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Fort Scott Unified School District 234 Board President Matt Ida makes a point to a crowd of about 100 people as board member Jim Womeldorff listens during a special meeting held in the Eugene Ware Elementary School media center Wednesday night. The meeting was called to address concerns about disciplinary policies for athletics and activities where alcohol is involved. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune photo) |
There were two things the majority of those attending a special Unified School District 234 board meeting at Eugene Ware Elementary could agree on Wednesday night:
* Those students who attended a recent party where alcohol was served -- the reason this meeting was called -- should be punished.
* The policies regarding punishment need to be reviewed.
The problems that seem to have arisen from the incident are the fairness of the policy and the consistency of it among the varied sports and activities at Fort Scott High School.
Policies for the school itself as well as those of the football, volleyball, dance and cheerleading programs were handed out to the estimated 100 people who attended the special meeting.
A "base" policy, as attorney Charles Gentry explained to the crowd, is set by the school district. But a coach or sponsor can choose to implement "higher standards or higher consequences, if you will. That is also permitted in the policy."
"The base policy set by the school district is not exclusive," Gentry continued. "The coaches and sponsors can go farther. For example, if a coach decides that if you drink (so) then you are off the team, that becomes the consequence."
That individual activities can implement tougher punishments may be what has led to the perception of some that the recent punishments were inconsistent.
However, the back of the football policy -- which both athletes and parents are required to sign -- states "The use (of) alcohol will result (in) the athlete being removed from the team from the season."
The volleyball policy addresses the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs at the very top of its "Player and Parent Expectations." It states that "There will be no use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco products or banned performance enhancers. There will be extreme consequences if this rule is broken; the player will lose the chance to be part of the volleyball team. ... If you care about sports, do not break these rules. If you cannot abide by these rules, then it is best you don't go out for the team."
The dance and cheer teams have a system of demertits. Both teams' policies state that the use of controlled substances is one of the reasons that "The sponsor will have the authority to suspend or drop permanently any participant" from the team.
Another problem was disagreement with the explanation by Gentry that students can be reported by administration, coaches or full-time certified personnel (teachers) if they "personally (observe) or otherwise become personally aware that a student has consumed alcohol, they are to report that to the head coach or sponsor of that activity (who) will then implement whatever the consequence is."
This led some in the audience to state that they felt this means students could be punished based on hearsay. It was clarified that becoming "personally aware" is not the same as actually observing the incident.
Gentry also went on to explain that if a "third party -- not a coach, administrator or teacher -- makes an allegation or accusation that a student was drinking, the procedure would be for the coach, student, student's parents and the person who is making the accusation to come together. The coach would hear them out and make the determination of whether it was substantial or not."
Gentry also said that when a student who is being questioned by an administrator admits to the wrongdoing themselves, "the administrator is therefore personally aware and can report back to the coach who will take the appropriate action. There is no need for bringing in accusers. There is no need for bringing in parents because the student himself has admitted to the wrongdoing. The only step to be taken is reporting it to the coach or the sponsor so they can take whatever action they deem appropriate."
The dissenting side expressed concern that a student should never be questioned by an administrator without the parents present. The concern was that students who have not been in the situation before will feel unnecessary pressure from the administrator.
In order to discuss the situation with lawyers and also to address the concerns of many people without directly identifying the students involved, three different executive sessions had to be called. This was, USD 234 Board President Matt Ida said, to "protect the privacy rights of a student who is identifiable."
After the executive sessions, Gentry gave his briefing to the audience. Then Ida opened the floor to those who had signed a request to do so. Students, parents, teachers and other spoke.
Naturally, opinions varied. There were those who felt the administration handled things properly and those who felt the administration acted inappropriately.
Some feared that "zero tolerance" policies were too severe. They were concerned about what the affected students would do without an activity to participate in.
Some of the football players were present to support their teammates. Teachers supported the administrators and spoke of how they feel the need to take an active role in the lives of their students and this was a part of that.
In the end, Ida said that he felt the policies that are in place were followed and fellow board member Justin Meeks agreed. However, both also felt that a review of the policy may also be appropriate.
"This has forced me to take a look at the policies," Ida said. "These policies have some difficulties involved with them that we need to address. Everything I have tells me that policy was followed. The very fact that there is disagreement means that we need to review them so that they are readily understandable not only by the kids who are reminded of these things but also by the parents who read them."
In response to the last message. I will say I have never partied either. I'm a senior.. never have been to party!
"Tigergrad" I just got one question for you did you ever party in high school? That's all I want to know DID YOU EVER PARTY IN HIGH SCHOOL? When you respond don't try to turn it back to the kids that got in trouble i'm asking you... D.I.D. Y.O.U. E.V.E.R. P.A.R.T.Y. I.N. H.I.G.H. S.C.H.O.O.L.?
wow, this was over a month ago. they got kicked out of NHS.. how could you live with yourself if you were still in it?! do they honestly think that is ok!? i guess if they are going to drink again, they should think about the long run.. and if they get caught
never fear, folks......Superintendent Ida will save the day!
the message you should be sending is don't do it, not "Deny Deny Deny!" These kids should learn to not do illegal activities, not to lie about them.
