Teaching Responsibility and Judgment?

Today's Dallas Morning News carried a story about a high school athlete who had "broken the rules" and still wanted to play football. But the student, a talented athlete who has drawn interest from major college football programs, not only broke the rules, he broke the law and is now awaiting an October 17 trial on six counts of aggravated robbery, each a first-degree felony punishable by a prison term of five to 99 years or life. According to a police report, he admitted taking part in the robberies of six people at gunpoint during two incidents in January and is now out on bail pending his trial. But the most amazing part of this whole story is the response to this young criminal’s actions from his coach, principal, and district superintendent.

The student was a star receiver for a large high school before being arrested on aggravated robbery charges and being placed under house arrest. However, now that school has started, he doesn't have to be in until 7:15 p.m. on weekdays, is not prohibited from participating in extracurricular school activities, and his coach has welcomed him back to play football…along with all the students who have not broken the law. "Kids are kids," the coach said. "Sometimes they make bad decisions. But you can't throw away a kid's life."

Amazingly, the principal and school district superintendent support the coach's stance and said the student should be allowed to play football. Their logic? "My question is, why shouldn't he play?" the superintendent said. "You're innocent until proven guilty. Our job is to educate students and give them another chance. This may be his only route to a college education. Who are we to take that away, by making him sit out? We're doing what's best for the kid, not what's best for the coaches association or best for society."

Fortunately, I have no children who attend the school or district in which this debacle of skewed judgment and illogical reasoning is occurring. A "Kids are kids" explanation for a premeditated action in which a student in senior high school robs people with a loaded pistol and physically assaults them with a weapon is so ludicrous that I cannot imagine how anyone with even an ounce of judgment can justify it. And just as ludicrous as the coach’s comments are the spineless positions of the principal and the district superintendent in supporting the coach.

In today's educational environment where such buzzwords as personal responsibility, safe learning environment, and zero tolerance (for such actions as weapon and drug possession, bullying, and racism) are constant points of concern and discussion by students, families, teachers, and administrators, it is particularly disturbing to watch this silly drama being played out in the news media. As a parent and an educator, I would have to question the soundness of the judgment of the coach, principal, and superintendent, and wonder whether or not I could reasonably trust them with my children's education and safety.

“Kids are kids” is an approach one takes when a student commits an action that does not include a weapon, willful physical harm, or the like. It is not an approach one takes when confronted with a premeditated action that includes armed robbery and pistol-whipping unarmed, honest citizens.

As an educator, I am resigning myself to being confronted with the usual round of general public and legislative backlash that follows such unjustifiable actions. Regretfully, the strange stance of this coach, principal, and district superintendent also lends support to those who will argue that America's educational sky is falling and cannot be left to the educational professionals to save.