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Father sues after teen is dropped from track team

Published by
RunnerSpace.com/HighSchool   May 28th 2013, 3:07am
Comments

Father sues after teen is dropped from track team

Posted: Monday, May 27, 2013, 3:01 AM

There's a point Ervin Mears Jr. wants people to understand, and it's the reason he filed a federal lawsuit when his son was ousted from the high school track team:

"Children have rights," Mears, 68, said, "just like any adult."

In this case, he said, it's the right to run.



Read the full article at: www.philly.com

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3 comment(s)
FrankDauncey
The athlete didn't get the respect he thought he deserved. My question is why? If he did miss practice without informing his coach/coaches, that is something that shows disrespect for his coach and the program. Good coaches are compassionate, and have good listening skills, Good communication and a good understanding of the rules. The consistent application of discipline is the coach's responsibility, that coach has to make decisions based on the good of the team.
Competing for a school team is about the team, the individual athlete needs to recognize that no matter the skill level. If an individual athlete doesn't fit the system the athlete needs to find one that fits. Club maybe?
watchout
From what I understand from the story...

The reasons given to dismissing the athlete seem reasonable (missing practices without letting coaches know why he's not able to attend)... can't speak about the rest, since we only hear one (seemingly incomplete) side of the issue.

I agree with your thoughts on it being a privilege rather than a right, Chris. Kids do have the RIGHT to play a sport, but it's a PRIVILEGE to play a sport on a team. The athlete still has the RIGHT to participate in club track (whether he is part of a whole club or just training and competing on his own) if he so wishes, or they could see about transferring to another area school if the issues with the coach and AD become too significant - and if they would be any better anywhere else. But he has lost the PRIVILEGE to participate on the school track team, due to not showing up for practice and not letting his coaches know why he's gone.
Chris Nickinson
Not sure if this is the right forum for this but I feel like this could become a huge topic and an important one because of the role of the parent.

I don't know any details of this other than what's in the article and I'm sure the article is missing a ton as they don't have much from the coach, school or any other administrators.

The father really lost me when he claimed that extracurricular were a right for students. I don't think that's how it works. I'm pretty sure it is a privilege to be on a school team but maybe I'm just too old school or I'm on the wrong planet. I'm also not sure about his freedom of speech claims. He probably needs to go back to his US civics class and learn about the 1st amendment.

Thoughts?
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