Public School over-reach?

[Monky]

I say it's an overreach of the school and the continued pussification of kids. Oh I forgot its for the kids... Pfft, whatever.

Why can't parents hold their kids accountable for their actions? Off school grounds, didn't involve the school or the school system. Calling bullshit on this one.

We're just going to have to agree to disagree.

It's not over reaching for the school. It is holding them accountable in their 'professional' choices. How many parents DO NOT hold their kids accountable? How many of the parents will go 'it was just a harmless prank'.. well suppose that a bowling ball had been in the back of the victims vehicle and it bounced out of the rear of the vehicle causing multiple accidents and possibly a fatality? Still a harmless prank? Not so much.. Thankfully it did not happen, but if the kids are not taught that there are consequences to their actions then guess what.. they'll do it again.. and again.. and again. Until such a time as there are real consequences, then what do the parents do?

I'm not saying GG isn't going to find an acceptable punishment for his kid.. but this is another layer of it. She was suspended for a game.. it's not as if she were suspended from school, that would be over reaching. Suspension from extra-curricular activities is not.

[02ducky]

We can agree to disagree, what if kid gets a speeding ticket off school grounds? Should the same standard be held? Police were involved, should that kid not be allowed to drive on school grounds? I see both sides of this, I just think the school is overreaching their boundaries.

[RblDiver]

I think I agree with the people who feel this is acceptable. A school suspension would be overreach, but a team activity is acceptable. It is likely that the animosity between the parties involved would extend to the sporting field, and thus affect the team cohesion and effectiveness. A one-game suspension is pretty minor, and gives a chance for things to hopefully cool off.

[crays]

Really?

I also recognize the fact that our country has been overthrown by Marxists.
Does that somehow imply that I condone the fact?

I think you may have over-reached.

And, perhaps, you have over-reacted. A simple "no" would have been sufficient. You made what I took as a matter-of-fact, if not somewhat aloof, statement: "Just teaching kids how the real world operates." I asked a simple question in regards to that response, not an implication of your beliefs. My apologies if you took it as a personal attack.

Let's get back to GG's thread here, and not start our own semi-hijacking splinter.

1. Kids will be kids.
2. Kids are not always the most compassionate, when it comes to dealing with peers.
3. Kids will do stupid crap without fully thinking though the repercussions.
4. Sometimes adults don't fare much better, especially when placed in an actual, or even perceived, position of authority/power/etc.

While I'm sure GG's stepdaughter had no malicious intent (see #1, #2), she and her friends overstepped the line when they entered the vehicle, unlocked or not (see #3, #1).
Does the coach/principal have the authority to intiate the punitive measures she did (see #4)? Maybe/maybe not, due to many good points brought up by fellow members thus far. I am in agreement that the daughter will likely face punishment at home more severe than missing a volleyball match, as we can all attest to GG's character through our dealings with him. Could the school administration have handled it more tactfully? Likely so.
Though there was potential property loss/damage involved, I would hope it is not so severe that this situation cannot be resolved through good parenting, some humble apologies, and the application of what seems to be a good "teaching/learning/life-lesson situation".

Davsel, from your reply regarding the authority of coaches, band directors, etc., I think you may be overlooking an important aspect of extra-curricular activites.
I agree with flyingcouch and Lurch, regarding the "additional responsibilities" (for lack of a better phrase) of any coach. Part of the purpose of team sports, and many e-c activities in school is personality and character building/development.
Also curious as to the capacity the adult was acting under (coach/principal) when the punishment was determined.

John, you should definitely have a conversation with the principal/coach.

ETA: Just my opinion on it.

[waxthis]

Son "17" had same girlfriend "17" for over 1 year, son leaves girlfriend. Girlfriend gets upset about being dumped and sprays nasty message on son's car at work with washable paint, son get pissed and files report with police. Son decides to drop complaint same day.. Cops say they can't because since they were in a relationship at one time, what ex did is considered DOMESTIC ABUSE. Cops go to girls house, she confesses and go's to Juvi, until she can be seen by a judge for domestic abuse charges. Things are not what they once were folks, its amazing what the consequences are now for what most of us would think is petty.

