According to this article over at SunThisweek, Apple Valley HS has suspended the entire DECA program due to a long history of underage drinking and hazing associated with the program culminating in a recent event where upwards of 60 students were found to be consuming alcohol during a stay at a Twin Cities hotel. However there are some who are concerned the punishment went too far, and perhaps it did just that.
From the article:
Degenaar said he believes about 18 Apple Valley students were drinking in the hotel that evening.
[...]
(One student) is not believed to be involved in the incident, and another five DECA students were not at the hotel that night.
“They should have suspended these students (at the hotel) instead of barring it for everyone,” Ewald said. “More than half the kids weren’t doing anything wrong.”
The parents of one of the students mentioned in the article note that even if the program had to be ended, it should have been done after the end of the season so that all the hard work of those who were not involved in the drinking did not go to waste. However, the principal of AVHS decided that canceling the program for the remainder of the year was the best way to get across that underage drinking during school-sponsored events would not be tolerated.
What do you think? Should the actions of some negatively impact the whole? Do you think the AVHS football team would have been entirely suspended if several of them were caught drinking? Should the remaining students involved in the program at least be allowed to finish out the season before the program is cut? Is the drinking associated with DECA just a part of the reality of working in the business world; providing a realistic perspective on how it really is to be working in marketing, finance, hospitality and management? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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November 29th, 2012 at 11:10 am
I wonder if a better solution would have been what they discussed as the new norm and not allow overnight stays at hotels. I question, with a problem that “has persisted for two decades” why are the kids allowed to be in a situation where this could potentially happen.
I can’t fault the principal for ending the season for all, it certainly sends the message that this won’t be tolerated. 6 of the 24 members were not involved. I do not know the workings of DECA, but of those six, and with no advisers (as they quit), is keeping the program going doable?
A quick google search yielded similar stories:
http://www.whec.com/news/stories/s2754843.shtml College volleyball team suspended
November 29th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Of course, if there were only 6 football players available the season would be suspended. If there are only 6 out of 60+ students left it may well be reasonable to not invest the money in the program especially when there seems to have a history of crap like this.
November 29th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Judging by the article, even the new advisors (who replaced a long time advisor) were aware of the long term issues and both indicated that they would quit if it became an issue again. It did, and true to their word, they quit as advisors. Without advisors, this program was dead regardless of any program suspension by the high school administration.
Its too bad for the other kids who weren’t the problem, but they shouldn’t blame the high school – blame the other idiots who broke the rules.
Sounds like it was time for more or less a “death sentence”.
November 29th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
These types of programs are only effective and above-board if they are well-run. It is up to the adults involved to mentor, prevent, patrol, set rules/repercussions, etc. The Youth in Government program has done very well for many years with hotel stays. They have strict rules and NEVER punish all for the crimes of one/few.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:39 pm
I don’t know how feasible it would be for only six students to participate from AVHS, and without advisors at that. But I think they should be allowed to participate for the rest of the year if at all possible, perhaps as part of a merged team with another school.
November 30th, 2012 at 7:36 am
Fat fingers…
Part II
If this is an institutional problem for DECA, good for the Principal for dropping out.
I didn’t get it in the article- where were the advisors? When the hockey team travels (only traveling school deal I have experience with) the kids are on lock down, there’s an advisor/coach in the hallway making sure they don’t do this crap. Not that it doesn’t happen, but it’s not as endemic as this sounds
November 30th, 2012 at 8:05 am
I don’t have an issue with canceling the program. At issue isn’t that you have one group of kids that feel they don’t have to follow the rules of conduct, and others that hold to the letter of the rules. The issue is that the school obviously did not have effective supervision to protect the interest of the children they are legally bound to protect. Without supervision, there is no way the program could be allowed to continue. That many people report that they knew this was an issue for a long time, even brings into question the judgement of those that took no action over all this time.
Regardless of what you or I may think about alcohol and teens, it is very clear that district policy requires no alcohol for students, regardless of their age.
November 30th, 2012 at 11:11 am
Since, I beleive this is the same conference my daughter attended as a DECCA member for Burnsville HS I’ll have to ask her if she knows anything about this.
November 30th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Clearly stated, enforced, zero tolerance policies with prompt repercussions are usually necessary in these situations, also.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
http://sunthisweek.com/2012/11/28/underage-drinking-kills-deca-at-avhs/#comment-19510
January 4th, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Hamline’s men’s hoops team just got into the news for all the wrong reasons. One player gets into a fight and breaks a girls jaw. The investigation leads to him getting booted off the team, 14 players with various suspensions, the coach suspended, and the team forfits their game versus Gustavus.
http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2013/01/hamline-suspends-entire-team