fawnfriend - 30 April 2008 02:49 PM

If you have a personal axe to grind against Dr. S, then you should stand up and say so, not hide behind anonymity throwing stones............

I think we would all LOVE for you to do that!

Sure, post your name and phone number on here and I’d be happy to give you a call.  Even if it is long distance, I don’t live around here, I just worked for SESD for a decade of my life.

pooch - 30 April 2008 02:56 PM

fawnfriend - 30 April 2008 02:49 PM

If you have a personal axe to grind against Dr. S, then you should stand up and say so, not hide behind anonymity throwing stones............

I think we would all LOVE for you to do that!

Sure, post your name and phone number on here and I’d be happy to give you a call.  Even if it is long distance, I don’t live around here, I just worked for SESD for a decade of my life.

and I could complain about my past employer too...which is why I moved on.  That holds no relavance to this issue.

JustPlainC - 30 April 2008 02:33 PM

Wait a second.  There is absolutely nothing that is poorly written about the code of conduct.  It is pretty much boilerplate stuff.  In the end, the board deals with the punishments, not the sup.  Dr. Shank is the one that referred the case to the board in the first place.  The board gave the first punishment.  Then, under pressure, they buckled.  That is the real problem.  If you have a personal axe to grind against Dr. S, then you should stand up and say so, not hide behind anonymity throwing stones.  You make me sick.

Amen, JPC!  I believe that post came from yet another disgruntled ex-teacher that does not even live in the district.  If we listen to these people they will start blaming TS for Pearl Harbor, Aids and the recession!

I tried hard to stay out of this one, but I failed. After reading it all over days, a few lines to stir up some thought.

1. Witness the power of the media. How would it have turned out without a camera man and reporter.

2. Whatever happened to ‘taking responsibility for your actions’ - Thats directed at the board for waffling and the students. The collective truth is somewhere between prank and fibbing teens - or a complete cross collection of the extremes and everything in between. It also goes for anyone else involved - the bean spiller and/or adults that allowed the moment to occur - no matter the innocent intent. Pretending to perpetrate a crime is not amusing in all circles. Lessons are to be learned by all, no single party should shoulder 100% of this mess.

3. Society needs to take one on the chin too - that means me and you as we wanted it this way. It was not long ago that the schools had no business in the students out of school life. One day in 1999 changed that. It was called Columbine (4-20-99). Thats when the zero tolerance school policy was born and it has evolved to what we have today. The school board took a lot of heat because they missed the same warning signs as did law enforcement and parents. Today most schools have police officers assigned to them. Congrats!

More than likely its much to do about nothing, but it is a necessary warning or wakeup for us all. I hear from time to time that 3/4ths of teenagers experience alcohol before they graduate high school. Thats fine - no big secret. I was one of them too. Its those that are responsible (there is that word again) that will have a life long casual, enjoyable and harmless relationship with alcohol. Those that are not will be lucky to be just an alcoholic. Its a fact that alcohol is a gateway drug...so you know where that goes....

I don’t see a ‘right’ on this one. The camera can instantly change your mind, its not the schools burden as we made their policy, we invited them into watching our kids at all times. Not saying facebook or myspace is remotely suspect, kids will be kids, innocent intent or not and its rightly up to the parent to let their kid have a beer at their 4th of July party (age appropriate of course). I just think it needs to simmer down, peacefully make this whole deal better and everyone take a lump or two and perhaps be just a wee bit wiser and wee bit more responsible next time.

My mom gave me a little piece of advice a long time ago. “If you don’t want anyone to read it, don’t write it down” - thats golden. Don’t take it at face value either. 

Sure, post your name and phone number on here and I’d be happy to give you a call.  Even if it is long distance, I don’t live around here, I just worked for SESD for a decade of my life.

Then why in the world are you hanging around here stirring up hatred and discontent?  You need some help.

Can specific users please not argue directly back and forth?  Discuss, don’t attack and make value judgements.  Take it private if you’re going to argue with one another.  If it continues this will be closed.  Thank you.

I live in Southern School District and we have the same behavior policy for our students.  Each student that takes part in any extracurricular activity must sign it as well as their parents.  Participating in extra curricular activities is a priviledge, not a right.  The students know the consequences if they are caught in a situation where the illegal use of alcohol or drugs is occurring.  This policy has been on the books for ages and has been enforced and challenged and upheld in the courts.  I’m sure that the solicitor for the school board has reviewed the policy to ensure that it is legal and enforcable.  Its a shame that the School Board backed off on the “punishment” for the students involved in the latest situation.  It sends a very poor message to the students and their parents and will be much harder to enforce the next time around.

