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Wednesday, October 25, 2006
In favor of adult supervision at football games?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Parkview High School in Lilburn now requires students in middle and elementary grades to be accompanied by an adult at all athletic events. No more dropping young kids off at the gate of Friday night football games to be on their own.
The policy’s not overly restrictive. The adult doesn’t have to be the student’s parent. And one adult can oversee more than one child. But there has to be a grownup present.
Parkview also designated a special seating area, monitored by high school staff, just for middle and elementary school students.
It’s separate from the high school student section. Younger kids don’t have to sit in their special section but they are encouraged to take a seat somewhere.
Parkview Assistant Principal Mark Albertus, who proposed the new policy, said it is not intended to cut into the fun. It is a safety measure, he said. The high school is trying to be “proactive.”
School officials were concerned about younger students who might gravitate to less lighted parts of the stadium complex, or leave the stadium or get hurt, said Parkview Athletic Director Karl Bostick. The school had not experienced any serious problems, but there had been some cuts, scrapes and broken bones, he said. The Parkview stadium has concrete bleachers, and the younger students “tend to be a little more rambunctious.”
“We want them to come and enjoy the game, and to go home safe when it is over,” Bostick said.
Albertus and Bostick said the policy was well publicized at nearby elementary and middle schools, and response has been favorable. There have been almost no complaints, and the students seem to enjoy having a section to themselves, Albertus said.
Jeff Tyler, who is the father of a Parkview High School student and a middle school student and often attends games, agrees. The kids want to be with their friends. The special section allows them to be together but in an area where parents will know where to find them, he said.
“I much prefer this,“ Tyler said. “I haven’t heard any negative comments. The only negative would probably be from parents who drive by and drop their kids off.”
Since Parkview adopted its policy, the school has heard from other school administrators, both inside and outside of Gwinnett, inquiring about the rule.
I don’t doubt it. I think it’s a smart policy.
When my children were in middle school, the South Gwinnett High School games were popular social events. My husband or I (or sometimes a friend’s family) would take the kids to the stadium, where they would immediately want to hang out with friends. Our system was to have them check back with us at predetermined intervals – say, every 15 minutes.
But some young kids seemed to be there solo.
“The high school doesn’t need to be the Friday night babysitter,” Bostick said.
He’s right. Younger children should have a grownup with them.
What do you think of requiring an adult to accompany children to school athletic events? Does your school have similar rules? Do you see a need for such policies elsewhere?
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