<p>I agree about not jumping to conclusions.</p>
<p>The original post and the little information that was initially released in the press seemed to imply a loose connection. It was acknowledged that the safety dance occurred a week earlier and was, therefore, not a direct cause. </p>
<p>The snippets of biographical information that are being reported and the comments by his peers seem to be at odds with the notion of a kid who was out of control. Though from this alone no one can really tell what the reality of the situation is. </p>
<p>The fact remains that a bright light has gone out and that he was someone’s child. It’s a tragedy no matter the cause–even if his behavior led to his death.</p>
<p>The discussion about alcohol policies is a natural progression and a valid one since this tendency toward excess exists everywhere to some extent, but I still don’t believe it’s the “norm” and that most kids conduct themselves that way regularly. </p>
<p>It is unfortunate that intelligence doesn’t preclude one from behaving stupidly. </p>
<p>Just last week, my D was in a car with some upperclasswomen/men on the way to a volunteer event when the conversation turned to the celebration of one young woman’s upcoming 21st birthday. She seemed excited and announced that she was going to go out and get “trashed” at a club --“woo hoo,” as the kids say. She asked others what they might want to do to celebrate their turning 21. The response was generally similar–some had loftier goals–like getting trashed someplace exotic rather than the local bar. When they asked my D (a soph) what she would do–she hesitated–and said she had no idea. She asked in return why they were so interested in going out to get drunk legally if they had been getting drunk all along. She didn’t see any difference. She said it didn’t seem all that special to celebrate a milestone by doing something you already do. The others had no responses. They couldn’t think of a single good reason for going out to get drunk on their birthdays. I guess this shows that when kids engage in this kind of behavior they don’t have any reason and they don’t really think about it either.</p>
<p>Certainly, I think schools have a responsibility to protect kids from themselves to the degree that they can. I think most would agree that a wink and a nod is not the way to handle this problem.</p>