Here’s more.............. http://www.yorkdailyrecord.com/ci_9110022

I apologize for putting that out in public.

ksasma - 30 April 2008 04:48 PM

I live in Southern School District and we have the same behavior policy for our students.  Each student that takes part in any extracurricular activity must sign it as well as their parents.  Participating in extra curricular activities is a priviledge, not a right.  The students know the consequences if they are caught in a situation where the illegal use of alcohol or drugs is occurring.  This policy has been on the books for ages and has been enforced and challenged and upheld in the courts.  I’m sure that the solicitor for the school board has reviewed the policy to ensure that it is legal and enforcable.  Its a shame that the School Board backed off on the “punishment” for the students involved in the latest situation.  It sends a very poor message to the students and their parents and will be much harder to enforce the next time around.

I agree completely.  But your word in italics is the key—illegal.  The SESD policy does not say anything about legal vs. illegal.  If you are at a family gathering where there are legal adults partaking in legal beverages and no illegal activities are taking place, then there should be no problems.  From the sound of it, all the pictures presented to the board showed no illegal activites.  Or at the very least, the did not PROVE that any illegal activities were taking place.  The policy as written states any “use or association with” drugs and alcohol.  The administration punished the students as per the policy, because they were “associating” with alcohol.  The policy does not make sense as written.

I would say that most of us are in agreement that the policy needs discussion and revision so maybe now since it is brought to everyone’s attention, steps will be made to update it. That will hopefully be the good that comes out of this. And the students should take this opportunity to be part of this process.

HOWEVER, as also clearly discussed, this policy (for better or worse) has been in effect for MANY years and the students and parents were fully aware of it. So right or wrong, the policy should have been enforced this time as it has been for other students in the past. It should not have made any difference that the coach or enough parents were upset that their children were going to miss their favorite activities when the students before them all suffered the same consequences. This has sent a very bad message that you can get away with things if you have the right connections or you raise enough fuss.

Southern’s policy was revised after it was pointed out that kids will be in family social situations where alcohol may be present.

stown_guy - 01 May 2008 08:17 AM

ksasma - 30 April 2008 04:48 PM

I live in Southern School District and we have the same behavior policy for our students.  Each student that takes part in any extracurricular activity must sign it as well as their parents.  Participating in extra curricular activities is a priviledge, not a right.  The students know the consequences if they are caught in a situation where the illegal use of alcohol or drugs is occurring.  This policy has been on the books for ages and has been enforced and challenged and upheld in the courts.  I’m sure that the solicitor for the school board has reviewed the policy to ensure that it is legal and enforcable.  Its a shame that the School Board backed off on the “punishment” for the students involved in the latest situation.  It sends a very poor message to the students and their parents and will be much harder to enforce the next time around.

I agree completely.  But your word in italics is the key—illegal.  The SESD policy does not say anything about legal vs. illegal.  If you are at a family gathering where there are legal adults partaking in legal beverages and no illegal activities are taking place, then there should be no problems.  From the sound of it, all the pictures presented to the board showed no illegal activites.  Or at the very least, the did not PROVE that any illegal activities were taking place.  The policy as written states any “use or association with” drugs and alcohol.  The administration punished the students as per the policy, because they were “associating” with alcohol.  The policy does not make sense as written.

You hit it right on the nose. This is what I was trying to say all along about a minor being at a party where adults were present consuming alcohol. Any photograph could be taken. The school policy needs to state illegal use and beyond a reasonable doubt that the student was partaking with illegal activities.  There needs to be evidence to support them being guilty a photograph can’t always show that. This is just one example where alcohol could be present and they may/may not be guilty of illegal activities. One other thing I would like to point out. Really, what happens if it was a family gathering ie: Christmas holidays and the minor was drinking wine with family. That is illegal, but I don’t know about other families, but when I was young I drank alcohol during New Years etc. not to get drunk but because that is what we did at dinner. So, even in that situation it is illegal, but is the school going to ban the student from taking part in extracirricular activities because the student drank wine with family at Christmas time or New Years? Come on. That’s what I mean about poorly written and not thought out policy. It needs to be specific and also show proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the student is guilty of something illegal.

ksasma - 01 May 2008 10:15 AM

Southern’s policy was revised after it was pointed out that kids will be in family social situations where alcohol may be present.

Revised in the last several days? When was it revised? What does it state now?

Southern’s policy was revised a few years ago, and as far as I know was never applied to a family situation.  The few times I know of where the policy was applied involved student parties where alcohol was present and available for the students to consume.

Katy - this is Southern School District’s policy, not Southeastern’s.