H.S. coaches resign after players taunt African opponent over Ebola
Two high school soccer coaches from Pennsylvania have resigned after their players taunted an opponent from West Africa about the Ebola virus, according to TheAssociated Press.
The boy who was taunted is 16 years old and from Guinea, according to his legal guardian. His guardian, Edward Bachert, said the boy is constantly worried about the health of his parents, who still live there. Guinea has been one of the main countries where the virus has been reported, and 843 people from there are believed to have died from it, according to the Huffington Post.
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The taunts occurred during a rival game between Northampton Area High School and Nazareth Area High School, where the boy attends.
The Morning Call of Allentown reports that the Northampton administration conducted an investigation into the comments. Northampton's superintendent, Joseph Kovalchik, met with the team Wednesday and said he will discipline those who broke the school's anti-discrimination policy.
"I am glad Nazareth and Northampton took this incident very seriously and did a very thorough investigation," Bachert said. "I think kids nowadays have to realize that their words can cause a lot of damage and you've got to think before you speak and be careful with what words you choose."
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Bachert said the boy was shaken by the taunts but has the support of students at Nazareth, according to the AP.
- Molly Geary
