728 x 90

High School Football or Day Care?

High School Football or Day Care?

Football season is almost over, but for the past couple months, middle school students who attended high school games in several Oklahoma cities have had to sit with their parents at all times. At some schools, even if they go to the bathroom, they must be accompanied by an adult.

The Oklahoma schools’ rules were implemented after a 16-year-old student was shot to death at the first home game of the season for the Choctaw High School Yellowjackets.

The victim, who was not a student at either team’s school, was allegedly killed following an argument he had had with another teen. In other words, this was not what we think of as a school shooting, except that it was on school property.

In the ensuing panic, fans ran for safety and an off-duty officer shot a 42-year-old in the chest. A 15-year-old girl was also shot.

There were seven on-duty police officers at the game for security purposes, NBC reports.

The new safety rules that went into effect in at least four Oklahoma school districts include requiring all students at high school football games to wear their school ID on a lanyard. Attendees must also sit on their own team’s side.

The rules at the Moore Public Schools — part of the Oklahoma City metro area — state that: “Junior High and elementary students must have a parent/guardian present for the duration of the event, and they must remain with the parent/ guardian, including (during) restroom and concession breaks.”

Students attending Mustang Public Schools cannot mill about, either. “Loitering will not be tolerated,” according to the rules. “Students/children are to sit in the stands and shall not congregate under the stands or in other areas of the sporting complex.”

Erin Henriques — my colleague at Let Grow, the nonprofit I co-founded — tells me that these kinds of restrictions have become commonplace.

“Since I don’t have kids in school anymore, I’m not sure how others feel about it,” writes Henriques, who lives in Mustang, Oklahoma. “But my understanding is that everyone has gotten so used to privileges being taken away because of violence that it is just something they now have to abide by for safety, whether it is practical.”

In her town, Henriques said, middle school students invited to homecoming come to the high school football games proudly wearing a corsage (on him) and a knee-length sash of matching flowers (on her). It is thrilling for them to walk through the stands together, showing off their “homecoming mums.”

Now they must be accompanied by their mom or dad.

In the aftermath of a football game shooting, it’s not surprising that some security changes would immediately be put in place — whether or not they do any good. But similar rules were recently adopted at Sheldon High School in Springfield, Oregon, where I can find no report of any recent incidents.

The rules there state that elementary and middle school students must be supervised by a parent or a “responsible adult” at Friday night football games.

The local ABC affiliate reports that Sheldon High School’s athletic director said “the changes are to provide a safer and more predictable environment for everyone in attendance by ensuring younger fans have the guidance and support to enjoy games responsibly.”

Do kids really need “guidance” at a football game? Are they not able to figure out anything by themselves?

“If I’m a 14-year-old and I have to have a parent go with me to the bathroom at a game?” Henriques said. “Talk about taking away a child’s independence and instilling fear.”

It’s as American as apple pie — and football.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

Image credit: Pexels

3 comments

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

3 Comments

  • Avatar
    Tionico
    December 4, 2023, 8:05 pm

    and they wonder WHY in erth the children grow up to look like adults but still are utterly incapable of managing their own lives, let aline having a mature response to any sort of crisis or trauma.

    When I was twelve or so I would ride my bike four or five miles from home to the school for games thn, even after full dark back home again.

    Reminds me of the FACT that when poultry eggs are beginning t hatch, the parent NEVER helps in the least bit to assist the chick or poult escaping from the egg. And when the farmer of bird owner does intervene, the little bird almost always dies. that FIGHT to get out and tackle the next phase of their existence is a critical step for their survival. Today's kids are denied almost every opportunity to take any level of responsibility for their lives.. other than, it would seem, to make "decisions" about their "gender", sexual activity levels, pornographic books they can now select from the school library, crazy diet fetishes, and which half of their head will have purple hair and which will have no hair. But they are deemed utterly incapable of figuring out when, where, and how to go pee. Amazing…….

    Further assurance that MY kids will never darken the door of any government operated school facility.

    REPLY
  • Avatar
    Ranger
    December 5, 2023, 10:53 am

    Henriques “Doesn’t have kids in school anymore “

    REPLY
  • Avatar
    Tanya Windham
    December 6, 2023, 1:39 pm

    As a High School administrator, I completely understand the reasons for these restrictions. It is sad that we have to put these types of rules in place but it is necessary. These rules help reduce fights and other problems. This is unfortunately a sign of the times. Just watch the news and you will see the many reports of out of control teens and tweens. Adults that are questioning these rules just need to spend one Friday night in the shoes of an administrator or other adult supervising at a game. I can remember letting my own middle school children attend games (and they did not sit with me). However, my children were not behaving improperly. There are too many children today that have no respect for themselves, others, or authority. Sadly, we all pay the price.

    REPLY

Read More

Latest Posts

Frequent Contributors