The Rights of Our Over-indulged Children

[Pilgrim]

I ordinarily don't pay much attention to these types of stories, but there was an aspect to this one that caught my attention.

According to a number of sources, the Indianapolis Star and Associated Press chief among them, the parents of a Greensburg (Ind.) Community Junior High School student have filed a lawsuit against the district citing discrimination against their son, who was kicked off the team because his hairstyle violated a code of appearance established by Greensburg High coach Stacy Meyer, pictured above, which was stipulated in the school's extra-curricular code.
TheIndyChannel.com reported the lawsuit claims coaches told the player he wouldn't be allowed on the court if he failed to cut his hair by a certain date. When the 14-year-old questioned why that was necessary, he was also told that he would be kicked off the team if his parents -- Patrick and Melissa Hayden -- protested the policy.
Obviously, the player and his parents decided to fight for his rights rather than acquiesce to the extracurricular policy's claim that a player's hair be above his eyebrows, collars and ears.
Interestingly, this is the second time in two past calendar years that Greensburg Junior High's basketball team has garnered regional attention for issues it would rather avoid. According to the Greensburg Daily News, the junior high program was involved in a nasty hazing scandal in February 2009, with little official punishment resulting from an episode in which some players hit their teammates in the face with genatalia.
While the banned player's parents feel they have a strong case based on unequal enforcement of the code -- girls are not required to meet similar hair standards to compete in basketball -- the school district claims that a student's right to participate in extracurricular activities is a privilege, not a right.
"In Indiana, everybody is entitled to an education, and that's a right," Greensburg School District Tuck Hopkins told TheIndyChannel.com. "Playing extracurricular activities, we believe the law is it's a privilege, and that's the distinction."
Whether or not the law agrees with that contention is another matter. Regardless of how judges rule, the local public certainly seems to be nearly unanimous in it's support of the athlete in question, as a number told TheIndyChannel.com...(emphasis mine)

Teen kicked off basketball team for hairstyle - Prep Rally - High School* - Yahoo! Sports

Note the last sentence. Rather than being satisfied with an objective reporting of the facts along with a couple of quotes representing both sides of the issue, the author has to promote his liberal agenda by making the unfounded assertion that the community is "nearly unanimous" in its support of the kid and his parents. The scant support he does offer is a couple of quotes from what appears to be other teenagers. If this was Seattle or L.A. I might be willing to buy into that claim. However, Greensburg is a prime example of heartland America, halfway between Cincinnati and Indianapolis just off I-74; no doubt we've all driven past it many times, and I seriously doubt that most of the adult population there supports this brat and his parents. It just irritates me to no end that these limp-wristed media types continually drift away from the facts to promote the notion that children should be allowed to do anything they want anytime they want to with no rules or restrictions to their behavior. I'll bet these same people wonder why our public schools are such disaster zones.

 

[scottm4211]

So if it's a privilege and not a right, why don't the girls have any type of restriction?


Posted with my iPhone EO Forum App

 

[Turtle]

Where do I begin? OK, one, there's no way to really tell if the quotes from residents are that of teenagers or adults. "Aleigh Class" may be a butt-stoopid name and the parents need to have a good talking to for naming their kid Aleigh because it's a neat-keen-supercool-and groovy way to spell her name, I was in college more than 30 years ago with a classmate of the same name. While "nearly unanimous" may be incorrect, TheIndyChannel.com did report, "Residents weighed in on the issue Monday night, most agreeing with the boy's parents."

Two, many in the community may very well be supporting the kid and his parents, as they may feel the school and the coach are overreacting to this situation, as part of a new hard-line policy due to the school's near-total lack of response in the infamous face-slapping incident that also occurred with the junior high school basketball team, in which new players got their faces slapped with the genitals of older players in a hazing ritual.

Three, I'm not sure how agreeing with the kid and the parents on the issue of a hair policy is a liberal agenda, or, conversely, that agreeing with the policy is somehow a part of the conservative agenda.

Fourth, I'm not sure how one could reach the conclusion that the author is a "limp-wristed media type," or a liberal, simply by virtue of him relaying a new story which presented both sides of the issue as reported by "According to a number of sources, the Indianapolis Star and Associated Press chief among them."

Lastly, the author isn't even a reporter, he's a Blogger, as the Pep Rally section of Yahoo is a high school sports blog edited by the author, and is a part of the Yahoo Sports Blogosphere.

