Westbrook student athletes and cheerleaders were recently suspended for drinking at a party. They were in violation of the Westbrook Code of Conduct, signed by all extra and co-curricular students. The violation carried with it repercussions that took our top basketball players out of a chance for a state title as they were suspended from participation. The School Committee and senior administrators all agreed that the punishment fit the infraction of community standards and common sense.

Imagine my chagrin and surprise to learn that the Spanish Club took a trip to Spain and allowed students to “imbibe” in local custom that include drinking at the table with meals. “Yes,” the assistant superintendent said, and the club is quite up front about it. This is a trip not sponsored by Westbrook School Department, but it is students and teachers traveling together and drinking together. Is everyone aware that we pay stipends with taxpayer monies to club “teachers” for their time to run an extracurricular program? The superintendent’s office assured me that parents were consulted and permission given. My understanding is that parents were asked to sign a release form if they allowed their student to drink. Instead, why would chaperones, teachers and parents not be informed that drinking with students is inappropriate and it is discouraged and unacceptable? It was conveyed to me that this trip was on their own time and at no expense to the district. Providing a place setting accompanied by wine certainly amounts to tacit approval. Did I say it was legal in Spain?

Let’s travel to Morocco where the use of marijuana and hashish is local custom. Perhaps we could catch a plane to Amsterdam where prostitution is legal and customary. Ah, a trip to the Andes where chewing coca leaves stimulates and invigorates at high altitudes. Ridiculous comparisons, well perhaps, but how about the French club going to Quebec, without school sponsorship, where the legal drinking age is 18? Of course the school department does not condone local drinking; however, if they travel greater distances does common sense lose propriety?

The use of alcohol and drugs is rampant in society and particularly so in our young students. All one has to do is look at the monies spent on intervention, interdiction and counseling in our schools and community to recognize the extent of the problem. If school policy and community concern is going to mean anything, the buck stops here and now! It is simply inappropriate, no matter where, for our students and teachers to be knocking back wine or beers together. Period!

I am a member of the School Committee and take exception with being told that this is not under our purview, as it is not sponsored by the district but a club (teachers and students) simply going off together overseas. These individuals met and formed in classrooms and offices in the Westbrook School Department. Please advocate at a school policy or school committee meeting and insist upon consistent application of our code of conduct so all students understand and abide by our community standards.

Tim Crellin

Westbrook

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