Favoritism becoming a problem at high school

To The Eagle:

The favoritism shown to some students or sports in the school setting is a real problem students are facing today.

We, as a community, need to come together to find a way to make sure the young people of today and tomorrow are all treated equally in the classroom and in extracurricular activities so as not to alienate them.

An example of our school's favoritism toward some students is where two students at Wahkiakum High, a boy and a girl, were voted class clowns and were in the male washroom with three other girls to take photos for the year book when a staff member walked in. He found them posing at the urinals for a picture but only the male nominee and the three girls taking the photo got in trouble for being there, while the female nominee got off with no punishment at all.

Although this is terribly upsetting to some students, it is not exactly uncommon and not just happening with academics but in our athletic programs as well. Teen athletes in the main sports like football and basketball have been known to play in games that they should be ineligible to participate in because of falling grades. Some coaches have even gone to school boards to have the policy on grades and sports participation waived for certain teens just because those teens are star athletes, while other students can't play. Is this really fair? I mean, if they're going to waive the policy for some, why not all?

Maria L. Gonzalez-Rogers

Cathlamet