FWIW, I agree with the coach's policy, not only because children shouldn't be taught that they can do anything they want anytime they want to with no rules or restrictions to their behavior, but because abiding by team rules teaches the concept of teamwork, self-sacrifice for a greater good, and how a group can collectively work to achieve a common goal.


"So if it's a privilege and not a right, why don't the girls have any type of restriction?"

Who said the girls don't have "any type of restriction"? They do have restrictions, just not the same exact restrictions of hair length as the boys do. Making girl basketball players in junior high school cut their hair exactly the same as boy basketball players in junior high school is about as asinine requiring boy basketball players to wear sports bras because girls are required to wear them.

 

[LDB]

It's a freaking hair code. Live with it or quit the team. Lousy parents. Should be teaching teamwork and following rules not looking for a quick buck in a frivilous lawsuit. Shyster lawyer. Also looking for quick bucks from frivilous lawsuits.

NEWSFLASH!!: Boys and girls are different. Rules for them are and should be different.

 

[scottm4211]

Yup. It's a hair code. And it's stupid. I thought you guys were for less invasive government/policy?
Or is about picking and choosing those you agree with?


Posted with my iPhone EO Forum App

 

[LDB]

That isn't government policy. That's school policy and team policy toward minors not adults. Not even close enough for apples/oranges. Schools should have dress codes, especially for sports teams. The school/team are right and the others are wrong and it has nothing to do with government or individual rights.

 

[Turtle]

I am for a less invasive government. But this is an extracurricular activity, which by definition means outside the government's curriculum. The coach is a dictator, and what the coach says, goes. Period. The government's got nothing to do with it. Like Leo said, if you don't like the coach's policy, quit, nobody's making you play.

 

[Poorboy]

Then poor little johnny with the red/green/purple mohawk would feel discriminated against for his choice of hair do will not be permitted to play and file a discrimination complaint and some ambulance chasing lawyer will no doubt take it to make a buck.
Far be it that the parents would be responsible parents and step up and shave and rinse out the coloring on his little head so he could play.

 

[greg334]

Solution

End all school sponsored sports activities.

Problem Solved!
​

 

[Turtle]

Solution

End all school sponsored sports activities.

Problem Solved!
​

A.K.A., throw the baby out with the bath water, and is a solution that creates more problems than it solves.

Team sports teach children responsibility, teamwork, physical and mental toughness. It teaches the concept of common goals and of winning and losing, which is something of significance because it teaches children that they must work hard to succeed and they cannot win every game or every time out. Ending all school sponsored sports activities would mean those lessons will not be learned, which renders high school graduates ill-prepared for life. It seems the military is filling up with those who have never participated in team sports, have no concept of teamwork, and are more interesting in their own individuality. Even worse, we'll have hoards of people who grow up, turn to expediting in later life, and end up despising athletes, athletics and team sports and begin recommending that all school sponsored sports activities be ended.

 

[x06col]

Now that is really funny, suggesting we have a bunch of renegades and misfits in expediting. Truer words were never spoken.

I love it.

 

[greg334]

I didn't say eliminate sports out of the kids lives, I said eliminate school sponsored sports. There is a bit of a difference there - if you don't see it.

I do agree that sports teaches kids all kinds of things but when it comes down to the control of the sport by the school that is more worried about other things instead of sportsmanship, like hair or gender fairness or better yet the fairness of lossing, it really doesn't belong in the school at that point.

 

[layoutshooter]

I see the difference and agree. I would also extend that to ALL extra things that are NOT basic education. Tax payers should not have to pay for "frills". Those who chose the "frills" should foot the bill. There should, however, be "gym classes" for all ages, K-12.

 

[Turtle]

No, I see the difference. But if you eliminate school sponsored sports, who picks up the slack? There aren't really a lot of alternatives, especially ones that are anywhere near as cheap.

Then there's the problem of when you eliminate school sponsored sports, it kills a lot of school spirit, because the student body doesn't usually unite and rally around the Chess Club and the Debate team with much enthusiasm.

Besides, without school sports, George W Bush, Dwight D Eisenhower nor Franklin D Roosevelt would have never been cheerleaders, and thus probably not presidents. Same kinda deal with Trent Lott and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

And Halle Berry, tho, she'd prolly still be hot regardless.