This stuff is crazy kids getting in trouble drinking and what not.... For some reason the kids aren't smart enough to know that you can't party here. It just sounds remedial to me that kids still think they can party here. If this scandal happened like 2 years ago i would have said "ok their not going to do anything lets do something this weekend" But now I think the administration finally figured out how to get these kids in trouble. Here's the problem though.... THEY DID IT TO THE WRONG CLASS!!! The class of 2009 i would have thought would have been the class that would help save the administration their jobs and fixing the rebelious nature of the last 3 classes starting with 06 and ending with 08. Those kids were awful. With drinking and having sex and abusing drugs it was insane. So in a way I think the administration should have takin care of this a long time ago and Not penalize these kids... They've had one inncident that got blown out of proportion. But remember class of 09 and beyond if your ever in a situation like that again just remember the name Richard Nixon and "Deny Deny Deny!!!!"
well put aelc. I respect you for accepting your consequences and not complaining.
I am one of the students that have been punished from this absurd, over publicized problem. You parents and others don't know what was said in that room that day..my own mother doesn't even know the whole story so all of you that are hearing from other parents need to stop talking because you have no idea what the heck was said and what you all are going off of is (HEARSAY)..I am on the volleyball team and by the hand books standards it stats..."if a student voluntarily comes forward of his own accord and admits to the head coach or any assistant coach of the particular sport in which that student is a participant that the student has violated this policy, the violation may not result in suspension from the particular activity if it is the fist offense." does everyone have a handbook?.. read it...that's what I have to say.. then you can say whatever the HECK you want. It wasn't because her daughter is on the team or that I am her daughters friend its because we followed the darn rules...We think we should get punished for what we did..and we did so who needs to grow up...I was also kicked out of National Honor Society last week.. 2 months after the party though..pretty dumb but I am dealing with it.. no I am not going to get back on it so yeah I will deal with it..but what really (censored) me off is the fact that I handed one of the so called "National Honor Societies Officer" a alcoholic beverage...and they lied about it and they are not getting punished...all this whole thing has taught me is to lie. LIE to get yourself out of trouble. And by the way I am a friend of the pregnant cheerleader and you PEOPLE obviously don't know the girl so SHUT YOUR MOUTHS about her she is not cheering after football season so stop talking about her.
so i am recently out of school and i to got in trouble with the admin as well as these kids. No i was not out drinking during season but i did get into a fight off school grounds and out of city limits but i still was suspended from two activities that i was participating in. The other person that i fought did not get in any trouble at all because she didnt participate in any activities. As these kids i was called into the office and talked to and just like the responsible kids that admitted that they were there i admitted it as well. As the admin told me it was not Jane Doe* going out to get into a fight its a Fort Scott High School athlete or Fort Scott Cheerleader going out to get into a fight. so in this case its not your kids going out to get drunk its a Fort Scott high school athlete going out to getting drunk. As Fort Scott is a small town and everyone knows everyone and yes little kids look up to these kids that are amazing at football or little girls want to be cheerleaders so I know i would not want my girl thinking its okay to get drunk and still play sports... Sports are an opportunity not a class or a job... Every kid that cant play sports honestly thinks that they wish that they could play just like them. So its your kid's fault they made the decision to be there they made the decision to drink... so since they can make there own decision they can also talk to the admin with out you! You need to let you kids grow up and quit making excuses for them. The real world is out there and they wont always have you around!
As a parent of one of the "dirty dozen" high school students who confessed their participation in a party where 86 students were in attendance, I would like to know when the public and school flogging will end. Over a month and a half since the ill fated party sponsored by some very irresponsible parents, my little delinquent has been notified that they are no long wanted on the National Honor Society. We get it; we got it and took action with our child over a month ago. Our kids messed up along with many other kids who have escaped being made "the example" to the rest of the student body. I can hear the collective sigh of relief from all the dishonest students who engage in this type of behavior routinely along with parents who have stuck their heads in the giant sand pit of denial. How lucky they are that it wasn't them!!!
We all know what took place was wrong and these kids have been punished over and over and over again as the school has apparently decided to finally draw a line in the sand about this rampant behavior throughout the high school and middle school. We understand that kid's lives are at stake. But these "dirty dozen" are the same as any other kids in the system. When is enough, enough? Are the rule books of any and every club and activity that these kids once proudly participated in now being scoured to find yet another way to continue the persecution? It would seem that rather than punish these kids; we are now trying to destroy them and crush their morale while other dishonest students continue in their behavior unpunished. Many would rather just leave the school now rather than continue to be scorned by teachers and students who once praised them. They are those same students, but they were honest about their mistake and received the message loud and clear….Never tell the truth…you will never be forgiven so why try?? And the dishonest kids have learned to be just a little bit sneakier and find a better wool blanket to pull over their parent's heads.
I agree that this has gotten way off topic. It is my belief that no person is perfect and unless you are involved in the situation and know 100% what is going on, then you should stay out of it.
As for the "pregnant cheerleader": This girl is like all of us, she too is only human. She didn't get herself pregnant. Give her a little respect, it can't be easy being in her situation, she made an error and she is choosing to take the high road and face it. She is going to have a child and that will be tough enough. She is a person and deserves to be treated like one. She has feelings, she makes mistakes, she has the possibility to be hurt..just like all of us.
