DRUG-ALCOHOL IDEA GOES WAY TOO FAR

Letter to the editor

Sunday Mail

I am the proud parent of two CHS students, one an athlete, one a 2000
graduate. I have been involved with many students through the wrestling
booster club.

I cringed, but said little, this summer when I reviewed the school board's
proposed policy whereby any student athlete would be suspended from sports
participation if he or she were present at a gathering where any alcohol or
illegal drugs were being used by any minor. Suspension was to be imposed
regardless of whether the student even knew the contraband was present.

This proposal, which has not yet been thrown on the scrap heap, is scary
enough. Now we have Frank Rosano, candidate for school board. He wants to
expand this mindless punishment to include "30 days' suspension from school
and 60 days' suspension from any school activity" for a first offense.
Stupid me! I thought the board's job was to keep kids in school.

Consider the application of this policy to the real world. I attended the
CHS-Nashua football playoff game at Memorial Field last year. Huge crowd,
one of the best high school games I have ever seen. There were, however, a
few idiots smoking pot out behind the stands. No doubt others smuggled in a
flask of liquor to impress their friends. Probably neither cared whether
they were suspended. Maybe they were from Nashua.

But according to the board's proposal, every CHS athlete, including the
players on the field, should be suspended from competition. Candidate
Rosano wants them all suspended from school for 30 days.

Here's my proposal:

1. Do not vote for Mr. Rosano.

2. Do not vote for any candidate who dislikes your kids so much that he or
she wants to punish them simply because they are kids.

3. Do not vote for any candidate who would use scare tactics to get your vote.

4. Make all board members take a refresher course in American history and
democratic principles.

Yes, Mr. Rosano, I do fear that "call in the middle of the night." Every
parent does. That's our lot in life. But, even more, I fear that my
children may live in a world where school boards or governments can punish
them without cause and without due process. Big Brother is not a fantasy.

Bruce E. Kenna

Concord