I need opinions

[MickeyAnne]

I'm mentally exhausted and feel like i am in between a rock and a hard place.

I am a cheerleading coach and have been for many years now. This week I have held try outs for the 2006 season. I have 65 girls trying out for 3 squads.
On Wednesday, one of my would be fourth year seniors, got suspended for fighting in school (in self defense) and is not permitted to attend the three day try out process.
Without giving you much background - does she deserve the oppertunity to try out after her suspension (yes I would do it for any cheerleader - before you ask)

 

[diznygirl]

Can you schedule a day for make-up try-outs for next week? Then this girl, and any others who missed this week, could have another opportunity. It might prevent being seen as playing favorites or catering just to her.

Good luck.

 

[korzmom]

yes, designate a makeup date..give her a chance,especially since she is a returning cheerleader and the suspension was probably a " politically correct suspension " (zero tolerance) issues.. good luck !

 

[cotomom]

I think a makeup date and allowing others to 'use' it as well is the easiest, most politically correct thing you can do.

Good luck with your decisions you'll be undergoing shortly. That's a tough position to be in!

 

[RadioNate]

I think if you are going to allow her to try out after her suspension you need to let other girls who may have missed the try outs have another shot.

I'd schedule 2 different try out sessions, since you have 3 squads maybe schedule 2 at the original time and try outs for the squad that this girl would be on for the 2nd week.

 

[tnkbl]

I am a former cheer coach and I feel that you know the girl pretty well and if you think she should be allowed to tryout later let her. Even if the fight was not self defence, everyone makes a mistake. We live by trial and error. Give her a chance... some of the girls I took the biggest chance on were the ones who worked the hardest and did their best. Good Luck and have a safe and fun year!

Sherri

 

[kirbsam]

she misses tryouts, she doesnt make the squad. sorry, some lessons are learned the hard way. obviously, i am in the minority here. and everyone thinks she deserves a second chance, but she will get it by being allowed back in school. being a cheerleader is not a right, it is a priviledge. you are not taking away her opportunity to lead a normal life, you are taking away her cheerleading. she lost the right to be a cheerleader when she got in a fight in school.

 

[laurajetter]

she misses tryouts, she doesnt make the squad. sorry, some lessons are learned the hard way. obviously, i am in the minority here. and everyone thinks she deserves a second chance, but she will get it by being allowed back in school. being a cheerleader is not a right, it is a priviledge. you are not taking away her opportunity to lead a normal life, you are taking away her cheerleading. she lost the right to be a cheerleader when she got in a fight in school.

According to the OP she didn't just get herself into a fight, she was defending herself in a fight that brought on by someone else. What was she supposed to do, go limp and let someone else beat her up? Although it would be nice for school policies to exercise judgement in certain cases like this one, I do understand that they have to go by the zero tolerance policy.

For a person that otherwise has proved themselves to be a good student and happened to decide to defend themselves in a fight, then I think it's fine to cut them some slack, and I don't believe that there are any 'lessons' that need to be taught the hard way.

OP, I think the previous posters have offered good advice for your situation, and I think it's great of you to want to do what you can to help out a person who happened to find themselves in an unfortunate circumstance.

 

[Mimi Q]

I would let her try-out. It is her senior year, and you said she acted in self-defense.