As someone who knows what it's like to have lost a loved one due to a drunk driver- be careful with the decisions you make, they not only effect you but everyone around you and sometimes you can't take your actions back. I lost my cousin because his "friend" decided to drive when he shouldn't have, I hope parents will talk to their children about drinking. It's hard to say what you want a loved one to know once it's too late and they are already gone.
Ok people I think we have gotten WAY off topic here. Yes I am sure the STUDENT ATHLETES were upset and have every right to be. As a parent of one of the many kids that did not attend the party I have an issue with the way this was handled. This totally disrupted school for several days as school administration pulled students in and interrogated them time and time again. When did it become right for School admin to take on the job of Law enforcement. Yes this is an issue and it does need to be handled but handled in the right way. You dont take hear say and use it to intterogate KIDS. Yes we are talking about KIDS here and I think people need to keep that in mind. People need to stop and think about the fact that could have been your kid. If your thinkin NO WAY NOT MY KID then you're stupid. You cant be with your kids 24/7 and you cant keep them under lock and key you just have to hope they make the right choice. In this case some kids did not. Does that make them felons I think not. If school adminastration wants to clean house maybe they should start in thier own back yard. You have not heard anything about the party one of thier kids attended and got totally trashed now have you? YES it did happen. You would think they would start there not as school admin but as a parent.
I agree that Cheerleaders and Football players are role models for other students. I don't feel a pregnant cheerleader should be a part of any school squad. Those who play must pay.
As a fellow cheerleader of the pregnant cheerleader i feel the need to say that none of you should be discussing this because none of you go to our practices or know the precautions we take to ensure that there is no harm to her baby.... All of us varsity members look out for her at all times and adjust to make things work for her safety.... Our squad has become somewhat of a family "If one of us is pregnant we all are".... Also she is not the only pregnant girl in our school... Just because she is a cheerleader she should be punished???
I do agree that it doesn't look good when a high school has pregnant students. However, society has changed whether we like it or not. I actually kind of like to see a pregnant cheerleader because it shows that just because you may get pregnant at such a young age you life is not over. Also, she is showing that she is accepting the consequences of her actions. I think it is great that she is keeping the child. I don't condone teen pregnancy but it is nice to see that she is taking responsibility for another life.
just have one comment. and its about the pregnant cheerleaders. here is my point. cheerleaders,football players. whatever. are actually supposed to be the role models in the school. what kind of a message are we sending to the young immpressionable girls that look up to these girls? yeah i realilze that kids are having more sex these days. which blows my mind.what is the parents involvement? geez if u know ur child is sexually active or whatever. get them on birth control. give them a condom. something. and when u are that age. how can u even handle the emotional crap that comes with being sexually active? anyway. i can see peoples point when they say that pregnant cheerleaders shouldnt be allowed to be a cheerleader. they are role models. and thats just what we need is for them to make teenage pregnancy look "cool".
From what I understand, the players have an agreement which is signed and states that they will abstain from this type of activity or face the consequences (being dropped from the team). That being the case, it doesn't matter if the school administration or the law being involved has nothing to do with it. They broke their 'contract' and must pay the price.
In addition to penalizing those students involved, has there been any mention of how they got the alcohol? Who supplied it and why are they not being punished for supplying to minors? If we're going to point fingers, let's not forget these folks.
People just need to grow up and take responsibility for their actions. People are still talking about how they got away with it. It is pitiful. The football players are still mad. sorry, but GROW UP!
...guess what opinions (like this unknown prof) are like........
i would suggest you do something....but it is proven to be physically impossible....
have a drink and enjoy your day.....
Please allow me to quote in its entirety a letter written by a professor of family law at a university here in the USA.
Apparently this college professor I'm quoting would be able to find the logic in what I proposed.
Like2b_onree
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Dear Editor:
You won't find college students dying of binge drinking in England, Italy, Germany or anywhere else but in the good ole U.S.A. But where else in the world do they expect kids of 18 to fight and die for their country and to be mature enough at that same age to get married, hold credit cards, exercise the franchise and run the country - but not to drink?
By what logic are persons competent at 15 to drive vehicles that kill but incompetent until 21 to handle even one beer?
Our liquor laws make drinking a rite of passage to adulthood, fostering rather than discouraging teen alcohol consumption. We set kids up for an "I'm 21 now, so gimme my sixpack" mentality.
We make it illegal for kids to serve an apprenticeship in responsible drinking, virtually ensuring that what little instruction they get comes from their most immature peers in the high school parking lot rather than from family members seated around the dining table at home.
Then we wait until three years past voting age to thrust these ill-prepared drinkers onto the bar scene, equipping them well with vehicular horsepower but poorly with sober wisdom.
Jewish children traditionally have a glass of wine as part of the religious ceremony accompanying the Friday evening meal. Despite this (or perhaps because of it), Jewish families have very little alcoholism and almost no teen-age drunken driving.
Many European countries permit minors accompanied by a parent to enjoy a glass of wine with a restaurant meal, typically beginning at age 12. In France, Germany, Italy and Spain, a young adult of 16 may buy wine or beer unaccompanied by a parent, whereas the drinking age for distilled beverages in Europe (and throughout most of the non-Islamic world) is 18.
