School board demands that special needs student removes varsity letter. - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

troutman · 03-30-2015, 10:29 AM

In my Junior High there was a crippled boy (polio I think) who tried out for every team. He was awarded athlete of the year at a school assembly. He got a standing ovation and there was not a dry eye in the house.

He was respected for his effort.

Was he the best athlete? No.

Right thing to do? Yes.

polak · 03-30-2015, 10:54 AM

lol High School.

crazy_eoj · 03-30-2015, 11:33 AM

The strangest part of this whole story is that parents complained about the special needs student wearing the letter at all.

What are they scouting out the school and taking names of students wrongfully wearing these things?

One of their kids came home complaining about this and their response was... don't worry Billy we'll make sure Zach isn't allowed to wear that letter. We have to keep those special needs students in line!

Ridiculous.

Coach · 03-30-2015, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

So, kick the lesson to the curb about working hard for years towards a goal? The kids who earned their letters have spent 3-4 years working hard. They have to be in great shape, make personal sacrifices in order to be at the top of their game. And several sports as well. There have been comments about "it's just a piece of clothing/ just a letter." This coming from from a fan base who salivates at the thought of our team winning a trophy that would maybe cost a couple of thousand to reproduce. What if I went into FOI and said "It's just a hunk of metal- what's the big deal."

Do you own a Flames jersey? Or hat?

We can purchase official team jerseys and even game worn gear. Did we earn that right?

This whole thing is ridiculous. I can't believe it is even a concern. Anyone that would whine (whether it was a kid or a parent) that a special needs kid is wearing a letterman jacket he didn't "earn" is a petty and terrible person. Who seriously gives a s***? Our football team won 2 or 3 games the entire time I was in high school. If those guys earned coats, this kid earns it everyday 10x times over just by living his life the way he does.

If I was a letterman at that school, and they took away this kids coat, I would be the first to put mine over his shoulders.

Fricken joke.

MoneyGuy · 03-30-2015, 12:41 PM

Maybe it's a case where the school just caved to a complaining parent, I dunno. I hate when someone in authority just gives in. Do the right thing which, in this case, is letting the kid have his letter. Anyone who doesn't like it can take a hike. I don't know this is what happened, or maybe the principal actually agrees with the parent. That's worse then being spineless.

FurnaceFace · 03-30-2015, 01:55 PM

Open letter from the principal. Sounds like this came up about a year ago and since then the kid was allowed to wear the jacket. There is no current policy in place with the athletic board but one has been worked on for months. Sounds like the board is working on coming up with a standard lettering or other designation and the principal says he'l happily support whatever they decide.

http://ksn.com/2015/03/29/east-high-...ty-outpouring/

Coach · 03-30-2015, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Open letter from the principal. Sounds like this came up about a year ago and since then the kid was allowed to wear the jacket. There is no current policy in place with the athletic board but one has been worked on for months. Sounds like the board is working on coming up with a standard lettering or other designation and the principal says he'l happily support whatever they decide.

http://ksn.com/2015/03/29/east-high-...ty-outpouring/

This is almost what bothers me more than anything. Why does there need to be a policy as decided on by the athletic board? And why does it take months to a year?

It's a freaking jacket.

FurnaceFace · 03-30-2015, 03:04 PM

reading between the lines it's a comprehensive program about more than just jackets. The board also has to justify their existence so they'll have many evaluations on this, and I'd guess have a regular day job. I'd guess they will meet a lot more now and hammer out a policy...or be jersey about it and publish some guidelines and leave it up to the school to determine what they think is right.

Teh_Bandwagoner · 03-30-2015, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

So, kick the lesson to the curb about working hard for years towards a goal? The kids who earned their letters have spent 3-4 years working hard.

3-4 years of working hard? Because trying to fit into society with Down's and Autism your whole life is a lovely walk in the park. And course he'll also have the same benefits and opportunities after high school as those with letterman jackets anyway.

Oh...wait.

crazy_eoj · 03-30-2015, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

3-4 years of working hard? Because trying to fit into society with Down's and Autism your whole life is a lovely walk in the park. And course he'll also have the same benefits and opportunities after high school as those with letterman jackets anyway.

