“The school will continue its supervisory approaches into the playoffs and we hope to see both new fans and the die-hards in the stands. The administration will also bring a breathalyzer to the games and privately screen any students suspected of being under the influence (hopefully, we won't have to administer the test),” Richards wrote.
The principal also cited a state high school rule that bans face painting and other behavior at games. "The MIAA does not permit face painting, signs, noise makers, hat throwing, bare midriffs, and other behaviors or items that may distract the players or referees,'' Richards wrote.
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Pseudo-authority figures like teachers and local education administrators have no idea what to do with kids, so they come up with rules to suppress behaviors - like no face-painting, and violating Constitutional rights by bringing Breathalyzer machines to games.
The fact is, face-painting and a few drunk teenagers at a hockey game are not big problems that need to be solved by school administrators. They worry because they hear about and know what kids are doing on their spare time away from school, and most of them know the parents don't really care all that much or aren't aware of the major issues facing their kids. Then there's always teachers and principals who simply feel the need to flex authoritative muscle for the sake of it - passive-aggressive bullies who like to feel important. What can a school administrator do except token gestures like this, which only make the students resent all authority?
The focus needs to be on increasing standards within the institution, coming up with better ways to facilitate education, and not pandering to bratty children and their parents. Anything else is window dressing, and in cases like this, are elements of a child's life in which educators have no business.
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