<p>There's been discussion of hazing for frat rush here, but I came across this website and was horrified. Some of the incidents are mild (dipping hands in green paint, etc.), but many of these incidents are awful. Call me naive, but I had no idea stuff like this was so widespread at the middle/high school level.</p>
<p><a href="http://hazing.hanknuwer.com/hs2.html%5B/url%5D">http://hazing.hanknuwer.com/hs2.html</a></p>
<p>Notice how many are related to organized sports. It is a sickness in our culture. Although I see one or two that say "band" or "choral group" the overwhelming majority connect to sports, or are charted as a class offense but are connected somehow to sports.
I think that the tone is set when we say anything in the direction of physical pranks on others' bodies is okay..and kids take that as winking, a sanction, then go further afield.
My kids found they had to choose, in h.s., between pursuing their talents in athletics vs. performing arts, because of after-school practice schedules. They chose performance and I've never been sorry. I endure raised eyebrows and inquiry if my son is gay because he majored in Theater/Dance at college. But you don't hear about hazing relative to theater, orchestra, or art.
Too much admiration for one form of talent, in my opinion. It's a money thing and leads to a sense of entitlement for the powerhouse athletes. Do you see the lead conductor waltzing around school as if he owns it, like the quarterback?
I'm sure there are great kids out there in sports, but it's really worth thinking about. I'm not in sports, obviously, but for those who are, I'd be horrified at this article.</p>