Oh...wait.

Giving someone similar recognition, or even allowing them to enjoy the association with that recognition, for working hard in entirely different manner in no way demeans or degrades what you have accomplished as a 'regular' varsity athlete.

In this case, it would likely even increase the level of respect given to the members.

The only possible downside that I believe is logically seen here is hurting the feelings of one disadvantaged student.

sharkov · 03-30-2015, 04:32 PM

Its funny how serious people take Varsity. So what if you played high school level sports for 3 years, you're not going to get hired on that basis in 10 years

jammies · 03-30-2015, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

The school appears to have put the student into a basketball program with other kids at his level, which is great. His mom taking that extra step on her own was wrong.

Following rules doesn't make you right unless the rule is also right. It's equally immoral to follow any rule you encounter as it is to decide that no rules apply to you at all; it's nothing but abdicating your judgment in favour of slavish obedience.

WhiteTiger · 03-30-2015, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammies

it's nothing but abdicating your judgment in favour of slavish obedience.

The only problem with this is that there's a LOT of people out there with piss-poor judgement skills.

RougeUnderoos · 03-30-2015, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

So, kick the lesson to the curb about working hard for years towards a goal? The kids who earned their letters have spent 3-4 years working hard. They have to be in great shape, make personal sacrifices in order to be at the top of their game. And several sports as well. There have been comments about "it's just a piece of clothing/ just a letter." This coming from from a fan base who salivates at the thought of our team winning a trophy that would maybe cost a couple of thousand to reproduce. What if I went into FOI and said "It's just a hunk of metal- what's the big deal."

Kids play sports because they want to and it's fun. It's not a huge sacrifice to be on the basketball team. It's not like they are doing it for anyone other than themselves. It's a game they are volunteering to play, not a duty that they are taking on for the benefit of society.

jammies · 03-30-2015, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

The only problem with this is that there's a LOT of people out there with piss-poor judgement skills.

Yes, that's true, but you can't base your actions on the lowest common denominator. Refraining from taking a moral position against authority isn't going to make idiots any smarter, it'll just make you wrong in a different fashion than they regularly are.

GGG · 03-31-2015, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

So, kick the lesson to the curb about working hard for years towards a goal? The kids who earned their letters have spent 3-4 years working hard. They have to be in great shape, make personal sacrifices in order to be at the top of their game. And several sports as well. There have been comments about "it's just a piece of clothing/ just a letter." This coming from from a fan base who salivates at the thought of our team winning a trophy that would maybe cost a couple of thousand to reproduce. What if I went into FOI and said "It's just a hunk of metal- what's the big deal."

If the one of the parents of kids on the Townsend tigers made a replica Stanley Cup and gave it to the kids after beating the flames I would have no issue saying it's not a big deal. And it's probably good for the kids.

undercoverbrother · 03-31-2015, 09:41 AM

Is ken0042 trolling us.....

bizaro86 · 03-31-2015, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

So, kick the lesson to the curb about working hard for years towards a goal? The kids who earned their letters have spent 3-4 years working hard. They have to be in great shape, make personal sacrifices in order to be at the top of their game. .

The analogy I think is appropriate here is the Olympics and Paralympics. They're at the same place, and they both give out medals. Similarly, the kid on the special needs basketball team should be able to get a jacket, since he is participating in the school sports team.

ken0042 · 03-31-2015, 10:36 AM

Sorry guys; while I appreciate the few people who have tried to engage in a nice discussion, there are too many other posts where people are trying to act like bullies. I'm out of this thread.

Displaced Flames fan · 03-31-2015, 03:23 PM

Well, this is playing out literally 2 miles from where I sit typing this.

I have only skimmed the thread so forgive me if this point has been made, I haven't seen it.

Michael participated in a competitive sport, representing his high school. He earned his letter. His letter is not equivalent to a varsity basketball letter. He did not play on that team. Generally, you get a jacket with a letter and then you earn pins representing the activities/sports you lettered in. The pins are attached to the letter on the jacket so you can show off how awesome you are.

Why would anyone be upset with this kid earning a pin for his sport? It's clear cut elitism.