CBS Boston is reporting a North Andover High School honor student and girls varsity volleyball captain has lost her team captain title and has also been suspended for 5 games for showing up at a party to give her drunk friend a ride home.
According to CBS Boston Erin Cox, a senior at North Andover High School, had received a call from a friend who was drunk and needed a ride. Erin arrived at the party for the sole purpose of picking up and driving her friend who had called her for help. When Erin arrived there the North Andover police had also arrived. Police arrested several students for underage possession of alcohol. CBS Boston has reported Erin was cleared by police who agreed she had not been drinking and was not in possession of alcohol.
North Andover High School has a zero tolerance policy, It states in the North Andover High School athletic handbook, students should be aware that if they are part of a group that is engaged in activities contrary to school rules, they may come under suspicion.
CBS Boston reports Erin’s mother filed a lawsuit hoping to get the school’s decision reversed and had provided a written statement by an officer on the scene vouching for her daughter’s sobriety, the lawsuit was dismissed.
Do you think the school should reverse this punishment?
UPTON DAILY 
Michelle I agree with you about the previous editorial. Having someone close to me who is a HS principal in another district I have to believe there is more to this story than what is being reported. I can’t fathom that it’s as black and white as being reported and without a statement from the school we will never know if there is or isn’t a gray area.Unfortunately the story which is being presented in the press is sending the wrong message to kids. Having an almost teenager and an almost driver I want the message they hear to be clear… don’t drink and drive, friends don’t let friends drive drunk… no matter what. We don’t live in a perfect world and not everyone has parents who are there for them in the right ways. 😦
I completely agree with you, Jen, but maybe the focus on “friends don’t let friends drive drunk” should be emphasized in the way of helping kids find adults whom they can trust – whether parents or someone else. A minor really can’t be responsible for another minor, and if she is 18, she’s taking a huge risk taking responsibility for another person like that. I feel for this kid because she really felt she was doing what was best, but in hindsight, it could have turned into a disaster for her. She really needed to get an adult into the picture. Again – it’s helping kids to know that there *are* adults who will help them. Helping your friends doesn’t have to mean going it alone. 🙂
I would point right back to a previous editorial – the school cannot release information regarding the student. We do *not* know the whole story and never will. We are not in a position to decide if the school did the right thing because we do not know the extent of the investigation nor what was found. We are in position of “we must trust that the administration properly followed their policies and procedures.” The mother appealed; that is what they can do. It was dismissed. I would think there must be a reason for it.
I commend the student for helping her friend. I suppose the lesson here is find an adult you trust to take on the responsibility instead of exposing yourself to violating school policies.
Will make a great college essay. There is often a cost to do what is right!!
I will always be there to help out a family member or friend in time of need. I encourage my children to follow my lead. I will urge my children to call me for a ride anytime that they need one (whether it be stuck at a party, on a bad date, left by friends, car broke down, or whatever the situation may be) . I will make sure they, and any friends whom may need it, will arrive home safely. If any punishment is necessary, it will be discussed after the fact. The most important thing is that they are safe. I would hope that my child would call me first (or another adult), not a friend, but if that is what they feel their best option at the time, then we will deal with the consequences later. I would certainly commend the girl that did go to help her friend, and would do all I could do to help her out of trouble from this mess if possible. I would at least be eternally grateful that she was a true friend and tried to help out when called upon.