http://www.today.com/news/outcry-over-students-punishment-helping-drunk-friend-8C11403079
QuoteThe suspension of a star high school volleyball player in Massachusetts for what she says was simply helping a friend by serving as a designated driver has created an outcry on social media.
Erin Cox, 17, was stripped of her title as team captain and suspended for five games at North Andover (Mass.) High School after arriving to pick up a friend right as the police arrived at a party where a dozen teens were arrested for underage drinking. A police officer on the scene told Cox's attorney that she was not drinking and provided a written statement vouching for Cox.
"The police officer confirmed to me what I had been told by Erin's mom, which is that he saw Erin at the party, that he was standing next to her, that she was perfectly sober, (and) she didn't even have the slightest odor of alcohol,'' attorney Wendy Murphy told TODAY Wednesday.
Despite the officer's statement that Cox was not drinking, her high school benched the honors student from the volleyball team and took away her status as captain. The North Andover School district issued a statement saying it would not comment on matters involving student discipline, and added that it applied statewide rules that prohibit "student-athletes from possessing alcohol, in addition to prohibiting its use, consumption, or distribution."
Apparently, going to a party to get a drunk friend and take them home equals "possessing alcohol".
When I was a kid, the police and the schools were BEGGING people to call designated drivers. After this, are kids going to be more or less likely to help out?
Man. The cops vouched for her and she still got slapped down.
I don't know. I think actual friends will probably stick together regardless but one kid randomly helping out another won't happen.
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on October 16, 2013, 05:20:10 PM
Man. The cops vouched for her and she still got slapped down.
I don't know. I think actual friends will probably stick together regardless but one kid randomly helping out another won't happen.
The whole justification for "captaincy" of a high school sports team is that you are expected to demonstrate leadership and responsibility.
This young lady did precisely that, and she was slapped down in a humiliating fashion.
I would say the school has made a very public statement about what their values actually are, and what values they are teaching. And I'd say it's a fucking disgrace.
Quote from: Dirty Old Uncle Roger on October 16, 2013, 05:24:38 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on October 16, 2013, 05:20:10 PM
Man. The cops vouched for her and she still got slapped down.
I don't know. I think actual friends will probably stick together regardless but one kid randomly helping out another won't happen.
The whole justification for "captaincy" of a high school sports team is that you are expected to demonstrate leadership and responsibility.
This young lady did precisely that, and she was slapped down in a humiliating fashion.
I would say the school has made a very public statement about what their values actually are, and what values they are teaching. And I'd say it's a fucking disgrace.
Yeah, it is ridiculously overboard. Another school would probably give her an award instead of benching her.
More punishment-fetish culture. The real message the school is sending is "it's wrong to help people who step out of line, they deserve for bad things to happen".
Quote from: Not Your Nigel on October 16, 2013, 05:32:40 PM
More punishment-fetish culture. The real message the school is sending is "it's wrong to help people who step out of line, they deserve for bad things to happen".
Yep. Precisely.
That town's nearby, and "keeping up appearances" is definitely higher on their priority list than just about anything else. Several people I know are up in arms about this (at least on Facebook), and from what others have said, that school doesn't seem to very student or parent friendly.
I would have been less surprised if she had been arrested as just part of a general sweep, since that's sometimes done even with someone showing up after the police. (Even if no charges are pressed or are later dropped).
And yea, when I was in school, everyone was told not to drink, but MORE IMPORTANTLY don't drink and drive - since not dying or killing someone else is a bit more important than (mostly likely) acting stupid and feeling like shit the next day. The fact that their "rule" about students drinking doesn't even support their actions makes them look even worse.
But I can see the digging in of heels happening here.
Quote from: trippinprincezz13 on October 16, 2013, 05:52:03 PM
That town's nearby, and "keeping up appearances" is definitely higher on their priority list than just about anything else. Several people I know are up in arms about this (at least on Facebook), and from what others have said, that school doesn't seem to very student or parent friendly.
I would have been less surprised if she had been arrested as just part of a general sweep, since that's sometimes done even with someone showing up after the police. (Even if no charges are pressed or are later dropped).
And yea, when I was in school, everyone was told not to drink, but MORE IMPORTANTLY don't drink and drive - since not dying or killing someone else is a bit more important than (mostly likely) acting stupid and feeling like shit the next day. The fact that their "rule" about students drinking doesn't even support their actions makes them look even worse.
But I can see the digging in of heels happening here.
At this point, shaming the principal publicly is about the only option.
Quote from: Not Your Nigel on October 16, 2013, 05:32:40 PM
More punishment-fetish culture. The real message the school is sending is "it's wrong to help people who step out of line, they deserve for bad things to happen".
This. Exactly.
What is it with people and punishment?
Quote from: Hoopla on October 16, 2013, 06:12:25 PM
Quote from: Not Your Nigel on October 16, 2013, 05:32:40 PM
More punishment-fetish culture. The real message the school is sending is "it's wrong to help people who step out of line, they deserve for bad things to happen".
This. Exactly.
What is it with people and punishment?
It's largely an American thing. I mean, I saw it in Canada, too, but here it's a fucking RELIGION.
Quote from: trippinprincezz13 on October 16, 2013, 05:52:03 PM
That town's nearby, and "keeping up appearances" is definitely higher on their priority list than just about anything else. Several people I know are up in arms about this (at least on Facebook), and from what others have said, that school doesn't seem to very student or parent friendly.
I would have been less surprised if she had been arrested as just part of a general sweep, since that's sometimes done even with someone showing up after the police. (Even if no charges are pressed or are later dropped).
And yea, when I was in school, everyone was told not to drink, but MORE IMPORTANTLY don't drink and drive - since not dying or killing someone else is a bit more important than (mostly likely) acting stupid and feeling like shit the next day. The fact that their "rule" about students drinking doesn't even support their actions makes them look even worse.
But I can see the digging in of heels happening here.
Yeah, when I heard it was North Andover, I wasn't terribly surprised.
If you're from North Andover, you're upper middle class and higher, or pretending to be and barely keeping the facade together.
Is this school run by RWHN?
Quote from: Mr. Bear on October 17, 2013, 02:32:41 AM
Is this school run by RWHN?
Wrong state. Unless you build a time machine.
Maine,
Used to be part of Massachusetts