OUTRAGEOUS LAWSUIT

Dear Alibi,

The lawsuit filed by Becky Memoli ["Zero Tolerance," Aug. 8-14] is
outrageous! When are we going to start teaching our youngsters about
character and responsibility?

Fact: Menaul School has a clearly published policy about leaving campus
without authorization. Fact: The school has a clearly published policy
about students using illegal drugs. Fact: Becky knew about these rules, and
was aware of the potential consequences. Fact: Becky Memoli broke both of
these rules!

I assume Becky is somewhere around 18 years of age. She should know by now
that breaking rules, if caught, often carry consequences. The fact that her
education was interrupted is her fault, not the school's administration.

What was said, verbally to Becky by the administrators is not known. As a
high school teacher myself, I know that teens often twist the truth in an
attempt to reduce the trouble they are in. What someone said someone said
someone said in a meeting where there is no existing transcript becomes
questionable, and then there is little point in debating it.

What is true is that the student handbook clearly stated the rules and the
consequences for breaking them, and Becky agreed to abide by those rules
when she enrolled. She willfully and knowingly broke the agreement by
leaving campus and smoking pot. (The merits or risks of smoking marijuana
are not the issue here, but a topic for an entirely different debate).

Contrary to what you and many of your readers believe, civilized society
must have rules and they must be respected. People must be taught certain
standards of conduct, or civilization falls apart.

Imagine any school without rules. Do we really want students coming to
school wasted? Many students would be strung out on drugs or alcohol nearly
all the time--and the problem would spread like a bad virus.

Should we make an exception for honor students? If they had let Becky stay
in school, what message would have been sent to the other students and
their parents? Any standard of conduct would have become unenforceable. Do
we want to strengthen our schools, or do we want to let them deteriorate?

Becky should be damn lucky she got into another school, graduated on time,
was accepted to a good college, and did not end up with a police record. If
I were in control, she would have been kicked out without discussion, not
accepted at Cibola, and grounded at home for the entire summer! She should
be counting her blessings, not bitching about how she had allegedly been
mistreated!

And shame on Mrs. Memoli for teaching her daughter that taking
responsibility for one's actions and respecting authority are undesirable
traits. She should have her Mama's license revoked!

Larry Walsh

Albuquerque