Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Is This Appropriate "Punishment"?

A under-18-year-old high-school athlete gets a DUI ticket, first one, no injuries, no property damage.

As a result, the athlete is "suspended" from athletic competition.

For ONE-HALF of the season.

(This did happen, but I'm being deliberately hazy about the details. It happened within SE Wisconsin.)

Seems to me that this is not the way to bend the sapling, folks.

Thoughts?

2 comments:

capper said...

That doesn't surprise me. The jocks routinely get breaks that other students wouldn't necessarily get.

Anonymous said...

Depending on the season and keeping in mind this is dated by over a decade, our school in SW WI would suspend the student for 1/3 of the season for the first alcohol violation. The second violation was a full season.

I'm conflicted about the general case. I don't know the particular case you are referencing. The philosophy that has become popular is that athletics are not integral to the school experience. To represent the school is a privelege and should be reserved for those who represent the school in an exemplary manner. In Europe, athletics are largely confined to private clubs, fwiw.

The other philosophy for which I detect sympathy on your part is that athletics make a lot of marginal students better and are really tool to impart learning in their own right. I think there is a lot of truth to this. I also disagree with the opinion that 16-year-olds drinking are a major problem; particular 16-year-olds may have drinking issues. So, I'm conflicted.