Editorial: Change was Needed in Student Drinking Policy

by: Sydney K.

The drinking rule has been revised at Brunswick High School. Before, it stated that any athlete at a party where alcohol was present (outside of school), even if they weren’t drinking, would be suspended from their sports (or taken off the team). This was for the athletes only. But what about the band students who got caught, or any other regular one? Calling this rule unfair, it was revised, and will be put into effect in March. But was the original rule fair?

The original drinking rule is bogus. The school has no business with what kids do outside of school. I am definitely not saying underage drinking is ok. Not at all. But everyone has their right to do their own thing without the school nosing in. The parents are responsible for punishing their kids outside of school, not the school. Now if the drinking happened on school property, then the school has full rights to take action. Otherwise though, I don’t think it’s their job to provide punishment.

The drinking rule was also unfair. What if you were at a party and you didn’t know there was alcohol present? You would be punished for something you had no part in, which is illogical and crazy. If a student is found at a party (not sport sponsored or whatever), underage, and they were drinking, then let the guardians/authorities take care of it. If the student is at a sport sponsored party (soccer party, lacrosse party, basketball party, etc), then the school should be notified and they can take part in the disciplinary actions.

This rule was specifically for athletic students. What about the other students, like the band students, or the theater students? Does anything happen to them? Sure, they get some discipline obviously, but they don’t get kicked out of their group. Aren’t we are all equal, even if it’s just with sports or your chosen activity?

Although it can be argued very easily that the rule scared kids out of attempting that type of “partying”, which it may have, I still think it’s not always the business of the school, but strictly of the parents/guardians, and maybe the authorities. If the school is asked to get involved, if it’s a sport sponsored event, or if it’s on school property, they shouldn’t be taking action. Students should be able to go home and not have to constantly be worrying if one wrong step could hurt their high school career.