Hard At Play 

By Morris Workman

"New Drug Policy Sucks"

February 3, 2006

Score another one for political correctness and leniency in the face of bad behavior.

The latest home run for the degenerates is Clark County School District ’s new policy for tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse.

The old policy, while severe, also made a statement to our students that this nonsense wouldn’t be tolerated.

Athletes (the policy only applies to athletes, which I DO think is unfair) who were previously caught smoking, drinking, or using drugs were suspended from all school athletics for 180 school days. 

This is an entire year, which sounds harsh, but the reality is that almost all kids caught under this policy filed for an appeal, which was almost always knocked down to 90 days.

The new policy, which quietly went into effect this year, reduces the penalty to six weeks.

Still sounds pretty tough, right?

Wrong.

The policy includes a rule which allows the student to opt for a leaner punishment, which includes 14 days of suspension from the sports team (during which time he or she can practice, but not play games), plus counseling and a class on substance abuse.

I’m not sure why they need a class on substance abuse.

They obviously know how to do it already.

Maybe they need a new class called “The Bonds” where they’re taught how to use an illegal substance but not get caught.

Anyway, the new policy gets even worse.

There is a loophole in the 60 or 14 day suspension.

If, for example, a kid is popped halfway through wrestling season, instead of losing out on a part of the next wrestling season or the big football season next fall, he can pretend to go out for the track or baseball team in the spring, and the clock starts then.

So when the time is up, he can quit the track or baseball team knowing his football or wrestling future is clear.

I’m sorry, maybe I’m an old curmudgeon, but a 14-day slap on the wrist for something as serious as felony possession of crystal meth is not a punishment, or a deterrent.

It sends a clear message to our student athletes:

Drug and alcohol abuse are no big deal.

The policy is actually the NIAA standard now used across the state of Nevada .

Clark County was the last holdout, sticking to the 180-day pop until this year.

Once again, this cowardly school district has caved to the continuing downward moral spiral.

And once again, our kids and future generations will pay the price for their cowardice.

Morris Workman welcomes your comments at morris@morrisworkman.com.

 To e-mail the author regarding this article, send your e-mail to column@morrisworkman.com.