Former Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Eliot Abrams thinks the high school’s new code of conduct-extending to students involved in certain extracurricular activities-is a good idea.
OPRF has revised its student activity policy, placing some extracurriculars under the same behavioral code as athletes. There are more than 60 extracurricular activities and clubs at the high school, some involving competitions or performances. The new policy lists 21 such activities, for instance Spoken Word poetry and jazz bands.
Disciplinary consequences can include suspension from some of the activity’s competitions. The new policy could go into effect this fall if approved by the District 200 Board of Education next month.
Prior to the revision, only student athletes were suspended if caught drinking, smoking or taking drugs, or at a party where drugs or alcohol are present, even if they aren’t using them.
Abrams, who graduated this June, was involved in several activities at OPRF, including Spoken Word and the Debate Team. He says it makes sense to have the same standards for non-athletes representing the high school.
“It’s the same logic. It you’re in violation, there will be repercussions that will affect you.”
Abrams noted students need to be more mindful of their behavior, and the new policy should help accomplish that. The OPRF grad also thinks the policy should apply only to students participating in competitive rather than social clubs.
“A lot of students get involved in [social] clubs because of the interaction they have with other students,” said Abrams, who also participated in math and chess clubs.
The most severe consequence under the policy-for a third offense-is being prevented from participating in the activity for the rest of their high school career. Abrams thinks that’s too harsh.
John Stelzer, OPRF’s athletic director, said the policy is pretty clear on drinking and drug infractions, but a first-time violator doesn’t necessarily have to face a consequence if it involves lesser infractions.
Stelzer said he and a coach would typically bring a student in to talk about their behavior and expectations of the high school. A parent might also be involved in the discussion. The idea, he added, is to improve the student’s behavior, not just disciplining them.
Decisions are at the discretion of Stelzer, with respect to sports, or the assistant principal for student activities on whether the student will be suspended from the activity.
He said that’s been the case under the athletic code of conduct, though discipline deans have sometimes been involved. Infractions taking place inside the school building is brought to the deans’ attention and if it involves an athlete, is also brought to Stelzer. If infractions happen outside the building, such as at a house party, the police may be involved, and it would then go directly to Stelzer.
Administration wants the new policy implemented this fall, but Stelzer stressed the school didn’t rush to change it this summer. The high school explored revising the policy this past spring, drafting a tentative revision at that time.
“Administration felt that if we were going to do this, then let’s do it,” Stelzer said. “Something like this, if you’re going to implement it, you need to do it at the beginning of the school year. You don’t want to wait a whole year to do that.”
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