March 28, 2024

Despite good intentions, new pledge is unfair for students

New pledge at Costa focuses on patrolling student drug and alcohol use. This pledge is for students at Costa who partake in extracurricular activities and sports.

Staff Editorial

Mira Costa Vice Principal Jon Shaw and Athletic Director Glenn Marx are creating a new pledge for students in extracurriculars and sports to reduce drug and alcohol use. Although the intentions behind the pledge represent a practical step in discouraging underage substance abuse, the repercussions within the contract are not clearly justified by a legal precedent and will prove detrimental to Costa’s programs.

Thus far, the pledge has not been finalized by the district’s lawyer who is assessing its legal rights, Shaw said. The initiative encourages a reduction in the amount of student drug and alcohol intake by requiring those in Costa’s programs to sign a contract pledging that they will not partake in these illegal activities. Students who do not uphold the pledge are subject to consequences such as a temporary or permanent suspension from their activities.

There is no clear legal justification for the enforcement of the pledge’s consequences, K&L Gates, a law firm, partner Grace Yuan said. However, according to Marx, administration does not need the backing of a law to discourage illegal behavior among students. Regardless, because administration still does not have clear legal grounds on which to enforce the pledge, it seems to be an unfair infringement on student rights.

Click here to read about high school student drug and alcohol use.

According to a survey of 200 students, just 37% feel that the contract is fair. Although it is important to ensure students do not use illegal substances, the school should work to ensure that students are content and comfortable at school; this low percentage shows that the pledge is not a reflection of that.

The pledge’s punishments are beneficial for students, as they will have to face similar consequences in the future, Shaw said. However, the punishment of suspending students from their activities should be adjusted as many students could be temporarily or permanently restricted from participating in activities, which could negatively impact the organization’s performance.

Furthermore, students who are not involved in sports and extracurriculars are not required to sign the pledge because they are not held to the same standard and do not represent Costa outside of school, Shaw said. Instead, this new policy should be inclusive for all students because they should be held to the same standards and offered help if they have a drug or alcohol problem.

Click here to read more about high school sports team drug use.

According to a survey of 200 students, 44% of respondents who participate in activites said that they have consumed alcohol and/or drugs. These high rates show that it is imperative for administration to promote responsibility and reduce illegal consumption.

Despite the flaws displayed in the pledge, the contract’s intention is a noble effort to reduce substance use. According to the contract, a consequence for students who have a first offense is an IMPACT treatment program, which meets on campus once a week to discuss substance prevention, Shaw said.

Through IMPACT, it is clear that the pledge is a great first step to remedy substance use with a feasible outlet for recovery, but unless Costa can hammer out its logistics, the contract will have far more negative than positive consequences at Costa.

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