Pa. 8th Graders' Field Trip Includes Hooters Lunch

BERWICK, Pa. -- For one group of central Pennsylvania eighth-graders, a recent field trip to Baltimore included lunch at Hooters – a restaurant better known for its busty waitresses than its food.

The Berwick Middle School students were visiting the National Aquarium last week. Chaperones took them to various restaurants for lunch because the group of 100 was too large for a single place.

The Bloomsburg Press Enterprise reports Tuesday that one group of 15 to 20 students ended up at Hooters.

Superintendent Wayne Brookhart says that while he wishes the group's coed chaperones had chosen another restaurant, he has not received any complaints from parents.

Hooters spokesman Mike McNeil says the restaurant chain often hosts groups, including sports teams and church organizations with teens and younger children.

___

Array

Comments

[ladybee465]

11:19 PM on 06/29/2011

Okay so, let's take it from someone who was actually on this trip, shall we? So, NO ONE in Berwick sees this as an issue. I dunno what the big deal is, none of the teachers, principals, or parents do, heck, even my Grandparents don't. We think it's ridiculous that this has made NATIONAL NEWS. I mean, c'mon people. Seriously?? Do you really have nothing better to do than scream "Scandal!!!" about where a group of us ate for lunch? My parents have taken me to Hooters since I was 5 years old! You see more skin with the shorts girls wear to school than at this restaraunt. It's just plain stupid that Berwick's Class of '15 is going to be remembered for this...

[irish4eva]

11:13 AM on 06/09/2011

What this article does not state is....
There weren't any complaints by parents. The children were not JUST boys... the Chaperones, who were women had kids call home and make sure it was okay with parents so no one would freak out. Superintendent Wayne Brookhart, brought this to the attention of the media. This article doesn't state the fact that the local paper quoted Brookhart as saying he can't say it won't happen next year. Brookhart was just covering his A$$ and made our town look like idiots.

[Davey Johnson]

06:56 AM on 06/07/2011

If it's good at home, you don't have to prowl places like Hooters for a cheap thrill.

[irish4eva]

11:08 AM on 06/09/2011

They are 8th graders you freak...

[Sweendoggedly]

05:56 PM on 06/06/2011

Lucky, lucky 8th. graders.

[Patrick Kinsky]

06:08 PM on 06/04/2011

Actually, there is ABSOLUTELY no reason why the chaperones should be frowned upon. An individual that has an issue with Hooters more than likely has personal self-esteem issues. This is 2011 and this is the United States of America. Please advise on which of the two most would find less tolerable: this situation or taking the public school students (not a religious school) to a Middle-Eastern restaurant where the employees were of Afghan/Iraqi descent dressed in religious garb. Hmmmm....

Hooters keep in mind displays it's logo with a Hoot owl. What do owl's do? They Hoo(t). Does one object when an adolescent goes to the local swim club? Keep in mind that the lifeguard is wearing less clothing than those individuals employed by Hooters. In addition, many times the concession stand worker is as well.

The only reason why anyone has the ability to complain is the fact that it serves alcohol. Though, my guess is that 75% of all US homes has some sort of alcohol in it.

I am quite pleased that Hooters is getting free publicity due to the ignorance and poor self-esteem of others. It is a shame that too many people need to attempt to find fault elsewhere to feel better about themselves.

[JavaSavant]

03:18 PM on 06/06/2011

I think the self-esteem issues are more on the people that choose to go there, not the ones that don't. Frankly, I don't think even religious parents would care if their kids went to an ethnic restaurant.

Get real. No one (especially teenagers) believes that the restaurant is named after owls. This is a place that is proud to push the notion that women are important as long as they are pretty and "perky". I have no problem with the place existing, or with adults taking their own children there, but a chaperone has NO BUSINESS taking other peoples kids there without prior notification.

[Davey Johnson]

06:50 AM on 06/07/2011

So, work at Hooters long? Talk about someone with self-esteem issues.

[FranklinCat]

12:26 AM on 06/04/2011

For further reading on the subject please see article about McDonald's and cow's udders.

[tjfras]

11:48 AM on 06/03/2011

Well, just another example of how the liberal mind works in this country. I have read posts that say people are uptight, that people need to adapt to the 21st century. NO! People need to hold on to some sort of freaking values. That's what people need to do. The place is called "Hooters" do you think they are talking about owls? While I don't have a problem with a parent taking their children there, if they choose, it is not the place for a school sanctioned event. I can't believe that kids are not allowed to celebrate Christmas or bring Easter eggs to school, but they can go to "Hooters". I find it amazing that all Christianity has been banned from schools, not all religions, because we wouldn't want to offend those fringe religions. Christianity has been banned, but there are schools being sued to allow transvestites to dress how they wish or lesbians take their girlfriends to prom. We are quickly circling the drain and all you liberal minds are turning the fawcet up higher. Oh and before you start calling me a "blible thumper" which is such a popular lib expression, I am not a religious person, at all. Just a conservative one who does not understand how your minds think????

[sillyblueness]

12:28 PM on 06/03/2011

I am not a religious person. I am not a conservative person. I am quite left of the liberals you would find in the US. I however do not consider hooters at all appropriate for a school field trip. I disagree with several things you have have said, but we are on the same page about schools sanctioning this. Where I live (Canada), I prefer all religious teachings be left outside the doors of public schools, though I cannot speak for the American rules. This has nothing to do with religion for me, but the message we are sending to the girls. For those that call me a prude, that I may be, but I have also been a 13 year old girl, and this sends such a horrible message to them. (this is how you get attention from boys!)

