Calabar High School yesterday faced public wrath as a video showing some of its students chanting vulgar slurs against their sporting rivals Kingston College (KC) went viral on social media.

The video was recorded at the school’s devotion on Monday morning, two days after Calabar’s seven-year hold on the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ Champs title was brought to a screeching halt by KC.

Observer reporter Shanae Stewart asked Jamaicans on the streets of Kingston for their views on what the Calabar board described as “disturbing, distasteful, and vulgar” utterances by the students.

Anthony Abrahams, businessman:

“What the students of Calabar did was extremely disrespectful and it is a disgrace on the part of the administrative department at the school. I was embarrassed to see the future men of Jamaica degrading other future men in that way, all because of a loss. They need to learn to be gracious even in defeat.”

Kae Jones, educator:

“Whether it be yesterday, last week, or 10 years ago, students should be respectful in rivalry. As an educator I would really like to know if the students at Calabar are left in devotion to do as they please and why weren’t they stopped sooner?”

Peterking Loney, chef:

“As a Calabar supporter I think that what the boys did was unnecessary and very disrespectful. They should be banned from competing in the GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championship for a year or even a few years. We cannot allow this kind of behaviour to go unpunished as that would be sending the wrong signal. The administration should also ensure that the boys apologise to their peers from Kingston College.”

Gayon Bent, teacher:

“Disgraceful! I know that they are boys and boys will be boys, but that was not the time or place for that. And the fact that persons in authority were there makes it even more distasteful.”

Terry Harris, teacher:

“For as long as I can remember a rivalry has existed between Kingston College and Calabar High School. However, I think that they have reached a new low. I am particularly disappointed that it was done in what looks like the auditorium or some building where quite a number of them gathered. If the video was of a small group of boys under a tree or in a classroom by themselves, I would maybe say that boys will be boys. But, for them to be in a setting such as that, with persons who were obviously okay with it, has me perturbed. One person who was not in uniform even seemed to be clapping along to the cheer. No one seemed alarmed by the utterances and it doesn’t put Calabar in a good light, especially with what happened with the alleged assault case including the teacher and two athletes.”

Tasha Hyde, businesswoman:

“For me, this is not foreign. This cheer has been around for years and I know that other schools sing the cheer. What disturbed me is the fact that it was allegedly done in devotion and in front of teachers.”

Oshane Thompson, engineer:

“Boys will be boys, and it was just playful jeering which takes place all the time in boys’ schools. My only issue is that they did it in the auditorium with teachers present. They shouldn’t have done that as it represented a lack of respect for those in authority.”