By the time a young European is old enough to drive a vehicle (at a sensible 18, certainly not at 15), he or she already has had some experience with responsible drinking and, more important, alcohol already has lost some of its allure.
Dodi al Fayed's chauffeur notwithstanding, drunken driving is rarer in Europe than in America. The auto fatality rate in England, for example, is half that of the United States - this is on a per capita basis adjusted for population differences.
But then, Europe doesn't labor under the delusion that the best way to stop drunken driving is to deny people alcohol. Most other countries simply punish drunken drivers. Severely. How sensible! Why has that idea not been implemented here?
America's puritanical, prohibitionist mentality has created a serious drunken driving problem. When we raised the drinking age to 21, we exacerbated our teen drinking problem. Now we seem headed down the same road on tobacco as well: prohibit the activity rather than discourage it, thereby making the activity a badge of adulthood, setting the stage for a teen black market.
I can't believe that the alcoholic beverage and tobacco industries don't know exactly what they're doing: suckering well-meaning but naive legislators into enacting cosmetic and often draconian prohibitions intended to fool the masses into believing that something is being done, while at the same time actually promoting rather than discouraging teen consumption.
Isn't it time we raised the driving age, lowered the drinking age and repealed unwise laws that prohibit kids from learning to drink in moderation under supervised apprenticeship within the family? But that's the problem, isn't it: Moderation just does not inhere in our national psyche, so neither will moderation be found in the halls of Congress or in our state legislatures.
The harvest of our shortsighted mindset is binge drinking in college, alcoholism in adult life and increased carnage on America's highways.
M. R. Franks
Professor of Family Law
Southern University
**********************************************
....and this denotes real intelligence, hon
a quote from onree...iq=3
Lower the drinking age to 16 for 3.2% beer and raise the legal age to drive a vehicle to 19.
wow, i'm like (not) impressed
****************************************
QUOTES FROM Brandonx1,
"long as you have milquetoast in the adm..............this will continue.......go, tigers
This community is so messed up from top to bottom...with the jello-man at central office.........and the hypocritical bible thumping administrator at the HS........talk about hypocrisy
............lets cancel the season and start over next fall...
onree....you are an idiot.............you have the makings of a school board member or superintendent"
*******************************************
Wow, all talk, no substance. I'm (not) impressed.
like2b_onree
I think people have forgotten that these students are high school students, not 21 year old college students. I do not know why law enforcement was not involved but the people who were at this party had no business to be drinking. I made it through high school without drinking and partying. I know there is not much to do in this town, but the alternative should not be to do the worst possible activity. I think there should be a zero tolerance policy in place and any student who participates in sports or clubs especially like National Honor Society should be expected (along with the rest of the student population) to uphold the policy or be kicked off. There is no reason no reason at all to be out drinking. Parents need to keep an eye on what their kids are out doing. I hear of stuff that goes on that I would have been locked in my room for months over. It just seems like society in general has turned into a passive pushover in fear of ruffling a few feathers. If my children ever get involved in drinking parties the coaches won't have to worry about a plan being in place because I will take care of the matter at home.
the guys were kicked off the team for breaking team policy, not district policy. The only way district policy was involved was with the one week suspension, which is hardly a big deal. But i do agree that all students in attendance should have been punished, but that isn't how the current system appears to work. I wish it did though.
onree....you are an idiot.............you have the makings of a school board member or superintendent
I have mixed feelings about this. Yes, the kids screwed up and should be held responsible for their actions. They are student athletes and should be held to a standard of conduct. However, I also agree that nobody was arrested, law enforcement was not called, and this was not in any way associated with the school or a school activity so I am confused... Why is the school involved?? Were the students who were at this party but NOT athletes punished in any way??? If the district did not see fit to involve those students in any punishment, how can they single out only the students who are athletes??? District policy should apply to all students in the district... not just athletes.
remember how just because others do it doesn't make it right. If anything, parents and teachers should allow their children to learn from the parent's/teacher's mistakes, not copy them.
Lower the drinking age to 16 for 3.2% beer and raise the legal age to drive a vehicle to 19.
Don't be so hard on these young adults.
Teachers and parents, remember how much stuff you did and got away with when you were their age? Don't deny it, I was there with many of you.
I am neither a parent nor perfect.But to deny that the parents didn't do their job here is to deny the obvious. If a kid is raised to know what and what not to do, they know when to avoid situations such as this party. I stand by all my comments, but if you feel that I am wrong, you are entitled to that opinion. From what I know of these kids, and I know some of them fairly well, they weren't raised to avoid these situations, which is evident in not only this case, but several others from the past.
Wow!! To Tigergrad are you a perfect parent??? Or are you even a parent at all?? If you are a parent how dare you to even say that the parents are not raising their children right? I dont think that is a fair statement at all. Did you do everything that your parents would have thought was right? If so then you are a perfect person and you should feel proud that you are perfect. I truely doubt that you are perfect however or that you were the perfect child. Grow up and realize that not eveything is the parents fault here. There are things call per-pressure that is a factor for high school students. If I were a parent of one of these football players I would be very offended of your comment.
Some of those that call themselves"christians" in our school, really aren't. FCA (Fellowship of Christion Athletes) is filled with people that drink, do drugs, or sleep around. Tell me how those people can be christians!?
