Without prefacing this with too much information, I ask a simple question: How would you feel if this story was reported on regional news about about a coach and educator from your area charged with a DWI? http://www2.wsls.com/news/2012/feb/...w.facebook.com/&shorturl=http://bit.ly/xGtQCH
I think a coach/teacher being convicted on a DWI charge with a .09 blood alcohol (VA's limit is .08) is a very minor story and should not have been broadcast over the regional news. Now if the coach/teacher hurt someone or were driving like a crazed lunatic/resisted arrest then I say go ahead, put it on the news. Let the guy do his court ordered ASAP program, pay the thousands of dollars of court costs off, hold his head low in ridicule amongst his peers/students, and be done with it.
I detest drinking and driving. He broke the law and is being punished by the law. That is where it should stop. If an electrician was convicted of the same charges should he be made to stop being an electrician?
I don't think this DUI is a major story. You want to see a major story regarding educator? Check this out. http://m.jsonline.com/newswatch/138301964.htm http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/ar...o-principal-football-coach-appear-court-today It's basically turned into a principal and head football coach running a drug ring. Multiple teachers and even different school districts are now being linked
I agree with Bruce, but we have placed a moral code to both being a teacher and drinking and driving. If the electrician gets caught, he loses his license to drive and may loose his job since he can't drive a companies truck. The teacher will loose his job because of the morality issue. Slippery slope if oyu ask me.
I figured you guys would be much harder on the situation than this! Y'all let me down. Reason I ask is that the coach is from my area and he was actually my high school coach. Never thought much of the guy, but everyone from around the area is up in arms claiming the news station is "out to get the good people of the Alleghany Highlands!" (what the area is referred to), that he "made a mistake just like everyone else!" and "appalled by the scandalous and classless reporting done by the news station!" and my favorite, "He's a teacher and a coach, he does more good than bad!" I didn't think the news station was out of line. He is a public figure who mentors, teaches and coaches the areas youth and, like the article says, is the driver's ed teacher. A person of his standing shouldn't place themselves in such situations, should be held accountable and his case made public.
I'm going out on a limb here but it depends. One thing that I feel is completely being lost in the fight against DD is there is a difference between a guy who goes to a party has three glasses of wine or beer, is driving fine, gets pulled over because of a burndt out tail light and he blows a 0.09 BAC comparing that to a guy that was drinking all night and is driving home swerving all over the road and has a 0.20+ BAC. But they are treated the same in our society and court system. The both are simply labeled as drunk driving. That is not right IMO. I shake my head every time a group like MADD wants to lower the acceptable BAC level. To me that is not where the real fight is. The real fight is getting the guy that is blasted freaking drunk and actually holding him to the fire when he gets caught at a high level of drunk behind the wheel.