 

[layoutshooter]

No, I see the difference. But if you eliminate school sponsored sports, who picks up the slack? There aren't really a lot of alternatives, especially ones that are anywhere near as cheap.

Then there's the problem of when you eliminate school sponsored sports, it kills a lot of school spirit, because the student body doesn't usually unite and rally around the Chess Club and the Debate team with much enthusiasm.

Besides, without school sports, George W Bush, Dwight D Eisenhower nor Franklin D Roosevelt would have never been cheerleaders, and thus probably not presidents. Same kinda deal with Trent Lott and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

And Halle Berry, tho, she'd prolly still be hot regardless.

Who picks up the slack? The parents who want their kids in non-education activities pick up the slack. I should not be FORCED to pay for football, baseball, drama etc. Maybe in the days when money was in great supply, but not these days. The cost of education is out of control. Extras have to go first. A more fair means of paying for it needs to be found, at least in Michigan it does. Education taxes are silly high and NOT spread evenly across the board. Tax payers also need to have greater control over how their tax dollars are spent on education and the Feds need to get out of education, none of their business.

 

[Pilgrim]

Where do I begin? OK, one, there's no way to really tell if the quotes from residents are that of teenagers or adults. "Aleigh Class" may be a butt-stoopid name and the parents need to have a good talking to for naming their kid Aleigh because it's a neat-keen-supercool-and groovy way to spell her name, I was in college more than 30 years ago with a classmate of the same name. While "nearly unanimous" may be incorrect, TheIndyChannel.com did report, "Residents weighed in on the issue Monday night, most agreeing with the boy's parents."

Two, many in the community may very well be supporting the kid and his parents, as they may feel the school and the coach are overreacting to this situation, as part of a new hard-line policy due to the school's near-total lack of response in the infamous face-slapping incident that also occurred with the junior high school basketball team, in which new players got their faces slapped with the genitals of older players in a hazing ritual.

Three, I'm not sure how agreeing with the kid and the parents on the issue of a hair policy is a liberal agenda, or, conversely, that agreeing with the policy is somehow a part of the conservative agenda.

Fourth, I'm not sure how one could reach the conclusion that the author is a "limp-wristed media type," or a liberal, simply by virtue of him relaying a new story which presented both sides of the issue as reported by "According to a number of sources, the Indianapolis Star and Associated Press chief among them."

Lastly, the author isn't even a reporter, he's a Blogger, as the Pep Rally section of Yahoo is a high school sports blog edited by the author, and is a part of the Yahoo Sports Blogosphere.

(Sigh) I suppose that in the future it would be a good idea to preface any conversational-type postings with a disclaimer such as

WARNING: The following post contains opinion and/or speculation about minor issues that is the sole responsibility of the author. The aforementioned opinion/speculation has not been researched ahead of time for accuracy and is not intended to represent anything outside the realm of casual conversation. Those individuals that may be offended or disturbed by opinion/speculation that is less than 100% accurate or not totally in sync with their own viewpoint should not proceed with reading this post.

 

[jaminjim]

I was under the impression that people tended to act the way they looked (to a point). Back when I was in school (or out hiding in the car smoking a cigarette) All of the traveling teams had to have well groomed hair, shirt and tie, and were required to be on their best behavior, or else. I don't recall anyone quitting the team because of haircuts. Although it did provide people who probably wouldn't make the team anyway saying that they wouldn't try out for the team because they wouldn't cut their hair, so they were showing the man who was da boss.

 

[layoutshooter]

We still had STANDARDS and DRESS CODES when I was in school. We were EXPECTED to behave and we VALUED our reputations!! We need to go back to those things again.

 

[jaminjim]

We still had STANDARDS and DRESS CODES when I was in school. We were EXPECTED to behave and we VALUED our reputations!! We need to go back to those things again.

We still had STANDARDS and DRESS CODES when I was in school. We were EXPECTED to behave and we VALUED our reputations!! We need to go back to those things again.

I'm thinking that you should have emphasized the words in you're statement that I underlined also.

 

[layoutshooter]

We still had STANDARDS and DRESS CODES when I was in school. We were EXPECTED to behave and we VALUED our reputations!! We need to go back to those things again.

I'm thinking that you should have emphasized your statement on the words that I underlined also.

Yep, good idea!! LOL!!