Wow! So much ignorance and misinformation. Some of you should really do some sole searching in your own lives before you belittle and judge the actions of administration and/or teachers and certainly students before making derogatory/defamation of character comments. The reality is these are people, human beings, "Tigers." These are christian people living christian lives, No one is without sin. It's time to let these people and students begin the healing process and move on with their lives. The support of this community and the cohesiveness of this educational environment are essential to beginning the recovery process to for the betterment of the school, community and personal relationships. Isn't what we want to emphasis to the student/athletes is how to deal with conflict resolution and fellowship within our school and community. Pray for this community, all entities within this school system that they may find God's grace at every opportunity.
It's a shame they made such a bad decision. They do represent the community, just look for the picture that appears in the paper every year of the football players going to the grade schools to visit with the kids and sign autographs.
Maybe this year, they should go talk to the younger kids about what happens when you break the rules or what is wrong with under age drinking. Those involved certainly don't need to be put on a pedistal for the kids to look up to as role models.
You are being pretty immature to say that the teachers shouldn't be involved. The parents are obviously failing to raise these kids right, and teachers should be role models. I would have been disturbed if the teachers didn't support the decision to uphold the punishments. The girls should have been punished more, but the teachers have done nothing wrong.
Beckham is an idiot. So is Fink. The only one halfway decent is Fergie. They all have to go either way. They lie and manipulate and threaten kids and it's ridiculous. The teachers at the high school are immature for clapping at everything one of them had to say. Grow up. They asked you to stop a first time and you didnt. Half of the teachers there were there to make a good impression on the boss. Nobody in that highschool has a backbone. They're all liars. The teachers dont raise them. Their parents do. So they should have stayed out of it. They pay them to teach. Not babysit. OR take away the only things they had. If they're gonna be off...so should the volleyball players. Where it clearly states they'll be kicked off for the same thing the football players got kicked off for. The only reason they arent off is because her daughter and her daughters best friends were the ones doing it.
"I would like to see some information supporting the claims that being a cheer leader is harmful to a baby. I know a lot of people who have done much more than that while pregnant and did no damage to the child. All they are doing is standing, clapping, and yelling.
-- Posted by FST_Pommier on Mon, Oct 6, 2008, at 9:13 PM "
Well, the pregnant one climbs up on top of other girls shoulders and such and then jumps down. I may be no doctor, but I can almost guarantee that isn't good.
I would like to see some information supporting the claims that being a cheer leader is harmful to a baby. I know a lot of people who have done much more than that while pregnant and did no damage to the child. All they are doing is standing, clapping, and yelling.
I have also never been to a party. Apparently you have to do that to get noticed at our school. Like TigerGrad said, Athletes are representatives of our school. Every single one of them laughed at what happened at Nevada. Hate to break it to them though, doubt we would have won if it wasn't for all those players getting kicked off. In the past years, FSHS has been going down hill, not only since I have been a freshman, but since my sister has been in school.
The students should just grow up, and accept what they got. They can't change it. All they can do is prevent it from happening again. Too bad the two people didn't learn from before.
I am a recent Graduate and have a few comments to make about some of the previous ones:
Pregnant Cheerleaders: I don't feel girls need kicked off for being pregnant, but they should really consider quitting by their own will because it is extremely dangerous to the baby.
Somebody mentioned that every High Schooler goes to at least one party: No, not every one. Myself and several of my friends and several other students don't go to parties because we are smart enough to avoid situations like that. Look at some of the parties that have made news in recent years. Not so long ago there was one that resulted in a girl being drugged and raped and everyone got away with it.
Some students were punished while others got away with it: The ones who managed to get away with it will now have it on their conscience. That may not be a big deal to some of them, but what more can you do?
Why is it a School Matter?: It's a school matter because it became public knoweledge. I am hours away but still found out about this party long before these kids were punished. Athletes are representative of the school and as a former athlete, i support the punishment. I actually feel it should be tougher for the volleyball girls and everyone else that had only a short suspension. If nothing had happened it would send the message that it was ok.
Signing an agreement or not: I can't speak for anybody but the football boys here, but one of the first things mentioned at the beginning of the season meeting is always the behavior policy. So whether or not they signed anything, they were made aware of the possible consequences. The fact that they carried out these actions anyway speaks of their own stupidity.
I have a sister still in High School. She feels the same way as I do about most of this. She also knows that if she ever drank, being kicked off the team would be the least of her worries because our parents would treat it like it should be treated. Parents need to punish their kids, not support their illegal activities.
HA! The one girl that got kicked off cheerleading got kicked off Dance Team out sophomore year! As for Mr. Barner. He too got kicked off sophomore for the same thing. As a teacher says, History repeats itself.
2 games and some bearcrawls. yeah right. you would think that barner getting kicked off his sophomore year would have done it. but NO! apparenly not. they got WHAT they DESERVED. and bing did bail those girls out.
This is teaching every kid involved to lie. Lie and you will get out of trouble. Lie and you wont have to be humiliated like the students have.
Redemption should be key in this situation. As for the football players, 2 games and some bear crawls should do it. They have learned their lesson. The senior football players went to Coach Epps asking for forgiveness and asking how they can be redeemed and to get back on the team. He avoided them for a week and finally said No.
