BLAINE - Cuts have become a familiar and painful process at most schools, but they were met by laughter and applause at Blaine High School Thursday, Jan. 5.
That's because instead of budgets, students were cutting their teachers pants as part of a week-long fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. For every $50 raised by students in each grade, two teachers representing that grade had an inch cut from the bottom of their pants.
The pants-cutting is a new twist on the Technology Student Association's tradition of raising money for the cancer society. The association has been putting on the fundraiser for about five years, coming up with fun ways to get students to donate money. Association member Emily Steelquist, a senior at the high school, discovered the cutting fundraiser idea online and thought it would be perfect for the school.
"It's just something to get pumped up about," she said. "It's a fun way to make school as fun as we can make it."
At the end of the week, the teachers will participate in a dance competition in their cut-off pants, in the school's version of "America's Best Dance Crew." The teachers will pair with six students from their grade and bust a move in front of a school assembly. Since they wear the same pants every day, the more money donated means the shorter the pants get. Seeing teachers dancing in short shorts is something Steelquist is willing to risk for the cause.
"If that happens, then all the better because it just means we raised more money," she said.
As of Thursday morning, the school had raised more than $850, with Friday - traditionally the biggest donation day - still ahead. Over the years, the school's effort has raised about $14,000 for the American Cancer Society.
"It's a really big deal to be able to be part of that and raise money," senior Andrew Dahl said.
English teacher Jeff Worthy was glad to see the students getting involved in a cause that's close to home for him. His brother's wife died a year ago from lung cancer that seemed to strike from nowhere; she didn't smoke.
"I don't really care what it is they want to make me do," he said. "If it's going to raise money (to fight cancer), I'm all behind it."
Worthy is one of the teachers for the sophomore class, so he likes to point out to his students when it's time to donate.
"I give them grief," he said. "I'll tell them, 'Hey, our bucket's empty.'"
Math teacher John Freal is one of the two staff members getting his pants cut for the senior class. A couple of students asked him to get involved, and he decided there was nothing but pants to lose.
"Usually I don't, but this seemed like such a worthy cause," he said. "And I had a pair of pants I knew was on its last legs."
School Principal Scott Ellis said kids have been coming to tease him about his cut-off pants, and he loves it.
"It's always fun to make fun of yourself for a good cause," he said, and the fun will continue when he has to dance in those pants. "I'm sure I'm going to make an idiot out of myself."
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