School board demands that special needs student removes varsity letter.

[ricosuave]

Haven't people got better things to do with their time than this?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highsc...162953378.html

[Table 5]

They should also ban him from the sock hop.

[#22]

Absolutely Pathetic. I have 5 Varsity letters for the parent(s) and principal that, when put together, rhyme with hunts

[CaptainYooh]

Pathetic morons, both the parents requesting this and the school officials supporting the request. The smartest thing to do for a Principal was to respond to the demand by saying "you are free to find another school".

[Mathalete]

This makes me embarrassed to work at a school. What a disgrace.

[Drury18]

I hope next they ban girlfriends/boyfriends of athletes who have letter jackets from wearing them, even briefly, as they obviously aren't playing at the varsity level either and don't deserve to wear them.

This is ridiculous. The student is participating in sports as a representative of the school. Perhaps his level isn't "varsity" but he's participating at the highest level he can. He's more deserving of a jacket then the kid whose on the football team that is varsity and maybe plays a minute of the game or just sits on the bench all game.

[killer_carlson]

when i see a headline like this my first thought is:

please don't let this be from Canada or if it is in Canada, please don't let it be in Alberta.

[Locke]

Some people really need a hobby.

[FlamesAddiction]

High school.... super cereal man!

Honestly, I never thought there was anything meaningful behind varsity jackets and letters other than someone buying them. I am pretty sure where I went to high school, anyone could buy one as a way to raise money.

[burn_this_city]

I can't believe varsity letters are still a thing. Thought that died in the 60s along with drive in diners.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by Locke

Some people really need a hobby.

Some people just need a punch in the nose.

[Codes]

As a human being, I am embarrassed.

That jacket is probably an immense source of pride and self esteem for Michael, and to have some jerk parents take that away from him is almost inhuman.

[driveway]

Devil's Advocate: The Varsity Letter is an award given for specific achievements, in this case playing on the Varsity basketball team. The student in question did not accomplish those achievements, therefore they should not be given the award.

People with special needs should be given accommodations and adaptations in order for certain aspects of life to be made equitable. Ramps should be installed so people with mobility problems can access services and businesses. Students with learning and developmental disabilities should be given more time to complete assignments and tests, or provided with alternate means of demonstrating their ability. This does not mean that all things need to be made "fair". People with mobility difficulties should not be paramedics, people with developmental difficulties should probably not become neurosurgeons.

If the school's policy is to only hand out Varsity letters to members of the Varsity team, making an accommodation for the particular disability of Down syndrome does not seem equitable. Why does that disability merit this type of special attention, but let's say there is a person who suffers from dwarfism who attends the school, should they also be given the award?

It's totally reasonable to argue that the school should alter its policies around awarding Varsity letters, but I see no reason why, as the policy currently is, an exception should be made in this specific case.

[HarryH93]

Originally Posted by driveway

Devil's Advocate: The Varsity Letter is an award given for specific achievements, in this case playing on the Varsity basketball team. The student in question did not accomplish those achievements, therefore they should not be given the award.

People with special needs should be given accommodations and adaptations in order for certain aspects of life to be made equitable. Ramps should be installed so people with mobility problems can access services and businesses. Students with learning and developmental disabilities should be given more time to complete assignments and tests, or provided with alternate means of demonstrating their ability. This does not mean that all things need to be made "fair". People with mobility difficulties should not be paramedics, people with developmental difficulties should probably not become neurosurgeons.

If the school's policy is to only hand out Varsity letters to members of the Varsity team, making an accommodation for the particular disability of Down syndrome does not seem equitable. Why does that disability merit this type of special attention, but let's say there is a person who suffers from dwarfism who attends the school, should they also be given the award?

It's totally reasonable to argue that the school should alter its policies around awarding Varsity letters, but I see no reason why, as the policy currently is, an exception should be made in this specific case.

Regardless whether someone believes that the Varsity letters should be exclusive to members of a Varsity team, the fact that someone's parent(s) went out of their way to complain about a kid with a Varsity jacket is tasteless.

