wbkent wrote:I’m the parent of a Blair Crew member and I can’t tell all of you how upsetting this is for the CHILDREN who are members. Do you think they haven’t seen your comments and utter speculation about what is happening? Please for the sake of these kids stop posting wild theories about what has happened. The entire team is in the dark but we will patiently wait for for Principal Johnson to give us some information to proceed. While I don’t think this was the intention, Principal Johnson’s letter and the wording of the letter has made these kids feel shame. Do you really want to add to that? You’re the grown-ups. This is gossip and complete speculation before you know anything. You are not going to solve the mystery by saying things like, “my money is on sexual offense.” DC Urban Moms and Dads is this really what this forum is for because you are causing pain, anxiety, fear and stress to these children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grandson is on the blair crew team he said many kids on the team would text the coach on his personal number regularly.

Why aren’t all athletes told this specific type of conduct by a coach violates the MCPS Code of Conduct? With all the criminal child abuse cases with MCPS staff including coaches, why aren’t all MCPS students taught to immediately report such conduct?

The thing is Crew is not a MCPS sport meaning they don’t have to follow any MCPS guidelines. They just happen to use Blair’s building for practice. The coach is not a MCPS employee.

Also, there are times that immediate contact is needed. When my kid was a captain on a sports team, the team all had each others numbers, and the captains had contact info for the coaches. This was MCPS sport. There were times that that kind of immediate connection was needed. While, I don't think students should all have open access to a coach's personal phone, there should be someone team leadership who can reach the coach if needed.

Anonymous wrote:It's strange they severed their affiliation with the whole team rather than announcing a suspension of a coach or specific official(s) or rower(s). I have a hard time thinking of what would warrant such a reaction and also the involvement of authorities.

I hope the kids can find another way to stay in the sport. Agree it is a really nice group that is highly respected at the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.

Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.

Anonymous wrote:Blair Crew doesn't even operate over the summer. Where could this be coming from?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grandson is on the blair crew team he said many kids on the team would text the coach on his personal number regularly.

Why aren’t all athletes told this specific type of conduct by a coach violates the MCPS Code of Conduct? With all the criminal child abuse cases with MCPS staff including coaches, why aren’t all MCPS students taught to immediately report such conduct?

The thing is Crew is not a MCPS sport meaning they don’t have to follow any MCPS guidelines. They just happen to use Blair’s building for practice. The coach is not a MCPS employee.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.

Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.

+1 is it better to not announce that Crew isn’t happening at Blair and send a letter later?

Crew team and parents should have been contacted first. Any investigation is now compromised.

How is it compromised? Based on the email the authorities are investigating. I would assume they along with MCPS lawyers provided guidance on how to proceed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.

Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.

+1 is it better to not announce that Crew isn’t happening at Blair and send a letter later?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.

Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.

+1 is it better to not announce that Crew isn’t happening at Blair and send a letter later?

Crew team and parents should have been contacted first. Any investigation is now compromised.

How is it compromised? Based on the email the authorities are investigating. I would assume they along with MCPS lawyers provided guidance on how to proceed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.

Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.

+1 is it better to not announce that Crew isn’t happening at Blair and send a letter later?

Crew team and parents should have been contacted first. Any investigation is now compromised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.

Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.

+1 is it better to not announce that Crew isn’t happening at Blair and send a letter later?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.

Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.