What they did was illegal yes. Were the cops involved? Were they arrested? No one saw them there.
1 girl was kicked off cheerleading. I know of 3 other girls that were there... that were drinking. They are still on the squad because they lied. How fair is that to the girl that got kicked off???
A teacher told us at the board meeting that her son voluntarily went into the office because he felt bad about the mistakes he had made and was kicked off the football team. NO! He came to school drunk and admitted to it then was kicked off the team. She also compared 2 of the boys to a story about 2 men who always had mommy to bail them out. Then they raped a girl and mommy couldnt help them then. I believe she owes them an appology. #1 they did not rape a girl and #2 1 of them definitely has never had mommy bail him out of anything.
Ok, being a senior at FSHS, it sucks that my fellow classmates blew it for our senior year. Not once do I remember losing to Indy, or a Homecoming, but that is besides the point. I respect the administration on what they did. Athletes should be role models for the younger kids, unfortunately, I don't think these ones are. My coach told us that if we were involved in all of this ridiculous stuff, we would have been AUTOMATICALLY dismissed, no questions asked. If these students want to be "grown up" and drink, they can act grown up too. If you do something illegal, you need to face the consequences, not be a baby about it. If it had been someone without a "last name", or not the star player, they would have been kicked off. It's not fair to the girls that don't get playing time on the volleyball team, to watch girls that don't deserve to play now that they made the choices that they did.
As for pregnant cheerleaders, they shouldn't be allowed to cheer. Hello!?!? it is harmful to the baby, and it looks bad on the school. When the entire community knows that, it doesn't look good
I'm sure though, if my mom or dad was a coach.. i wouldn't have been punished either.
Also! I'm glad our highschool chose the right Homecoming King and Queen.
GROW UP!
To fortscottmom, First of all I could care less if there are any pregnant girls on the chearleading squad or not. However when you have seen that pregant girls have been on the squad and on the dance team and never gotten kicked off well how can you say that these football players should get kicked off for going to a party. All I am saying is what is fair for one is fair for all. And I am sure that some of those little chearleaders were at this party as well and drinking it up. If you think for one minute that these kids were not out doing this then you are very narrow minded and need to open your eyes. Every teenager is going to go to a least one party in their highschool days. I am not saying that what they did was right however why kick them off the team. I agree that this might have been the only thing going for them with no parents to talk to or to even look up to and now you take the one thing they have away. When what you should have done was make their butts get out there and work them really hard so that they learn a lesson. If you do not agree that is your choice but dont get on here and tell me to get off the cheerleaders when I know that they are not perfect in any way shape or form. And being a pregant cheerleader is not setting a good exaplem for any young girl that is out there watching them cheer. Except maybe to tell them hey go out have sex get knocked up and you can still do whatever you want even cheer for your high school football team!! Boy some standards there arent there USD 234. So glad to call this my hometown.
To Timeforachange. You should get your facts straight before you bad mouth kids...... There are not two pregnant cheerleaders. As a parent of a FSHS cheerleader I know how hard all of these girls work. The early morning practices, summer practices, summer camp, the many games they travel to and cheer at. They are ALL a wonderful bunch of girls. They give a hudge amount of their time and energy to do all these things. I think they are ALL good role models. I think it is time for hateful comments to stop especially regarding kids. None are perfect. All of the cheerleaders work hard to get on the squad and work even harder after they are on. I have never posted a comment on this website before and am surprised to find myself doing so but the hatefullness of the comments of Timeforachange and Speakyourmind left me little choice.
so glad someone brought up the b word....how can we happily pay someone so much money and he cannot lead......he has more skeltons than the graveyard south of town.......nice call on the supts part....real leadership
I am confused as to how the school board can say that the policy was followed.
In their own words:
" Gentry also went on to explain that if a "third party -- not a coach, administrator or teacher -- makes an allegation or accusation that a student was drinking, the procedure would be for the coach, student, student's parents and the person who is making the accusation to come together. The coach would hear them out and make the determination of whether it was substantial or not."
Did this not come from a student to begin with????? Where were the parents???? Why does Beckham feel that he can skip this step. I know that when Beckham calls the kids into his office he lies to them by telling them that he has proof (which at this stage was HEARSAY, I could be wrong but I was under the impression that hearsay is NOT proof) to get them to say what he NEEDS them to say so he can be "personally aware".
Now we are at the next paragraph
Gentry also said that when a student who is being questioned by an administrator admits to the wrongdoing themselves, "the administrator is therefore personally aware and can report back to the coach who will take the appropriate action. There is no need for bringing in accusers. There is no need for bringing in parents because the student himself has admitted to the wrongdoing. The only step to be taken is reporting it to the coach or the sponsor so they can take whatever action they deem appropriate."
Just wondering if anyone else finds this to be not following their own policy. Why does Beckham feel that does not have to follow any procedures that may be in place. How does it look to the students when an administrator lies to them??? What kind of example does this show the kids.
How about the kid who threw the party be off for the season, and the rest able to play. (Don't even get me started on that subject....) No wait that would mean that "someone" would have to admit they were wrong.
