Zero Tolerance – Andover teen suspended for picking up her friend who was drinking
The only argument here is Erin Cox should have contacted her friend’s parents instead of driving to the party to pick her up. But Cox just wanted to ensure her friend got home safe. What’s not acceptable is the school punishing Cox based on their zero tolerance policy against alcohol and drug use.
This really does set a precedent that might kill someone. Think about it, if you would be in danger of getting suspended, expelled or losing out on a college scholarship for simply picking up someone who has been drinking to ensure they get home safe, you might think twice about helping a friend. If you call the friends parents, you’re labeled a rat. (Admit it, we’re talking about teenagers here…)
If friends elect to totally avoid the situation – not help and not call a parent – that sets up some pretty bad scenarios nobody wants to think about. From CBS Boston.
Two weeks ago, Erin received a call from a friend at a party who was too drunk to drive. Erin drove to Boxford after work to pick up her friend. Moments after she arrived, the cops arrived too and busted several kids for underage possession of alcohol.
A North Andover High School honor student, Erin was cleared by police, who agreed she had not been drinking and was not in possession of alcohol. But Andover High told Erin she was in violation of the district’s zero tolerance policy against alcohol and drug use. …
Erin was demoted from captain of the volleyball team and told she would be suspended from playing for five games.
11 Comments
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terrible, she didn’t do anything wrong, she was trying to help a friend out. the zero tolerance policy goes to far.
Punished for doing the right thing.? Seems pretty consistent with the new reality of the ?bamanation.?
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Would that there had been an Erin Cox when Ted Kennedy took that fateful drive at Chappaquiddick….? (you young ‘uns will have to look that one up!)
I bring up Senator Ted Kennedy and Chappaquididick every time I have the opportunity ?with a person under 30. Most importantly, we should never forget the victim, Mary Jo Kopechne. Young women ought to know the true war against women waged by the womanizers in power positions. ?Most appalling are the politicians and they are in both parties. ?History is constantly being revised today, it is our job to remember and keep telling the true story.
I mention Chappaquiddick to cream of the crop med school students, and they look at me vacantly.? They have no idea what happened.? It has been pretty well buried for the latest generations.
Ok to the point, in the 80’s in the town where ? we raised our sons there was a fabulous program. There was a contract for both parents and students to sign. The parent’s contract was to allow their children to call them if they were drinking and to pick them up. Also, if a parent knew of a party going on at a student’s home, they were to call the ?Parents to see if they were going to be home For this party. The??students contract was that they wouldn’t drink or use drugs and if found out they would be off teams, or other activities. Lastly, seniors manned a phone bank for every weekend night and if students called under the influence they would give them rides home. It actually worked, but I’m sure this would not be allowed anymore because of law suits. Too bad.
So once again, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!
This is just another example of the PC crowd entirely out of control.
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It’s a good thing she didn’t extent her forefinger and wiggle her thumb. They would have arrested her for possession of a gun and threatening. (Suspended, too!)
Egads! Common sense is really in short supply with zealots.
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These idiots are running-read ruining our schools. That must be identified by name so they can be made laughingstocks? in their towns. That may deter them.
If it is towns like Amherst, MA or Ithaca, NY, they will be hailed as heroes.? Sad.
Maybe not,let’s put them out there like snot,even college kids have some sense.
These arbiters of morality sound like re-fried Puritans. Correct part of the country.
All of these Zero whatever initiatives are born out of a misguided desire to achieve moral purity and control behaviors.
Sounds familiar, historically.
Erin should wear that suspension with pride!? If she were my kid, I would treat her to something nice for being so responsible.