I get the feeling that the person/people who complained felt embarrassed to have a kid with a disorder representing the Varsity team, which is despicable. Shame on them.

[Roast Beef]

It's a letter of the alphabet. Will she protest Seasame Street if they include that letter on the show.."Big Bird didn't earn that!" People like this remind me of Al Bundy, bragging about 4 touchdowns in one game for Polk High, and no one else gives a crap because it doesn't matter. Let him have his jacket.

[pylon]

This is a chance for the students to shine. I have confidence, we will be reading about the students and Varsity athletes at the school supporting him in wearing the jacket. Young people nowadays are more inclusive and more socially aware than ever before.

This will sort itself out.

And to the parent that complained, and the school staff that supported it? You should be frikkin ashamed of yourselves.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by driveway

Devil's Advocate: The Varsity Letter is an award given for specific achievements, in this case playing on the Varsity basketball team. The student in question did not accomplish those achievements, therefore they should not be given the award.

People with special needs should be given accommodations and adaptations in order for certain aspects of life to be made equitable. Ramps should be installed so people with mobility problems can access services and businesses. Students with learning and developmental disabilities should be given more time to complete assignments and tests, or provided with alternate means of demonstrating their ability. This does not mean that all things need to be made "fair". People with mobility difficulties should not be paramedics, people with developmental difficulties should probably not become neurosurgeons.

If the school's policy is to only hand out Varsity letters to members of the Varsity team, making an accommodation for the particular disability of Down syndrome does not seem equitable. Why does that disability merit this type of special attention, but let's say there is a person who suffers from dwarfism who attends the school, should they also be given the award?

It's totally reasonable to argue that the school should alter its policies around awarding Varsity letters, but I see no reason why, as the policy currently is, an exception should be made in this specific case.

It was just for fun.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by HarryH93

Regardless whether someone believes that the Varsity letters should be exclusive to members of a Varsity team, the fact that someone's parent(s) went out of their way to complain about a kid with a Varsity jacket is tasteless.

I get the feeling that the person/people who complained felt embarrassed to have a kid with a disorder representing the Varsity team, which is despicable. Shame on them.

Earning a varsity letter requires a specific set of circumstances, a parent deciding on their own that their kid deserves one arbitrarily is wrong. If you're going to say that someone should get a letter just for being involved in a sport at the school, you might as well stick them on the honor roll too just for taking a course there.

I'm all for giving those with a disability accommodations to ensure they receive equitable treatment, but buying you own bootleg varsity letter isn't in this category. If this was a case of some random kids being forced to remove varsity jackets they had bought it would not have made the news, the only reason it did is the person is disabled.

[HarryH93]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Earning a varsity letter requires a specific set of circumstances, a parent deciding on their own that their kid deserves one arbitrarily is wrong. If you're going to say that someone should get a letter just for being involved in a sport at the school, you might as well stick them on the honor roll too just for taking a course there.

I'm all for giving those with a disability accommodations to ensure they receive equitable treatment, but buying you own bootleg varsity letter isn't in this category. If this was a case of some random kids being forced to remove varsity jackets they had bought it would not have made the news, the only reason it did is the person is disabled.

It was a letter on a jacket, big freaking deal.

Schools should focus on something a little more, y'know, education-related rather than a letter on a kids jacket. Losers.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Earning a varsity letter requires a specific set of circumstances, a parent deciding on their own that their kid deserves one arbitrarily is wrong. If you're going to say that someone should get a letter just for being involved in a sport at the school, you might as well stick them on the honor roll too just for taking a course there.

I'm all for giving those with a disability accommodations to ensure they receive equitable treatment, but buying you own bootleg varsity letter isn't in this category. If this was a case of some random kids being forced to remove varsity jackets they had bought it would not have made the news, the only reason it did is the person is disabled.

Agreed. I also think the LA Kings should take immediate steps to remove Chris Sutter from any and all practices, team events and the dressing room. After all the dressing room is for team members only or the media when warranted. It also cheapened the sanctity of the game when he helped coach the All Star game.

Good lord

There are times when being a good human being trumps any sort of tradition, no matter how big or small.