[tkret]

Another thread is discussing whether or not John Moronto should be allowed to retain his job as high school football coach after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute. The premise being that he is a role model for the kids he instructs at the high school.
With this in mind, likewise, should Assistant Principal Margaret Spinazzola of Melbourne High School lose her job after being arrested for D.U.I. last Friday morning? Are these two situations deserving of the same punishment? Or, is one less desirable than the other? Are Ms Spinazzola and Mr. Moronto held to a higher standard than, say, a professional athlete who is also a role model to high school kids? There have been NFL players suspended from the League for substance abuse, but only after being cited more than once. Should these two high school officials be given a second chance?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by tkret

Another thread is discussing whether or not John Moronto should be allowed to retain his job as high school football coach after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute. The premise being that he is a role model for the kids he instructs at the high school.
With this in mind, likewise, should Assistant Principal Margaret Spinazzola of Melbourne High School lose her job after being arrested for D.U.I. last Friday morning? Are these two situations deserving of the same punishment? Or, is one less desirable than the other? Are Ms Spinazzola and Mr. Moronto held to a higher standard than, say, a professional athlete who is also a role model to high school kids? There have been NFL players suspended from the League for substance abuse, but only after being cited more than once. Should these two high school officials be given a second chance?

They sure are held to a higher standard in southwest Ohio and in the Lakota School system in particular where my kids and grandkids were educated. I am always saddened to hear that the standards for educators are not the same everywhere. Neither of those behaviors would be tolerated by Lakota School system. And I think that is how it should be. It isn't that things like this don't happen..if they do then they are out the door.

I don't understand why you would put a coach in a different catagory than a teacher. They are both role models. They chose to work with kids.

Help me down from this soap box please. I have been so lucky to have known so many great teachers.

[tkret]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I don't understand why you would put a coach in a different catagory than a teacher.

Help me down from this soap box please. Education is my passion.

That IS the question Graciegirl. Should both an Assistant Principal AND a football coach be placed on the same standard? Is solicitation of prostitution and drunk driving equally deplorable? In both cases, the individuals are involved with children.

[redwitch]

Tol me, they are both equal. One endangers the life of others, the other demeans and exploits women. There is no excuse for the behavior of either. At this junction, I don't think either should be fired -- neither has been found guilty. However, both should be suspended with or without pay, depending on school district policy. One was immediately suspended. The other was "considered" and then it was decided his actions did not affect the students. The other issue is that both of these schools have zero tolerance -- had a student been arrested for either of these crimes, the student would have automatically been suspended with no questions asked. If found guilty, expulsion was also automatic.

Actually, if I had to choose which would be suspended -- the vice principal or the coach, I would vote for the coach. The reality is that most kids look up to a coach far more than a V.P. -- his influence is actually greater, even if she does have more power.

School officials -- whether a principal, a teacher, a coach -- are held to a higher standard and, I believe, should be. While a professional athlete does influence kids and many kids do hero-worship them, they don't deal with the athlete on a day-to-day basis. Parents can talk to their children about where an athlete or actor or singer deserves respect and recognition and where bad judgment was used. However, when a school official uses bad judgment and has no repercussions, that is hard to explain to your child, especially if the child knows the same action by it would involve serious and life-changing repercussions. What saddens and sickens me is that so few are speaking out about the coach's lack of judgment and the school district's condoning his actions. Tiger Woods was railed against, threatened, lost major endorsements because of his actions (which, while immoral to many, was illegal to no one). The coach is getting a walk unless he is found guilty and serves time. Something tells me that so long as he doesn't go to jail, he'll be a coach at his school.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by redwitch

Tol me, they are both equal. One endangers the life of others, the other demeans and exploits women. There is no excuse for the behavior of either. At this junction, I don't think either should be fired -- neither has been found guilty. However, both should be suspended with or without pay, depending on school district policy. One was immediately suspended. The other was "considered" and then it was decided his actions did not affect the students. The other issue is that both of these schools have zero tolerance -- had a student been arrested for either of these crimes, the student would have automatically been suspended with no questions asked. If found guilty, expulsion was also automatic.

Actually, if I had to choose which would be suspended -- the vice principal or the coach, I would vote for the coach. The reality is that most kids look up to a coach far more than a V.P. -- his influence is actually greater, even if she does have more power.

School officials -- whether a principal, a teacher, a coach -- are held to a higher standard and, I believe, should be. While a professional athlete does influence kids and many kids do hero-worship them, they don't deal with the athlete on a day-to-day basis. Parents can talk to their children about where an athlete or actor or singer deserves respect and recognition and where bad judgment was used. However, when a school official uses bad judgment and has no repercussions, that is hard to explain to your child, especially if the child knows the same action by it would involve serious and life-changing repercussions. What saddens and sickens me is that so few are speaking out about the coach's lack of judgment and the school district's condoning his actions. Tiger Woods was railed against, threatened, lost major endorsements because of his actions (which, while immoral to many, was illegal to no one). The coach is getting a walk unless he is found guilty and serves time. Something tells me that so long as he doesn't go to jail, he'll be a coach at his school.

Good points. If both of the schools have "zero tolerance," and would have suspended the kids for the exact same allegations, then I think they are wrong not to suspend the employees.

Also, while athletes are role models for kids, it's not specifically their job to be. For school officials, it is specifically their job, or should be.

"Do as we say, not as we do," doesn't advance the cause of raising kids to be honorable. Quite the contrary. Holding school officials to at least the same standards as the kids sends a strong message. Unfortunately, so does not doing so.