Girls play game of strip volleyball

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | 7 November 2001 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

[Fintan]

FORT WORTH, Texas - Girl volleyball players at a Fort Worth middle school were asked by their coaches to play a game of "strip serve" volleyball, which school administrators criticized as inappropriate after some parents complained.

During the drill, held Sept. 21 at the Gene Pike Middle School gym, two girls took their shirts off and one girl may have taken off her shorts, district officials said.

Three female coaches supervised the 22 eighth-graders while they played the game, which required that team members take off shoes, socks, kneepads or hair accessories if a player missed a serve. After a few girls took it upon themselves to undress further, the drill was immediately stopped, administrators said.

The drill should have never been conducted, Northwest Independent School District Superintendent Keith Sockwell said on Monday.

"I thought it was the most stupid thing I ever heard. You just don't do things like that," he said.

An investigation began after several parents complained about the activity. Statements were taken from the players and the coaches, officials said.

The girls' written statements indicated that, for the most part, they were not upset about the game, Pike Principal Kyle Copp said. The coaches were "remorseful," he said.

The three coaches, whom the district declined to name, are still employed, Deputy Superintendent Ron Hibbs said. Some parents said that even though the coaches apologized to the players, they should have been punished.

"It's an appalling story," said the mother of a Pike volleyball player, who asked that her name not be used. "They got no reprimand for this that the kids could see. Nobody sees that there's consequences to bad choices."

Said another: "I think it was an error in judgment, and that's all it was - plain and simple."

[Cyber Liberty]

Mea Culpa, TG. You're got FReepmail....

[Slip18]

"Just because girls dress like sluts nowadays doesn't mean men's attitudes have to be led mindessly along the same trail."

Apparently, you've been looking!

[Cyber Liberty]

Can't do anything right. #161 was for you, not myself. DUH.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Legally yes, but it's not good to ogle women of any age. You may think it makes you feel virile but it's not healthy to allow yourself to indulge your eyes.

Why in the world is looking at a beautiful woman NOT healthful?

Looking at a good-looking woman gets your heart pumping: good for the cardiovascular system. Looking at a good-looking woman puts a spring in your step: good for muscles and body tone. Looking at a good-looking woman makes you smile: good for peace of mind.

[Freemyland]

But your criticism of Cyber is not for supposedly wanting to see photos of children, but in wanting to see photos of women at all. You and Cyber can argue about that.

My real problem is the folks who still insist that Cyber truly wanted to see pictures of children, even though he explained that he posted his comment before he had read the article. He subsequently stated that when he found out, he asked that his comment be removed. That should have settled the issue of any accusation that Cyber truly wanted to see children.

[lepton]

Lepton, read the first sentence again of the article. The girls did not do these things on their own. "Girl volleyball players at a Fort Worth middle school were asked by their coaches to play a game of "strip serve" volleyball, "

I read it. I also read how it was defined, and note that the name given is not firmly attached to a namer.

This was foolish, may have been a safety issue, and should be looked at to see what exactly it actually is. It is not, within what is in the article, clearly criminal or even sexually related.

Maybe my being a bit of a prude makes me obtuse, but here my utter lack of interest in 13 year old girls might give cause for me to be called a pervert. Kind of ironic, eh?

[Cyber Liberty]

There was a thread up a number of months ago about a European (figures!) study that proved exactly that: Ogling is good for men.

[ericthecurdog]

OK, I'll be the male pig that I am and take the bait. I would LOVE to see a game of strip volley ball with Britney Spears, Jessica Alba, Cristina Aguilera, Shakira and Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton? Are you out of your mind?

Put down the crack pipe and slowly back away.

[Teacher317]

The gear they wear is for their own protection, and every coach knows this. There is no good reason for removing any it during practice.

You've hit another homer with that point. Again, I think the coaches were wrong. However, I'd prefer to stop short of firing them until improper intent is proven... my beloved fellow FReepers are about 90% of the way there with just the circumstantial evidence, though! =^)

[Slip18]

"My real problem is the folks who still insist that Cyber truly wanted to see pictures of children, even though he explained that he posted his comment before he had read the article."

Exactly, Freemyland.

I am never a first poster. I never know if someone is being humorous or not.

I know my husband. He does not and never has ogled at children. I resent that some of these people in here are insinuating that he does. Shame on them. They just want a chance to flame Cyber.

[Terriergal]

If it's not your wife, it's not good.

[Slip18]

"Looking at a good-looking woman gets your heart pumping: good for the cardiovascular system. Looking at a good-looking woman puts a spring in your step: good for muscles and body tone. Looking at a good-looking woman makes you smile: good for peace of mind."

Three great reasons why I keep myself in shape!

[L.N. Smithee]

Here is the Northwest Independent School District's official policy regarding Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse of students:

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SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS
Sexual harassment of students includes such activities as engaging in sexually oriented conversations for purposes of personal sexual gratification, telephoning students at home or elsewhere to solicit inappropriate social relationships, physical contact that would reasonably be construed as sexual in nature, and enticing or threatening students to engage in sexual behavior in exchange for grades or other school-related benefit. 20 U.S.C. 1681(a); Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public School, 112 S. Ct. 1028 (1992) [See also DHC(LOCAL)]

A District official who has authority to take corrective action on the District's behalf and who has actual notice of teacher-student sexual harassment or abuse shall take corrective measures to address the harassment or abuse. Gebser v. Lago Vista ISD, 118 S.Ct. 1989 (1998)

SEXUAL ABUSE OF STUDENTS
Sexual abuse of a student by an employee, when there is a connection between the physical sexual activity and the employee's duties and obligations as a District employee, violates a student's constitutional right to bodily integrity. Sexual abuse may include, but is not limited to, fondling, sexual assault, or sexual intercourse. U.S. Const. Amend. 14; Doe v. Taylor ISD, 15 F.3d 443 (5th Cir. 1994)

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[Sabertooth]

"my beloved fellow FReepers are about 90% of the way there with just the circumstantial evidence, though!"

Speaking of 90% of the way...

Since this isn't, as stated, a criminal case, we don't need "proof beyond a reasonable doubt." A "preponderance of evidence" will do.

I think 90% is preponderance enough...

Burn 'em.

[Terriergal]

even though he explained that he posted his comment before he had read the article

Yep, we got that straight finally. I posted my "very crude" assessment of post #2 probably right around the same time he posted his clarification. Bad timing for both of us.

He did write me a very sweet explanatory note though that brought tears to my eyes. (yeah yeah, typical female -- where's the kleenex!) What a guy.

[Terriergal]

Yeah.... along with the study about "fathers being unnecessary."

[Hemingway's Ghost]

If it's not your wife, it's not good.

What if a person's not married? May that person look at others of the opposite sex?

[Freemyland]

It's nice to see the family back together again. :-)

[jeremiah]

Your points are well taken, when the girls started taking off shirts or shorts, they were told to stop. It probably seemed like a way to encourage these girls to apply themselves to learning how to serve, and supplied some laughs. It seemed like an innocent gag, people need to lighten up a little.