Jesus chant brings call for sensitivity training
Published 9:00 pm Saturday, February 24, 2007
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A Catholic school principal has organized sensitivity training for students who shouted “We love Jesus” during a basketball game against a school with Jewish students.
The word “Jew” also was painted on a gym wall behind the seats of Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School students attending the Feb. 2 game at Norfolk Academy, said Dennis Price, principal of the Virginia Beach school.
Price said the rivals exchanged chants, “Then, at some point, our students were chanting, ‘We love Jesus.’ … It was obviously in reference to the Jewish population of Norfolk Academy; that’s the only way you can take that,” he said.
Price said he sent a letter of apology to Norfolk.
Several Sullivan students met with Norfolk Academy’s cultural diversity club Thursday to promote tolerance, Price said.
Price also has consulted the Anti-Defamation League, a national group that fights anti-Semitism.
“It is important that we work harder at having students leaving here who are tolerant and understand how serious these kinds of things are,” Price said.
