A System Driven By Performance

Or Complaints?

To the Editor:

The school administration once again proves that they are out of touch with reality. When Coach John Quinn’s contract wasn’t renewed because of complaints from parents over playing time, the administration’s clueless meter once again redlined.

The parents who complained to the Board of Education that Coach Quinn limited playing time for their kids were successful in two areas.

First, they tarnished the reputation of an excellent coach and a good man.

Secondly, they have clearly sent a signal to their kids that they will fight their battles for them. That is the take away for the kids in this situation.

Following that logic, if one of their kids fails the chemistry exam, what will those parents do? Ask for the chemistry teacher to be fired? Of course tenure will save the day (let’s not go down that road).

Turn the clock ahead 20 years and one of these kids doesn’t get the promotion or work assignment they so badly want. Will those parents complain to their kid’s boss? Be sure to let me know how that works out!

We all want to see our kids do well in their pursuits, but (news flash) not every kid gets a trophy. Why, because they need to earn it! Guess what parents, not every kid that steps on the a basketball court is Magic Johnson material!

If a coach isn’t giving a player time on the hardwood or field then it’s the player who needs to have a conversation with the coach, not the parent.

The superintendent was right to look into the bullying situation, but that was resolved. Yet the families went on and hit Coach Quinn with a playing time charge. And the superintendent who normally listens to nobody decided to listen to this group of parents. Her actions have sent a message to every kid in the school. Complain and get your way. Is that what we want to teach our kids?

We need to teach kids self-reliance and instill a value system based on performance not complaints.

Back to Coach Quinn; where does he go to get his good name restored? How is he to accomplish that? John Quinn deserves better, he has a great coaching record spanning 14 seasons and it got tossed aside over an issue that takes place in every high school and in every sport all the time.

RP Gottmeier

Antler Pine Road, Sandy Hook                             June 16, 2012