DeMatha -- is this indemic to the culture?

[Anonymous]

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Here is what the Dematha incident is about.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/five-dematha-players-removed-from-program-after-incident-involving-prostitutes/2012/09/06/b99dfdca-f868-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_story.html

[Anonymous]

Yikes.. sounds like the school is doing the right thing by getting rid of these kids.

[Anonymous]

I really don't think that's the culture.

[Anonymous]

pretty sure the word is endemic

[Anonymous]

I love how the parent blamed it on the chaperones. At what point exactly is it the boy's responsibility? Really think a bed check at 1:30 and 4am should have been sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how the parent blamed it on the chaperones. At what point exactly is it the boy's responsibility? Really think a bed check at 1:30 and 4am should have been sufficient.

Totally agree. I've chaperoned many overnight trips with students, and the truth is, if kids are hell-bent on breaking the rules, they are going to find a way to do it. If an adult needs to have eyes on your high-school aged son 24-7 in order to keep him in line, I'm sorry, but your kid is not mature enough to be going on overnight trips.

[Anonymous]

While it's a terrible incident, that letter from the principal is incredibly well written. It doesn't deny anything or make any excuses, and reinforces school values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how the parent blamed it on the chaperones. At what point exactly is it the boy's responsibility? Really think a bed check at 1:30 and 4am should have been sufficient.

Totally agree. I've chaperoned many overnight trips with students, and the truth is, if kids are hell-bent on breaking the rules, they are going to find a way to do it. If an adult needs to have eyes on your high-school aged son 24-7 in order to keep him in line, I'm sorry, but your kid is not mature enough to be going on overnight trips.

PP here - I agree. And I say this as a parent of a teen who I don't think can handle going on one of those trips. Had I been quoted as the parent in that article, the message would have been totally different.

[Anonymous]

I hope DeMatha does not discontinue any future trips because of the foibles of 5 players. This is a powerful lesson for the other boys....you step out of trust and character, you are gone, period.

DeMatha will continue to thrive. We didn't fire the whole Secret Service when a few were caught with their pants down and nor should DeMatha be vilified. Boys trying to be men. Men trying to be uncontrolled, hormonal boys.

[Anonymous]

What high schooler hires prostitutes? Am I naive or this a common occurrence? I guess I always pictured some gross loner middle aged man sneaking out in the night for hookers not a high schooler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What high schooler hires prostitutes? Am I naive or this a common occurrence? I guess I always pictured some gross loner middle aged man sneaking out in the night for hookers not a high schooler

Regardless of your age, you can order anything off the internet. A kid can just go to any store that sells gift credit cards, put on the maximum cash limit, and you're in business. The internet cannot age discriminate if the seller can't see you and checking a box that says you're over 21 is just a formality.

You might be a tad naive. And, unfortunately, it happens more than you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:pretty sure the word is endemic

Yes. Big words don't make you look smarter, particularly when you spell them incorrectly.

[Anonymous]

More of that great catholic education. nice respect for women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What high schooler hires prostitutes? Am I naive or this a common occurrence? I guess I always pictured some gross loner middle aged man sneaking out in the night for hookers not a high schooler

Read this eye-opening WP piece:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/surprised-by-teens-who-order-prostitutes-as-easily-as-pizza-you-shouldnt-be/2012/09/10/d6ee717c-fb59-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_story.html


She basically points out that all the traditional barriers between the sex trade and kids have been broken down thanks to the internet, which kids access on their phones, so it has become normalized now and not weird and marginalized.