[Matt McCormick]

06:18 AM on 06/04/2011

Agreed!! Well stated.

(I've often wondered why there has not been a male equivalent to Hooters, a place that specializes in foot long hot dogs that is staffed by hunky men in skimpy Speedos. They could call it Schlongs or Peters.)

[Will737]

12:35 PM on 06/03/2011

Hooters is not at all Liberal. Did you know that the franchise at one time actually set up "Rush Rooms" where their customers were forced to constantly listen to the uneducated Rush Limbaugh. Moreover, one look would show you that the Brooks Family which grew that chain into a huge entity frequently gave and only gave money to Republicans. However, I do agree with you that this Republican Establishment is not fit for children.

[Will737]

10:30 AM on 06/03/2011

A Hooters girl not long ago offered me sex for travel. Recently, a Hooter Girl put my computer on her facebook page where she was buck naked. I have seen Lesbian Hooter Girls physically sexually harass straight ones and then physically intimidate them. I have had Hooter Girls make proposals to me--sex for $. Consider the Hooters Corporate Trainer in the Jarman Gray case. The Trainer encouraged the waitresses to perform sex acts for money with the customers. Jarman Gray was fired for objecting. I believe it is possible to be at least somewhat decent and be a Hooter Girl or I wouldn't go there at all ever. But the place does attract some employees and managers that are real perverts. Is that really a surprise? It's named "Hooters". It’s just not as innocent as you think. Do you play Russian Roulette with your children's minds?

[Ward Anderson]

04:16 PM on 06/04/2011

All of the could happen at any restaurant and actually does happen EVERYWHERE. Read the news much? Sex scandals happen everywhere, not just in places where people dress in tight clothes.

But that doesn't matter. For me to go along with your silly argument would be for me to believe that a Hooters girl wanted to have sex with you. I find it more likely that you've been going into Hooters restaurants trying to score by offering money. That makes more sense than your misogynistic rant.

[Ward Anderson]

04:18 PM on 06/04/2011

BTW - Do you even know WHY the place is called "Hooters", or is it easier just to use what you WANT to believe it means?

Little fact for you, which is better than your unsubstantiated allegations: Hooters was called that before there were any "Hooters Girls" waitresses.

[Sinned39]

10:27 AM on 06/03/2011

Didn't you know? Hooters is a family restaraunt. Oh, and BTW, the waitress' lady parts are all fully covered, so grow up!

[swins425]

12:33 AM on 06/03/2011

When I was in 8th grade this would have been a dream come true for me :) lol In all seriousness though, this is a regular restaurant thats everywhere today, its not like its a strip club.

[madisonhack]

08:29 AM on 06/03/2011

No, but the National Geographic is hardly Playboy, either.......

[Lori Shultz]

12:17 AM on 06/03/2011

I was on this field trip! My group of girls did not go to Hooters!

[madisonhack]

08:30 AM on 06/03/2011

Are

[sillyblueness]

12:30 PM on 06/03/2011

Lori, how do you feel that someone DID take another group of girls there?

[amanda112280]

10:49 PM on 06/02/2011

Someone I have known for about 9 yrs daughter was one of the kids in the group. I myself will say this. It was a school outting and it's not the proper setting for kids while in school?! i.e alcohol ect. and the adults with them didn't think twice. Our kids can't say prayers in school (whether a daily prayer based on their religion or to pray for our troops' safe return from war) but they can be forced to eat in an adult establishment on a SCHOOL TRIP? C'mon, this is a no-brainer.

[fallenstar65]

10:41 PM on 06/02/2011

Oh good heavens, I am an old lady and I love Hooters. Years ago my husband and I went to a concert and ran into a Hooters for a quick supper, not knowing anything about the chain. Years later I heard people griping about the place and went "Huh? They were dressed indecently? I never even noticed!" They used to have a great grouper sandwich and it is still one of the only places in the Midwest that this old Jersey Girl can get a bucket of steamer clams (in season). The waitresses are more like the girl next door...not sleazy at all. Anyone complaining about Hooters has apparently never walked down the beach in Panama City, FL. Holy Mazoli!

[Will737]

11:12 AM on 06/03/2011

Apparently you have not figured out that the "girls" act differently around a nice old lady than they do around everyone else?

[krazeeinjun]

01:50 PM on 06/04/2011

You can come down from your high horse now.

[Abelardo Perez]

10:40 PM on 06/02/2011

why's this a problem? if so then school should not be allowed to take kids to pools, amusement parks, water parks, or anywhere there could be scantly dressed women.

[Will737]

11:16 AM on 06/03/2011

It is not the dress; it IS the attitude, and it IS what they really sell. They sell "hooters",an adult entertainment experience, with a side of hamburgers. Did you know that most Hooters cannot even be licensed as restaurants, that they have to be licensed as "adult entertainment" establishments?

[sillyblueness]

01:40 PM on 06/03/2011

Thank you - Well said. F

[Abelardo Perez]

07:39 PM on 06/03/2011

sex sells, period. if you can't get over that, fight against the disney channel, preteen famous kids, and anything that sells sex to kids

[Ward Anderson]

07:02 PM on 06/02/2011

While you were reading this article and getting offended at Hooters' waitresses wearing jogging shorts, your precious children are in the next room Sexting their friends and watching Internet porn.