished the child because her mother didn't want her daughter to be sexually exploited. It seems the only thing they care about is the money involved and could care less about the children. What a simple fix this could of been but the real lunatic was obviously such a power-hungry psycho that she could not see beyond her own self enough to care for the welfare of the children that she has no business working with or being around in any way shape or form. To Jennifer Tesch, all I can say is, good for you. I am part of an extremely large organization and we are all behind you 100%. You have our community talking and we are all with you! Thanks for reminding us and our children to do the right thing even when the "crowd" isn't making the right choices.; reply

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JaniceHoldridge says:: My back hurts, my skirt's too tight, I shake my booty left to right? This is every pedofiles DREAM. "But, I don't understand. She was asking for it". These are CHILDREN. Not ***** in training!!!! Save this kind of suggestive behaviour and content to the college cheerleaders. Young women that are old enough to know better and to defend themselves against all the pervs out there. I TOTALLY agree with Kennedy's mom!; reply

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paulinedove says:: It's sad that after nearly 100 of hard work to win the vote, the right to equal pay, equal job access and a change in perception of women from second-class citizen to first-class human being, we still teach little girls to use SEX as their weapon of choice in getting what they want from life; which for many young women these days seems to be marry rich and spend his money. Unfortunately, the right to birth control was perverted into a message of "free love" in the 60's and today's casual attitude towards sex has actually made men *less* likely to marry at all and if married, to commit to a lifelong relationship. Just look at the rate of divorce, single-parenthood for women, and unrealistic image of a woman that society imposes. The indoctrination starts early and if you say these girls don't know what they're selling, you're wrong. They may not think of themselves as sexual objects but they sure do like being called cute when they shake it.; reply

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swilcox11 says:: It isn't about whether we think the cheer is racy or not... It is true that "our backs our aching" sends people's minds wondering why, and then for the cheer to continue with a child talking about her "booty shaking." Women's backs are known for aching from sexual expeditions (not that that is all bad), but for a 6, 8, or even a 12 year old... its suggestive.
However, this is more about the reaction given to the mother from the organization... if they refused to listen or attempt to make some sort of accommodation then they are likely to face a law suit for preemptively hacking a six year old from a cheerleading squad for her mother's concern. Whether you agree its racy or not at that point doesn't matter... we all have our quirks with how we want to raise our children. This is hers. At the very least, the cheer is worth questioning.; reply

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BruceWilliams1 says:: All this catty bickering and the little girl still can't cheer. Something she apparently likes.
Six year olds have no real idea what they are saying in these cheers, all THEY are doing is learning to control their muscles so they can move as people move and get some attention!
The adults need to grow up and figure out how to settle things appropriately and not traumatize their children over trivial matters.
Even the mother admits the major problem is that the others did not listen TO HER; nothing to do with her child!; reply

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incog-nito says:: Cheerleading is stupid anyway. It's suggestive by design. It's also actually very dangerous, one of the most injury prone school activities. All to cheer for a team, and has no effect on the outcome whatsoever.; reply

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puzzler125 says:: If the reporter quoted the mother and her grammar and syntax were reported accurately, then the use of quotes indicated a lack of, well, use of correct grammar. Therefore, the reporter should not be judged but the parents who clearly need some grammar lessons. (I know, this isn't perfect either).; reply

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kenzsmom says:: Can I agree and disagree? lol I have a daughter myself - she's not to the cheerleading age, but she does do gymnastics. Even there the leotards have gotten smaller and smaller with a lot more 'bling' than I've ever seen. I agree with the gentleman above who stated society has ruined us as a whole. 30 years ago, I attended a small Catholic school and I cheered - I'm talking long sleeve sweaters and skirts to our knees, but we still chanted the following: Lean it to the left, Lean it to the right, Peel the banana and mmmmm take a bite! Even then, I knew that had nothing to do with football or basketball! Clearly inappropriate, no one back then thought anything about it luring pedophiles, etc to our games.; reply