WAYLAND, Mass. — Drama at Wayland High School over a movie made 25 years ago about a famous Olympic bobsled team.
The 1988 Jamaican Bobsled Team pictured in Disney's "Cool Runnings" is known by most as one of the most famous Olympic underdog stories, but at Wayland High School, the PG movie made for kids 25 years ago has become a source of outrage.
"Cool Runnings" came out seven years before the oldest students were born, so many of them hadn't heard of it until this week.
It's "winter week" at Wayland High School, meant for students to relax after midterms. Each Wednesday of the winter week features a movie and the student council announced Tuesday that "Cool Runnings" was this year's pick.
But hours later, the principal sent an email to students saying the movie was canceled:
That started a reply-all chain with more than 150 responses from students, and has now turned into full blown outrage.
The email firestorm prompted the principal to schedule an emergency forum with students who showed up armed with Google research.
"It's a PG movie for kids 8 and above... we are 8 and above."
"Jamaica is sending their first women's bobsled team this year, why not, this is the perfect time to show this movie."
In the past 24 hours, many of the students have become "Cool Runnings" experts, without ever having seen it, but after school? The plans were pretty similar for everyone.
"I'm definitely gonna go home and Netflix."
"Gonna go home and watch the movie anyway."
"I'm gonna go home and watch it on Netflix."
Survey by the student paper of 115 students showed only 2 supported the principal's decision.
© 2021 Cox Media Group