[james_bond_007]

...I was told as a child, that if I did anything at school that caused me to require "school discipline," I would be receiving much worse when I got home....

YOUR parents must have known MY parents.

This was the same for me.
I'd beg the school not to call my parents...because I was a "dead man walking" until I got home....then I was just a "dead man".

[Colorado_Outback]

the continued pussification of kids. Oh I forgot its for the kids... Pfft, whatever.

So do you think that the girl they are messing with should just put up with it?

We can agree to disagree, what if kid gets a speeding ticket off school grounds? Should the same standard be held? Police were involved, should that kid not be allowed to drive on school grounds? I see both sides of this, I just think the school is overreaching their boundaries.

The incident involved another student/team mate. She didn't have to sit a game for leaving a nasty note in a strangers car..

Teenagers don't use common sense or compassion. I know from experience.

Do you really think teaching young people to treat others with dignity and respect is "the continued pussification of kids"?

[Neutron]

I don't have kids. My .02 is, if it was the coach that made the call for the one game suspension then that would be acceptable. They were on the same team and what not. To play as a team you have to think like a team. If it was the principal then the school is way over stepping its bounds. Not on school grounds, not during school hours, the kid SHOULD be the parents responsibility. If you want the state to take care for your kids move to California and keep voting for Finetsein.
Now I know there are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth. I'm calling dog wash on the stuff falling out. If the girl that was driving didn't put stuff in the back through the back hatch, there should have been nothing close enough to fall out if it came flying open. Does make you wonder what really happened. Doesn't really matter. The question was, Does the school have the right. I say no. Parent yes. Coach yes. Principal, no

[james_bond_007]

...Apparently, this girl was not running with the "in crowd" ...

^^^This phrase caught my attention.

(Correct me if I am reading to much into this ...)

It makes me think that the victim of the prank was, and has been, a sort of "outcast" on the team...somehow different...somehow that she did not "fit in", socially, at least in the eyes of the other teammates.

I would guess that this was probably not the first "prank" of which she had been the victim, that there had been other "incidents" prior to this, and the victim's parents had "had enough" by now.

I would guess that the victim's parents probably don't get along with the other parents and are also not in the parent "in" crowd,

I would guess that the team resented this girl being on the team and maybe felt the girl was "invading" their "clique".

I would guess that she "made the team" based on her abilities, but was ostracized by the teammates.

I would guess that the team was trying to make staying on the team "hard on the victim", to the point where she might eventually give up and quit.

I would guess that the coach/principal was aware of all this, and had to handle other "incidents of bullying by the team" prior to this.

I make all these "guesses" because I'll bet that if one of the other girls in the "clique" had been the victim, the parents would have worked it out and the school would have never been involved. They would have probably laughed about it (to some extent), and kept the whole matter to themselves.

Seems like a form of "bullying" to me, but some of that is based on your statements, some my guesses, and a lot of info to which I have no access.


My Conclusion and Opinion:

To me, the reason for the school to justify involvement is because of the Volleyball-relationship of all of the girls.
If the victim had not been on the volleyball team, would the others still have "pranked" her? ...probably not, as she would not have been affiliated with them.

I think that since many of the Volleyball team players conspired to act against another team member, the coach, upon learning about this, determined the "bullying" to be a serious enough "team" problem, independent of the outcome of the prank, and is justified in the school pursing disciplinary actions for this.

The victim's parents can work the "criminal" aspect (unexpected damages due to the prank) of this independently from the team aspect with the police or the other parents. The school should not get involved in this area.

...just my opinion. Thanks for asking.

[Monky]

We can agree to disagree, what if kid gets a speeding ticket off school grounds? Should the same standard be held? Police were involved, should that kid not be allowed to drive on school grounds? I see both sides of this, I just think the school is overreaching their boundaries.

This has absolutely nothing to do with a 'speeding ticket' or even in the same realm.

If you were to harass a co-worker outside of work.. do you think that NOTHING would be done by your employer if reported and mentioned that the cops issued a summons?

Real world has consequences and the kids need to learn that shit NOW