Sports teams’ drinking must stop | Letter

To the high schoolers: when you attend a party where the above elements are available and you participate, do you consider just what and who you are affecting other than yourself? Take the school sports programs, for instance. When you have been kicked off a team, or suspended for a spell, you affect the following: your team, your coaches, your parents, your school, your town – you have let them all down and hurt their reputations.

November 7, 2011 2:20 pm

I am a 76-year-old grandmother and feel it is time for someone to speak up regarding what has recently happened with the high school sports teams.

Today our society is a “me” society. A society where many of us do not consider what our actions or attitude  will do to others.  I am speaking of the current sports program regarding drinking, drugs and whatever.

To the high schoolers: when you attend a party  where the above elements are available and you participate, do you consider just what and who you are affecting other than yourself?  Take the school sports programs, for instance. When you have been kicked off a team, or suspended for a spell, you affect the following: your team, your coaches, your parents, your school, your town – you have let them all down and hurt their reputations.

Also think about the money that the school and each and every parent gives to you through the various programs just for you to eat, get uniforms, ferry tickets, etc. to play sports. Shame on you.

To the  residents of Orcas Island: please, do not let this crash the sports programs for the school.  I know from firsthand experience how the sport programs helps develop young people and gives a chance for them to find friends who have something in common.  It helps them to develop character  and many other attributes for growing into fine young people. If a young person is good enough in a sport, it also provides a possible  avenue for scholarships.

Let us put a stop to the above abuse   Let us, together, help build up – not down – our schools and community together. Many ideas collected and worked out together can be challenging, but it will work.  Think of all the  extra work the head of the schools, teachers and coaches have already put into the young people and their teams. They cannot do it alone.  Let’s open our pocket books, hands and  working time to help make our community a bigger and better place to be proud of and live in for our young people.

Thank you to all the Orcas Island coaches for the hard work that you have put into our teams.  You are the greatest.

Nancy Zier

Orcas Island