DCPS Football Games

[Anonymous]

Yesterday at 11:49 AM, DCPS sent out an email stating that students must be accompanied by an adult at all football games due to issues with violence. While the schools communicated this to the students, it left many of us in a difficult position. When my child came home excited to attend the Jackson-Reed game, I had to inform them of the new policy. Many of their friends tried to go but were turned away. Ironically, this policy only applied to public school students, meaning all the St. Albans students were allowed to attend. Waiting for the private school fans here!

I have several issues with this situation, primarily centered around two points. First, the timing of the announcement was problematic. It provided parents and students with little time to understand the new policy, figure out how to implement it, or voice their concerns. Second, the policy itself raises questions about fairness. While I understand there have been issues in the past, it seems inconsistent that private school students could attend without similar restrictions. This disparity calls into question the effectiveness of the policy.

Moreover, there appears to be a significant inconsistency in how DCPS addresses matters of safety and security. It seems acceptable for students to be tardy, steal, or even assault teachers, yet they cannot attend a sporting event? Perhaps if we enforced basic discipline, we wouldn't be facing these issues. This policy reflects a failure on the part of DCPS to set consequences for individual students, instead treating the entire school as the problem.

Now, off to enjoy this beautiful day!

[Anonymous]

I agree with many of your points but I witnessed the aftermath of a football game this season that led to an entire neighborhood being over run with police, running and yelling teenagers, helicopter canvassing, etc. It was a mess and most people couldn’t leave their houses because they assumed it was a result of gun violence. Roads were blocked, etc.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the private school kids should have been allowed in without an adult, if the public school kids were not. Wow. That's crazy.

[Anonymous]

It's not true that STA students were allowed in without an adult! Don't make stuff up.

I'm an STA parent and was there last night in a group of 3 STA parents. Each adult was permitted to admit 3 kids (from any school.) We each admitted our own STA kid and 2 Jackson Reed kids who did not have an adult present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that STA students were allowed in without an adult! Don't make stuff up.

I'm an STA parent and was there last night in a group of 3 STA parents. Each adult was permitted to admit 3 kids (from any school.) We each admitted our own STA kid and 2 Jackson Reed kids who did not have an adult present.

That is what was reported back to me by multiple students. That's good to hear that it was not the case.