Did these kids not know the rules when the signed up to participate in these activities? They broke the rule and now must accept punishment. It's time people started accpting responsibility for their actions instead of trying to blame someone else for their problems. If the kids are drinking at this age (and it's been pointed out that many do), I think the parents have more important issues they need to deal with than trying to keep their kid on the football team.
what about the old notion that athletes should be held accountable, present a better than average image, and stay "in training", at least while their sport is in session............lets cancel the season and start over next fall...
KUDOS! KUDOS! KUDOS! to speakyourmind. Agree whole-heartedly about if no law was involved why was the school involved. People claiming long time coming, because they all know (some from experience) that teens have illegally drank for decades. Don't understand school involvement when not a school function kids were drinking at. Where any of the kids arrested? Who is to say that those that "ratted out" were just geting even for their own short coming! Standards set for these athletes should be higher than for others...BS. Everyone should have high expectations of themselves. The school rule book shouldn't be the one to set it.
Who will be there to take care of the kid that may have kicked off and that is the ONLY THING they have going for them--no home life, no support system, etc. Being in the activity may have been the one thing saving the kid from going down the wrong road. Yeah they may have been drinking and should not have been, but now without the activity what do you suppose those kids are doing????? Will U234 be there for those kids? Or will they get punished again for "misconduct?"
Bottom line--these young people made a bonehead choice. They have not only embarassed themselves and their families, but they let down their teammates and this very supportive community. Whether they like it or not, they represent this community in their actions on and off the field. No excuses! Enforce the rules now or the problem only gets worse. When will people begin to take responsibility for their actions?
Being a former Tiger dad I had a son that went through a similar situation. Only he took alcohol on the bus. There were 3 boys that were kicked off the team at the time. It was a team mate that told on them. Administration then questioned the boys. My son admitted to it and was removed from the team as were the other two boys. I don't know if the other boys drank any or not. But I was embarrassed by my sons actions of taking it on the bus to a ball game. I was also very disappointed in him. I have since talked to him about this and he said it didn't bother him that he was off the team it was that a team mate told on them. He knew what would happen for doing it and getting caught he took the chance anyway. He was also expelled for 5 days from school. Coming from someone that has never drank I don't feel there are strong enough penalties for drinking for adults. There are not many good things that come from beer or other strong drinks. Broken families, disfunctional and displaced families, battered spouses and children. Not to name the physical problems it causes. It takes the first drink to become a drunk or for that matter a first hit of a drug to become a drug addic. The kids and parents need to follow the rules. I was upset with my son, not the school, for making a bonehead choice. They do it to see if they can get by with it. This is not the first time this kind of situation has come up. Deal with it.
For one CARMA don't know everything.....I was one of those winnybutts you talked about and i never signed a policy or agreed to one!!! And how can you say we are hiding behind our parents you know nothing of whats going on.... It has nothin to do with you...What you need to do is grow up and mind your own business!!
As "Simplystated" put it, it would be illegal to kick off pregnant cheerleaders. And to correct "TIMEFORCHANGE", there is only one pregnant cheerleader. The other one would be the coach who is happily married with another kid so how is that wrong? If you're going to put stuff on here, at least get the facts straights. And for another thing, I would say about 20% of students in high school have not had sex. So how can you punish those that have, that has been caught and do nothing to do those who have got lucky and not got caught? It is not illegal to have sex, maybe against your beliefs and views, but not against the law.
This whole situation should not have even got this much publicity. The party was after school hours, off school grounds, and not at a school event. The school should not have gotten involved. But they did and what's done is done. Parents just need to let go of the fact their children choose to go to this party and choose to drink. People talked and it got back to the school administration somehow. Big deal, they did the right thing and handled it how it was stated in the policy. Anything after a week's suspension was decided by the coach and his or her policy. STUDENTS: If you're going to be mad at anyone, be mad at yourselves for making the choices you have made.
Back to the subject - the kids were drinking - some got caught - some didn't. Take the punishment and learn from it and go on. If the kid is talented in his or her sport, there will be colleges wanting them. Personal attacks are not beneficial. Yes our community has problems. Parents have been turning their backs on teenage drinking for to long. The community and police force need to get involved. Seeing a young person dead in a car wreck that involved drinking is not a pretty sight. A dead friend will matter ten years from now. Getting suspended from the team for the remainder of the season will be just a memory.
Pregnant cheerleaders should not cheer. The father, if he can be identified, should be removed from ANY extracurriculars, and be compelled to work after school hours.This community is so messed up from top to bottom...with the jello-man at central office.........and the hypocritical bible thumping administrator at the HS........talk about hypocrisy!
bak to class??
USD #234 Board of Education to answer your last question no1knows08, now get off the computer and get back to class!!
If those "adults" faced same consequences of years gone by, then why is everyone SO EXCITED that something is FINALLY being done--ie.it's something that's been a long time coming! Who would know if personnel are acting in a respectful way--at all times! Who's personally observing them?
