We have often discussed the increasing use of zero tolerance policies that allow administrators and teachers to shed any obligation for judgment or discretion. This is no more obvious than the bizarre case of Erin Cox. Cox did what most people would consider the responsible thing when called by a friend who was concerned that she had too much to drink: she agreed to serve as her designated driver. That act resulted in her discipline by North Andover High School, which is defending its decision to punish her as a technical violation of its alcohol policy.
The 17-year-old honor student was not drinking, mind you. She didn’t even actually drive her friend. When she arrived, the police were present and charged a few kids with drinking alcohol. They did not charge her. However, because she involved in an “alcohol-related incident” — even as someone trying to prevent it — she was demoted as volleyball team captain and suspended for five games.
Administrators and teachers refused to consider the obvious lunacy of this position and even fought to defend the action in court. The family went to court for some justice but was turned away on jurisdictional grounds. The family has accused the lawyer for the school of lying to the court about Cox being arrested.
Attorney Geoffrey Bok insisted that the school administrator were just doing the right thing and “really trying to take a very serious and principled stand regarding alcohol.” What on Earth is principled about demoted a girl who was trying TO PREVENT drunk driving and avoid kids endangering themselves and others. It is neither principled nor logical. It is moronic and the demotions should have be applied to every administrator and teacher that signed off on this utter madness. This would presumably include Carla Scuzzarella, NAHS Principal.
The school policy states: “A student leader who is disciplined or involved in an incident involving alcohol/drugs (controlled substance) violation at ANY TIME, including summer vacation, will lose his/her leadership position in addition to any other consequences.”
In order to achieve this ignoble end, the school had to ignore the obvious meaning of “involved” and “involving” as substantive criteria. To be involved, denotes a substantive and knowing role. Likewise, “involving” refers to the “incident.” The incident for Cox was driving a friend to avoid drunk driving — not an alcohol violation or party. That is why she was not charged. She should have been commended — something an attorney like Bok might have explained to his clients.
The punishment for taking action to protect a classmate and others is a curious choice since the school was criticized recently for a new policy to repel armed attackers. The policy includes a provision to “confront” attackers that remains controversial. Apparently, confronting armed attackers is perfectly permissible but giving a ride to a classmate to avoid a drunk driving incident and possible accident is a violation of school policy.
The proper outcome should be clear. The discipline needs to be rescinded against Cox and discipline proceedings begun for the administrators and teachers responsible for her abusive treatment.
Source: Syracuse
A proper retribution and ample justice would be for the able bodied males to do the poop in the bag routine on the Principal’s front porch. In a paper grocery bag insert a good load of dog poop. Human poop will do in a pinch. Sprinkle some lighter fluid in the bag. At 9 pm while Principal is inside watching Leave It To Beaver re-runs on TV and admiring Wally, put the bag on his front porch out away from the swing of the storm door. Light the bag, ring the doorbell, run off and observe. When he stomps the fire out he will have poop all over his legs and porch. Tell your friends. Principal in most cases is not a Pal.
Hi Blouise, don’t give up. I too am becoming increasingly frustrated with WP. Then I think how glad I am I’m not a GB and don’t have to cull the spam or root around for eaten postings. Sorry for being happy it’s your job and not mine guys, but with great power comes great responsibility, or labor, or something. 🙂
Never give up: http://uploadtak.com/images/v4313_nevergiveup_2.jpg
I followed your link and apparently North Andover HS has rescinded senior’s privileges:
Q&A :If you were named principal, what’s the first thing you’d do? “Give back senior privileges.”
I searched that and apparently seniors that had spotless records could get a pass to go off school property for lunch as well as get 5 excused absences for college visits. There seems to be something going on regarding the relationship between students and administrators.
The problem with all “zero tolerance” policies is that they eliminate the role of judgment in human conduct. And the ability to make sound judgments is one of the primary goals of education. Were this child my daughter, I would support her actions as reasonable and caring, despite the consequences she experienced. We should not encourage the development of a society which values blind adherence to rules over wisdom.
Americans are looney! I´m one myself but haven´t lived there for more than 20 years. Every time I go back for a visit I feel like I´m in a parallel universe and I wonder where the country I once loved has gone. All of this zero-tolerance BS is straight out of the Stasi handbook. For one, they need to separate the sports teams from the schools. Secondly, what she does in her freetime is nobody´s business. Wouldn´t it be nice if schools were all about academics and maybe a good lunch?
What teachers were involved in determining this girl’s punishment and were guilty of abusing her? That’s not how things work in public schools here in Massachusetts. It’s the administrators who make those kinds of decisions.
