Hockey game conduct brings down school

December 10, 2009 • written by JI student editorial  
Filed under Editorials, Opinion, Uncategorized

There is a deafening silence coming from the administration regarding the behavior at KHS hockey games. Students act ridiculous and the administration is accepting the awful behavior. The players are dressed in red and white with Kirkwood across their chests and represent KHS. It is not okay to have that sort of conduct tolerated.

Kirkwood hockey is a club sport, meaning the administration does not have the legal authority to get involved with students conduct at the games. This does not mean, however, the administration should turn their backs and have Kirkwood represented in such a bad way.

The lack of consistency coming from the administration is appalling. They acknowledge this student group, allowing players to appear on the KHS announcements, giving them the platform to promote upcoming games and talk about wins. The administration wants to recognize the players, though they have drawn the line at weighing in on, much less dealing with behavior at games.

Shout’s at games include: “Hail Kirkwood, Hail Kirkwood, Hail Kirkwood, Hail (opposing team), H@*! no!” “Quack me off!” and “Goalie, Goalie, Goalie, you suck!” If the cheers shouted are not bad enough, the vulgar language is some that most kids would dare not say in their own house.

While KHS students shout their enthusiasm, all everyone hears are vulgar cheers that bash the opposing team. On the ice sportsmanship prevails, but in the bleachers sportsmanship does not exist.

In fact, the inappropriate behavior begins prior to the game for some fans as they get high and drunk then go to the game, according to one varsity hockey player.

At the games, as the time is ticking on the scoreboard, students count down, not to the last second, but to 4 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock, this otherwise known as National Smokers’ Day, or April 20 (4/20).

The issue of hockey game conduct has been a problem for more than eight years now, according to one hockey parent. Everyone always talks about how bad it is, but no one has ever done anything about it.

Hockey fans’ behavior should be upheld to the same standards as KHS students. They represent the school, and should have the same rules and standards as a school sponsored sport would have.

And the administration agrees. More than one administrator said the behavior should not be tolerated club sport or not.

And when bearing the colors of Kirkwood, whoever you are, you should fall under the same rules as the administration.

The administration needs to step up and take action. If the administrators cannot enforce standards, a police officer needs to supervise the games. At school, a word needs to be said about the poor conduct at the games. Discussion among the students and the administration should be started. The administration needs to find the line that does not involve leaving a handful of kids cheering for things kids should not really be cheering about.