Recently reported by Dana Kozlov on Chicago CBS local news, and in Bob Sakamoto’s article 43 York athletes suspended, was a story concerning the recent suspension of 43 high school athletes for breaking their school's athletic code.
It happened on December 31st, 2008 (New Year’s Eve) where underage athletes were attending a “drinking” party.
According to the CBS news report, area residents claimed that the homeowner, a mother in the Elmhurst community, had been home during the party with one resident describing paper taped to the windows and that kids were told to keep the party a secret.
Most of the student athletes suspended were only freshmen and sophomores and will, understandably, have consequences dished out according to the terms set forth in the York High School athletic code.
The mother was reportedly charged and arrested for a misdemeanor—“allowing prohibited possession of alcohol”—with jail time as a possibility.
Some will read this story and think how much kids and parents have changed over the years or how out of control things have gotten, while others will comment that this is “no big deal,” that this type of behavior is inevitable, and that the school has no right to involve themselves in anything kids do outside of school.
You only need to view the CBS video link provided to hear the latter.
Of course with such an emphasis in my blog, and most especially in my book, Becoming a True Champion, on athletes making good, sound choices and on development of good character, I most certainly have strong opinions on the subject as well.
My first thought after watching this story unfold in the news, along with reading opinions on the internet, was of no surprise and that this is nothing new. That drinking parties like this, involving athletes, are very common, and not just at York High School but at a great many high schools.
They are certainly not all happening with parental support or encouragement, as this one appears to have been, but they are most definitely occurring more than many parents might be aware.
I make these statements based on my experience as a former high school athlete and coach, a current high school physical educator, and as a parent of two recently graduated high school athletes.
Being able to view situations like this from all four of these perspectives gives one a very unique vantage point from which to comment. That is why I find it confusing, disheartening, and almost amusing, that Robert Wagner (the Athletic Director at York High School) is quoted in the recent article More than 40 suspended at York on the Chicago SunTimes Yourseason.com as stating that this situation is “uncommon.”
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