I have never written a letter to the editor before because nothing has gotten my Irish up as your front page article about the situation with the Dickinson High School girl’s basketball team. I have no idea who was involved or what they did.
I have no interest in knowing because it is none of my business nor the business of anyone other than the girls, their parents and the high school athletic director.
In case anyone has not had any contact with adolescents, they make mistakes. As parents we hope to help them learn from them and we do whatever we can to make sure they don’t repeat them. We consequence, we lecture, we cry and we get them help if they need it. We also protect them from public scrutiny. That is why juvenile court records are not made public. The court system has the wisdom to know that public scrutiny can be more damaging than any consequences the court could impose.
As a society we protect and support our children. It is a real change to see that you are lowering your standards and printing damaging articles like this one in our paper. There is nothing to be gained by involving the community in a family and school matter. Let those whose responsibility it is to deal with these matters do so.
We are not defined by our mistakes and I hope you and the rest of the community can show some grace and good will to these young women. Who without this slip in judgment we felt were some of our finest. They still are. They and their families need to move on and so do we as a community. I wish them well.
We have all made mistakes. That is how we learn and grow as individuals. Research has shown that the adolescent brain isn’t fully developed until age 23. Therefore, our youth need our love and support and guidance through this learning process.
Joan Allen, Dickinson
Tags: joan allen, dickinson high school, opinion, letters
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