Deer Creek High School in Edmond is currently under fire after recently hosting a fundraiser. The topic that is raising eyebrows isn’t who the fundraiser was for, it’s the activity that was done to raise the money.
Participants paid money for students to lick peanut butter off of their toes. That was not a typo, students licked peanut butter off of adults’ toes.
Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, along with multiple parents, are curious how this was allowed to occur. Walters said he is investigating the incident and even took to Twitter to voice his disgust over the matter.
“This is disgusting. We are cleaning up this filth in Oklahoma schools,” Walter said. “Our agency is investigating.
Representatives from neighboring states weighed in on the fundraiser, too. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas posted, “This is child abuse.”
Administrators at Deer Creek said that people were taking it out of context. They said the event was for their WonderfulWeekofFundraising, and that no student was blindsided.
'All participants in the assembly were students who signedupforthegame(s)they played ahead of time,' Deer Creek said in a statement.
After receiving so much backlash, the district released a statement to Fox 25 apologizing for the incident.
“We want to stress to our community that much of the information accompanying this video is inaccurate,” the district said. “However, throughthisspecificgamewe failed to uphold the dignity of our students and the proud image of our community. We have a responsibility to protect ourAntlersandshowcase them in a positive light. In regards to this one particular activity, we fell short and for that we greatly apologize.”
The event amassed over $152,000 and was will go to Not Your Average Joe, a coffee shop that employs people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.
Kingston High School teacher Jodi Hartin weighed in on the situation and said there are plenty of other ways to raise money for charities.
“I think the idea of raising money for such a great organization is fabulous,” Hartin said. “I believe there are so manyotherfunandengaging ways to raise money - pie in the face, kiss a pig, disgusting food relay, but it should not include someone else’s body parts and licking.”
Hartin also said that even though the fundraiser was the students’ idea, administration should've checked things out first.
“In defense of the parents or people in charge, students signed up for this,” Hartin said.“Theymusthaveknown what they were getting into. It was a student organization lead and no staff participated; there should have been some checks and balances in what games were chosen and the organization sponsor should have been aware of every game planned.”