My daughter was a student athlete in a Massachusetts high school. MIAA has a set of rules by which student athletes are supposed to abide. My daughter was required to sign an MIAA pledge in her school district at the beginning of every school year.
Here’s an excerpt from the MIAA handbook:
Rules and Regulations Governing Athletics: A Handbook for Principals and Athletic Directors of schools that are members of the MASSACHUSETTS INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
http://www.miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/MIAAHandbook1113.pdf
Excerpt:
Student (and Coach) Eligibility:
Chemical Health/Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco
62.1
From the earliest fall practice date, to the conclusion of the academic year or final athletic event (whichever is latest), a student shall not, regardless of the quantity, use, consume, possess, buy/sell, or give away any beverage containing alcohol; any tobacco product; marijuana; steroids; or any controlled substance. This policy includes products such as “NA or near beer”. It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student’s own use by his/her doctor.
This MIAA statewide minimum standard is not intended to render “guilt by association”, e.g. many student athletes might be present at a party where only a few violate this standard. This rule represents only a minimum standard upon which schools may develop more stringent requirements.
*****
North Andover High School may have developed a more stringent policy. I’m not defending that policy. But if the student signed a pledge and knew what the ramifications would be if she broke the rules, the school probably felt it had to follow through with the punishment. Otherwise, the school would be asked to make exceptions for other students who break the rules.
It’s difficult for both parents and schools to deal with the subject of teens and alcohol. As a teacher, I was heartbroken when I learned of the deaths of a former student and the death of the brother of a former student when both were killed because of drinking and driving. School administrators these days often go overboard in instituting zero tolerance policies. And, too often, kids are arrested by police for doing things that parents probably did back in their teenage years.
BTW, I’d like to know where the parents of the child who hosted the party were.
Reblogged this on Jesse Talks Back and commented:
Obviously her attorney is a moron, have they never heard of the law of greater harm/ principle if you will.
Her driving for a drunk person while “illegal” based on her age prevented a greater harm from occurring right?
Maybe someone should remind the wasted space CJ system in Mass. that they are bound to morality as well as law.
Please find my first post which seems to be stuck in filter-land
Around the Horn with North Andover volleyball player Erin Cox
http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/x335457758/Around-the-Horn-with-North-Andover-volleyball-player-Erin-Cox
(This post is a follow-up to the a post I wrote just 1 minute ago. That post contained a source link and I decided to put a the second link in a follow-up post so as not to get stuck in wordpress’ filter land … Ha! … my efforts have gone unrewarded as I see the first post didn’t show up … we’ll see if this one makes it through. If not, I will ask for help and then close my browser as I have better ways to spend my time and am completely fed up with wordpress’ piss poor technology.)
“She’s very fragile and I’m worried about her. Very worried about her. She didn’t do anything wrong,” Cox (Erin’s mother) told WBZ-TV on Sunday.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/10/13/north-andover-high-punishes-teen-for-giving-drunken-pal-ride-home-from-party/
It is extremely important that the community continue to support this young lady with their organized protests after the court refused to grant her redress.
Given enough time and support she will come to see the lunacy of the administrators and hopefully determine that in the face of such lunacy one must still stand up for what one knows is right.
Her parents seem to understand the fragility of a young person facing victimization at the hands of authority figures and doing everything possible to see that not only does the victimization cease but that their child uses it to build strength of character. Articles such as the one JT has given us aid in that process.
The next post will contain a link to a profile of Erin done by the local newspaper last year so that blog readers can see for themselves exactly who this young girl is.
keep pressure on this school. this is so wrong,
Now we can understand why American education is lower than the rest of the world. Money and education cannot cure stupid. These officials need to be fired, and I hope that the voters in the school district will demand that. It will undoubtedly improve educational standards in one shot.
Is there any wonder why U.S. students do so poorly when compared to other countries around the world? School administrators are more concerned with Technical Rule violations than with bringing up well functioning adults. Sad. Fire them all. Now. Before our test scores go down even more.
What leejcaroll said. Get a brain guys..
It’s the “PETERS PRINCIPALS” really showing off their “STUFF”*!*
Kind of worn out, but there’s no cure for stupid.
“The proper outcome should be clear. The discipline needs to be rescinded against Cox and discipline proceedings begun for the administrators and teachers responsible for her abusive treatment.” – JT
Bingo.
And what is the takeaway here? That you should not bother to do the responsible and moral thing because even that will bite you in the end. Good going, North Andover High
America in the 21st Century…………. No good deed goes unpunished.
Public educators, teaching our children all the wrong lessons.
Talk about insanity. This young woman does what she should have done to keep her friend safe but she is disciplined. “Zero tolerance” seems to mean “unable to make rational judgments”. These people need to go.