Pageant winner harrassed

I was pleased to read the recent letter to the editor concerning pageants.
My daughter has competed in a number of pageants. Sometimes you place, sometimes you don’t. And that is something she has grown to accept.
I agree with the writer and wish there were some way for judges to see backstage and know the true heart and personality of the contestants.
I wanted to write concerning the Miss Carroll Country Intermediate School pageant with a few afterthoughts. My daughter won that pageant. She was so shocked, as was I and my family.
We were so proud, but were in no way prepared for the news. It was her first pageant since she was a small child and we were so happy for her.
My daughter received text messages the entire week following that pageant with swearing and horrible remarks that no student should have to endure.
It finally ended on Friday of that week with her being slapped, which led to an actual fight between her and a student.
She was told by administration that she should have just walked away. She was told by coaches that she shouldn’t participate in pageants at all.
That kind of attitude is encouraging our children to enable bullies.
If you were in a store or in your workplace and were slapped across the face by someone, would you just turn and walk away?
If you were up for a promotion, would you not reach for it for fear of criticism?
Pageants do teach our children valuable lessons. They help build self‑esteem and confidence in front of a crowd.
Now my daughter has a three-day suspension to think about all that confidence.

April Taylor Burcham
Fries