TIMEFORCHANGE (moral superiority) is basically saying that if someone has sexual intercourse they cant play sports? HMMM.... males can't get pregnant but they can get someone pregnant, I didnt see you stating that if a male gets someone pregnant that they should be kicked off of a team, so this is basically saying if you hide it well enough then it makes it right. I hope you are never judged in the way that you are judging the people who you are writing about (which I have no clue who is pregnant and it wouldnt change my opinion of them anyway) because it would be ignorant to think all seniors are virgins when they graduate, some just get "lucky" and dont create a human during the process. But if they had an abortion then its okay because no body sees the results is what you are saying. How narrow minded does someone have to be to think that if we hide pregnancy then nobody will "do it". Pointing out the faults of others makes such a great Christian, I hope it makes you feel better to judge others. Your probably one of the people that just go to church to "be seen" going to church. or maybe you dont go at all. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Sure we did things different when we were in highschool and in the past in general, we drove cars without seatbelts, rode in the back of trucks, rode bikes without helmets, kicked girls out of school for being pregnant in the 60's, had medicine without safety lids, we would drank and let the one who could walk drive. The police would tell us to be careful and to keep it down if they came to our parties. It is different times now and we have learned by experience that people DIE if you drank and drive or if a minor drinks they can die from alcohol poisoning. But it does not make it right just because we did it.
Nobody is saying that they are bad kids, its just the policy that is in place for athletes not to drink alcohol or any other illegal substance. If parents were so concerned about scholarships they should have stressed this to their kids to not break the rules instead of trying to get them out of it after it happened.
I feel bad for them because the kids who didnt get caught are still playing and the ones that got caught or admitted to it have to suffer the consequences. But everyone knew the rules whether a paper was signed or not, they were told "If you drank you are off the team".
I agree with whoever said Thank God nobody was hurt or died as a result of this party.
Dear no1knows08, Those adults that you refer to as drinking in their younger days would have faced the same consequences. I'm 45 and the rules have not changed over the years. So what exactly was your point? Part of participating in extra curricular activites is knowing that you are expected to conduct yourself respectfully with just behavior not only at school but in public as well. Hmmm that means at all times! School personnel are way over the age of 21 in case you did not realize that. I doubt if any of them got wasted three weeks ago and passed out in a bathtub while their friends shaved their head! You are an idiot to even compare adult social drinking to teenage drinking.
Random drug testing of parents wouldn't be any different than punishing kids for drinking.
One other comment - maybe a random drug testing of parents would be more in order. Hmmmm...
Pregnant cheerleaders! That isn't illegal. As a matter of fact, it would be illegal to remove them from the team because of their pregnancy as it is illegal to remove them from school because they are pregnant. If we removed all the kids from activities that were sexually active, we'd kick off the majority of the kids. What the kids did was illegal. The kids know who was wasted at that party, and at the other weekly parties. The kids know the one's not telling the truth about drinking. Instead of trying to protect my kid, I want him to step up and tell the truth and take his punishment. The Administration did their job. Like it or not. No one ever said life was going to be easy.
The next thing we need to look at are the cheerleaders. They are in the schools own words "leaders for their fellow classmates". We have two pregnant cheerleaders. I don't think they should be allowed on the team, just as these football players should be suspended. What kind of example are these students setting for their peers? And what kind of example is the school setting for all students? It is a mockery
Other than the "terms" of the contract if these rules are to be followed, when do the youth have time for themselves to not be watched or "personally observed?" I would have to venture to say that a higher percentage of adults as teens did the exact same thing or maybe worse than the ones being punished.
Yes, under aged drinking is illegal but so is speeding and driving when your 14 to something other than school or work. Were the cops involved? If not, then yeah the kids made a poor choice(s), haven't we all. Thank goodness no one was killed, but where/when and why is it a school issue--other than the "terms" of the signed contract. Were the atheletes forced to sign, or were they told--you can still play even if you don't sign--was there any options or just consequences. Hmmm Did it happen on school grounds or at a school function?
Question? Who is "personally observing" school personnel on their free time? Maybe a little random drug testing of personnel would be an interesting highlight
.
Milquetoast wouldn't have stood his ground with the parents. It takes a person with character and integrity to stand up for what is right. We should all take this as a testament that the FSHS Administration stands by the standards that we would want our children to exemplify as adults. The students involved learned a valuable life lesson and we can only hope that the parents acknowledge that possibly they need to work on the relationship they have with their kids. Fortunately these students did not have to lose a team mate or fellow student to a drunk driving accident or other drinking activity. They lost out on a season of high school football, hardly the highlight of a person's life. Time to look at the big picture.
They picked on my precious baby, how dare they. Wa Wa Wa! Kudos to the parents that are holding their student athlete accountable for their poor decision to party. I am a parent of two student athletes and would back the coaches and administration if my kids had been involved in this alcoholic party. That is a new incomprehensible concept for the parents of the student athlete who are backing their winnybutt kids and not the administration and the athletic policy. A policy that their child personally signed and agreed to. STUDENT ATHLETES: I hear that you are pointing your finger at everyone around you and blaming them for what has happened to you. There is only one person to blame and that is yourself. It takes more than athletic ability to be a true athlete. Discipline, dedication, commitment and loyalty to your coaches and teammates is what makes a true athlete. You have not exhibited what it takes, but have chosen to break rules of conduct. Quit hiding behind your mommy and daddy you are not five years old. You can apologize to your coach and teammates and make things right or you can keep blaming everyone else for YOUR poor choices. It is up to YOU!
long as you have milquetoast in the adm..............this will continue.......go, tigers