‘A small price to teach a little integrity'

To the editor: When one of my children got kicked off (and rightfully so) Warwick’s ski team in 1991 for breaking a school rule - smoking in the girl’s room - I did not hire a lawyer, I did not speak to the coach, nor to the principal nor the athletic director. I spoke to her about rules and the need we have as a family - as well as a school family - to abide by them. What I did do was make her pay for the new ski boots which I had just bought for her the day before. Can anyone answer these questions: Why does the school insist that students sign an agreement which the school does not intent to honor? Why are we, as a district, spending money on “character education” when we allow children to act with impunity and don’t seem to care what kind of adults they will turn into? I realize that there are issues here of which I am not aware. I know that I don’t want the district sued by another parent, especially when represented by M. Sussman and Co. And I especially don’t want to have to fund that. What I do want is for the district to live up to its agreements, whether they are made with parents, teachers or students. We have the right to believe that our own board works in our best interests. It broke my heart when my daughter got kicked off that team. But as a parent I knew right then - pay me now or pay me later. It was probably a small price to teach a little integrity. Karen DeVora Warwick