Editorial: We must deter as well as address offensive public behaviors

The Illinois High School Association is investigating claims that some students at Saturday's girls basketball game at St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin taunted coaches and players of the opposing team with racist and body-shaming catcalls.

Coaches and parents with Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee told The Associated Press that students in the fan section of St. Edward made racist comments throughout the game, including making whale and monkey noises at a black Bishop McNamara player and another team member.

We will welcome the full story coming out as IHSA monitors the situation. But St. Edward has investigated enough already to know that unacceptable behaviors took place at that game. According to Superintendent Brian Tekempe, who sent a letter of apology to Bishop McNamara, the students involved are being disciplined and racial sensitivity training for the entire school is being scheduled for next month.

"We will not tolerate this behavior from our students or school community," Tekempe said in a statement.

St. Edward's no-nonsense response is the right one, and exactly what we would expect from any suburban school unfortunate enough to be faced with this.

Of course, how much better would it have been if action had been taken immediately? According to the McNamara adults, the catcalls continued all game and no one was confronted or kicked out. Someone got on the public address system to implore the kids to knock it off, but it appears no one was ejected.

If that's true, that's disappointing. Offenders in these situations should be removed quickly. And we bet there were plenty of disgusted fans at the game who would have been happy to point them out. Or, the game could have been halted until the offenders were removed or pressured to leave.

Moreover, whether it be adult spectators or school personnel, to stand up in the moment - to stop the abuse and make it clear to everyone that offensive taunts will not be tolerated - is much more powerful than an after-the-fact apology, no matter how well-intended.

It is disappointing that, on the cusp of 2020, we still have a few children who think such public taunts are acceptable. But it's not irreversible. Young people are teachable.

"While an apology is important, what's more important is that we carry ourselves with grace and understanding," Tekempe added. "Our actions will define us."

That's true for all of us in such circumstances - and in deterring such circumstances in the first place. This incident is not St. Edward's fault, but the school is making it their responsibility. That bodes well.