It Ain't Rockets (or, Living In An Age Where Common-Sense Is Cutting-Edge)

Here's the gist of it: Some cheerleaders make trouble over a period of time. Some of it more mild than others--according to published reports, anyway. Everything from text messaging in class to photos in their uniforms in condom stores posted on web pages. The requisite drinking stories are included, too. It's all pretty seedy and lurid, hence coverage in newspapers and leading our nightly news. Boys die in Iraq, atrocities in Darfur, etc., aren't sexy enough, I don't guess. Or worse, we're getting what we want.

Anyway, one of the cheerleaders' mom happens to be the principal of the high school. The accusation is that she swept a lot under the rug. The requisite resignations from sponsors/teachers ensue. The requisite responses from administrators ensue, too.

The requisite third-party investigator is called in. Video of the investigator carrying results of said investigation leads the nightly news. Results of "sealed" investigation results are somehow leaked to the paper.

Here are some quotes, under the main headline (above the fold, people): "McKinney North Cheerleader Report. Breakdown was a team effort."

Sub-headline: "Give us some willfull teens; give us some enabling adults--what do you get? A mess."

Yes, there's sensationalism on our front page. They've latched onto nicknaming the girls "The Fab Five" and painted the picture that they could get away with "low cut tops" and how they were "ultra cool" and thought they were "bullet proof." Please spare us in your next articles, DMN.

However, there's some real gold in the investigator's report (authored by lawyer Harry Jones) that all parents should sit up and take notice:

"Kids will be kids. But adults have to be adults. Sadly, in this saga, I was struck by the reticence of many adults to accept the role of 'being a grown-up.'"

The Dallas Morning News reports, "His report also points to parents who attacked each other by e-mail, obsessed about 'image' rather than 'substance' and lobbied for their children out of a shrewd self-interest rather than a desire to send a message about good behavior."

In supporting the reason why four cheerleading sponsors had left that position between the starting season in 1999 and 2005: "The general consensus is that these girls have not been punished properly since seventh grade." The requiste salvos about how one sponsor was on meds or flirty or otherwise inappropriate are then fired off.

All sorts of incidents were detailed, from telling a teacher to shut up and saying "good luck with that" when threatened with expulsion for behavior to showing up drunk at prom--and police, parents and administrators have varying responses, which all sound like buck-passing or tied-hands or ignorance (willful or otherwise).

And the investigator sums up his statements: "I felt like the kids were amazed at the adults' lack of willpower and discipline."

The article is all pretty one-sided since it comes from the investigators perspective. The principal and adminstrator are all on paid leave until this gets sorted out. I'm sure we'll hear more in days to come.

But the lawyer got paid $39,000 to independently investigate.

And it sounds to me that the folks in the town of McKinney (about 30 minutes north of Dallas) paid $39,000 to get reminded about common sense parenting.