I am writing in response to the article about Amy Musselman, the Provo High School student who was not allowed to be cheerleader because of 13 unexcused absences. The school policy states that students with more than one unexcused absence and three unexcused tardies cannot run for cheerleader. Miss Musselman's father, an attorney, is filing a lawsuit to allow her to be cheerleader.
Mr. Musselman is doing both the school and his daughter a great disservice. One of the greatest problems with public education is discipline. Trying to enforce the rules to make our schools safe places of learning is difficult enough, but when parents undermine the efforts of the schools, it becomes nearly impossible. Frequently the parents who complain the most about the lack of discipline in the schools are the first to defend their own children's infractions of those rules.In addition, Mr. Musselman is denying his daughter the experience of the consequences. Perhaps she has already learned that the rules apply to other persons than herself. This is the lesson she will surely learn if her father wins his lawsuit.
Kim Stucki
Salt Lake City