Guest columnist: No matter what, we should be equals
Posted on 08. Jun, 2010 by webmaster2 in News
By Julia Guest
Intern
Athletes are held to a higher standard than our president – our class president, that is. This is all because of the athletic code of conduct.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association requires all participants in athletic activities for their high school to sign an athletic code of conduct. The athletic code of conduct includes attendance procedures, identifies behavior expectations and disciplinary consequences for all high school student athletes. It says that any student who makes the decision to act in an unacceptable manner is disciplined by the school system as set forth in this code of conduct and is offered rehabilitation as indicated.
The first offense of this behavior results in the suspension from 20% of games. The second offense of this behavior results in the suspension from 40% of games. Then finally by the third offense the student is suspended from participating in any of the athletic activities for the rest of their high school career.
Athletes are not the only role models at our school. For example, our class president is definitely a role model, yet could have an M.I.P. (Minor in Possession) with no punishments related to student activities.
Participating in athletic activities is a privilege, but so are clubs and any other student activities. Are we not all equals?
This code of conduct should not be limited to just athletes of our high school. Everyone at our school represents North, not just the athletes.
“I can tell you that if my child had to sit 40% or more of their season they would quit the sport,” a parent of a student participating in athletic activities said.
The parent then continued, saying, “The most unfortunate thing about suspension from sports is that playing a sport is the one thing that’s going to keep them out of trouble.”
Sports have been proven to help students stay out of trouble and get better grades in school.
“I do think each group should have some rules or policies but not one in general,” athletic director Carmen Kennedy said.
I participate in sports at North and I think it’s only fair this code of conduct should apply to all students that belong to North High School. I don’t understand why I can be suspended from my sport for unacceptable behavior when the president of my class can do the same thing and not have any punishments related to their extracurricular activities.
Excuse me, but what ever happened to a certain core democratic value called equality?
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