Dear Leader Journal,
I am writing to you as a concerned parent and citizen as to the hypocrisy that continues within our school district by the High School Principal, some Coaches and our Superintendent. There are benefits and downfalls to living and raising children in a small community. We want our children to embrace the “small town” concept of knowing their neighbor while enjoying the educational benefit of smaller classrooms. We anticipate our school setting will provide children with an educational opportunity in a well rounded and structured environment while promoting extracurricular activities aimed at enticing many. We assume as a parent that student handbooks are written to educate students as to the punishment that will be consistently imposed no matter who breaks the rule. This is certainly the perception but not the case.
I feel it is time to inform the community and parents who have children in the St. James School District about several incidences that have occurred where our administration, principals and some coaches have shown inconsistencies in the disciplinarian process. After reading this article, you will see the current discipline handbook is overlooked depending on which student is in question.
Last week, four high school students (all of who play on the Baseball Team) decided it would be fun to go through town and paintball mailboxes and cars. They chose to also paintball cars that were parked in the school parking lot. The High School Principal reviewed the security camera tapes to find and identify all four students. Two of these student's parents are school district employees. No police report was made on these students, no out of school or in school suspension was given and they were not kicked off the Baseball Team. Their punishment was to sit out one baseball game. Only a few days after this incident occurred, another student who too played on the baseball team was given a referral to the office for talking in class. This student's punishment is that he cannot play on the Baseball Team for the ENTIRE SEASON because the Baseball Coach does not tolerate referrals to the office no matter what the referral is for. I guess the Baseball Coach doesn't have a problem with personal destruction of property by paintballs? I must question if that teacher who sent this student to the office for talking realized he would ruin this kids Baseball career for the entire season? I would guess to say no. I must question what kind of a coach sets kids up for failure? Instead of recruiting kids to stay involved and inspiring their passion, this is a coach on a power trip. At this point, most would question why the High School Principal and Superintendent did not put a stop to this absolute discriminatory act. However, this is not a first at the High School.
I know of many situations over the past several years where students have shown up at ball games drunk or under the influence. I know of students who have been in fights on school property who were given a day or two of ISS while other students involved in fights received a week OSS. There is a policy for discipline in the student handbook for these acts. Many times, I have seen where either no discipline was taken because the student involved was a star athlete or they were made to sit out only one of their games.
Earlier this year, I was made aware of another situation where four students showed up at an away Football game. All four students rode together to this game. While at the game, two of the students were approached by the High School Principal and questioned about if they had been drinking. Three of the four students admitted to providing the alcohol/or drinking while the forth student denied knowing there was any drinking going on in her automobile. The three students all agreed the forth student was aware of the alcohol and chose to drive them to the game. The three students that admitted to the situation were suspended from school, given community service, made to sit out their first three ball games and had a juvenile report made by the juvenile officer. The forth student never received any punishment. Bu the way, she had babysat in the past for the High School Principal.
Earlier this school year, a student who played football showed up to get on the bus to go to an away football game intoxicated. The coaches (one of whom is the school Dare Officer) chose to go ahead and put this student on the bus drunk and take him to the game. The punishment imposed for this student was he had to sit the bench this game and 2 other games. Earlier this year, we had two students that played football who were involved in stealing copper. These kids were not kicked off any team. Do coaches have the right to make the rules at they go? This clearly shows the manipulation of the discipline policy handbook to be tweaked depending on the student.
This kind of nonsense will continue until there is more publication, community awareness and support to make it stop. If you have children or grandchildren that play sports or just go to this school, be attentive and know your rights. You have the right to approach the coach, principal, superintendent and school boars. Call the, write them and put letters in the paper. Once people start talking, the school board will be forced to take corrective measures to make accountability a priority. Our school officials should be promoting the involvement of all extra curricular activities while leading our students by example. When students see sine if their peers being punished while others are not, is the most hypocritical act by an adult that will follow these kids the rest of their lives. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen! Whatever happened to the motto 'KIDS COUNT'? I challenge you school board, and make our “Kids Count” and take action to ensure the accountability and discipline of your staff that choose to lead by hypocrisy.
Sincerely,
R Davis
NOTE TO READERS:
There was a commentor on here who was claiming to be Ramona Rinehart. The office received a call from Mrs. Rinehart who said someone had posted in her name. All posts refering to this post, as well as the origional have been removed. Please do not post in other people's name. IP addresses are recorded for authentication on the moderators end.
