Pubdate: Sun, 29 Oct 2000
Source: Concord Monitor (NH)
Copyright: 2000 Monitor Publishing Company
Contact:  One Monitor Drive Concord, NH 03302-1177
Fax: (603) 224-8120
Website: http://www.cmonitor.com/
Author: Bruce E. Kenna

DRUG-ALCOHOL IDEA GOES WAY TOO FAR

Letter to the editor

Sunday Mail

I am the proud parent of two CHS students, one an athlete, one a 2000 
graduate. I have been involved with many students through the wrestling 
booster club.

I cringed, but said little, this summer when I reviewed the school board's 
proposed policy whereby any student athlete would be suspended from sports 
participation if he or she were present at a gathering where any alcohol or 
illegal drugs were being used by any minor. Suspension was to be imposed 
regardless of whether the student even knew the contraband was present.

This proposal, which has not yet been thrown on the scrap heap, is scary 
enough. Now we have Frank Rosano, candidate for school board. He wants to 
expand this mindless punishment to include "30 days' suspension from school 
and 60 days' suspension from any school activity" for a first offense. 
Stupid me! I thought the board's job was to keep kids in school.

Consider the application of this policy to the real world. I attended the 
CHS-Nashua football playoff game at Memorial Field last year. Huge crowd, 
one of the best high school games I have ever seen. There were, however, a 
few idiots smoking pot out behind the stands. No doubt others smuggled in a 
flask of liquor to impress their friends. Probably neither cared whether 
they were suspended. Maybe they were from Nashua.

But according to the board's proposal, every CHS athlete, including the 
players on the field, should be suspended from competition. Candidate 
Rosano wants them all suspended from school for 30 days.

Here's my proposal:

1. Do not vote for Mr. Rosano.

2. Do not vote for any candidate who dislikes your kids so much that he or 
she wants to punish them simply because they are kids.

3. Do not vote for any candidate who would use scare tactics to get your vote.

4. Make all board members take a refresher course in American history and 
democratic principles.

Yes, Mr. Rosano, I do fear that "call in the middle of the night." Every 
parent does. That's our lot in life. But, even more, I fear that my 
children may live in a world where school boards or governments can punish 
them without cause and without due process. Big Brother is not a fantasy.

Bruce E. Kenna

Concord
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