Where is the leadership? Where and when have those in leadership positions stood up and held themselves accountable when things go bad in this country.
Some recent examples of abdication of leadership:
The role of the Federal Reserve and government policy in the housing/credit crisis.
Owners and the Players Union culpability in the PED issue.
The role of government policy and ties to Big Pharma in the growth of the PED issue.
Indiana's administration during the Kelvin Sampson controversy.
Here is a local example from Illinois, the implementation of drug testing for student-athletes, that shows pretty clearly, step by step, how the so-called leaders are willing to pass off responsibility, accountability and the imposition of penalties and sanctions down the line and do not accept PERSONAL responsibility or accountability. Although they do expect that from others. What is it they say? If you can't walk the walk, don't talk the talk.
In this case specifically, and the others I mentioned previously, is an illustration of the antithesis of true leadership, as I understand the definition. And then we wonder why some these situations develop and then fail to get resolved. It's a lack of leadership and a failure of leadership in most cases.
I've inserted my notes after the questions and responses.
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http://www.ihsa.org/announce/2007-08/2008-01-15.htm
IHSA Announcements
January 15, 2008
Tabulated Results of Survey on Performance-Enhancing Drugs, Classification, and Tournament Structure
On December 11, 2007, IHSA member schools were asked to respond to a survey dealing with performance-enhancing drugs, classification, and tournament structure. One survey was allotted to each school, to be filled out by its official IHSA representative, which in most cases is the principal or athletic director. The deadline for submitting the survey was January 13, 2008.
In all, 414 of 765 member schools (54%) responded to the survey.
Members Responding
765 414 (54%)
The Slav: This speaks volumes right off the bat. Only 54% response rate for an issue of such significance and importance.
Following are the survey questions and tabulated responses.
1. Do you favor the IHSA implementing a performance-enhancing drug testing program? (If the answer was no, respondents were asked to skip to question 6.)
Yes No
294 (72%) 117 (28%)
The Slav: Pretty good so far. First step, identify that there is a problem. Still have to wonder about the other 46% schools.
2. Do you favor the drug testing program described at the Principals' Rules Meetings?
Yes No
252 (87%) 37 (13%)
The Slav: OK second step, propose a solution. And note the 87-13% landslide.
3. Do you favor ineligibility for a student-athlete who tests positive for a banned substance on an IHSA administered drug test?
Yes No
284 (97%) 8 (3%)
The Slav: OK, so once we have testing it's 97-3% for punishing the kid who tests positive.
4. Do you favor the consequence for a school that would require the school to submit an education plan in the event one of its students tests positive for a banned substance on an IHSA administered drug test? The plan would address the harms associated with anabolic steroids and other performance enhancers and implementation would be required before the school is allowed to participate in IHSA state series competitions.
Yes No
168 (57%) 125 (43%)
The Slav: OK, here is where we start to slide a little bit. It's 97-3% to punish the kid, but here we start to look at the school's responsibility to the kid. And all it seems like we're asking for here is for them to do what theoretically they've been doing all along, which is educate the kids. EDUCATE THE KIDS!!! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS HERE!!! AND ASKING THEM TO EDUCATE THE KIDS, AND THEY WANT TO ABIDCATE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE???? ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME??? OH BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.
5. Do you favor an additional consequence for a school that would require it to forfeit any post-season award won by its team that had a student who tested positive for a banned substance on an IHSA administered drug test?
Yes No
116 (40%) 175 (60%)
The Slav: Oh no way. Ask Coach Trophycollector to give up his goodies? No Way. There is no possibility that either the school or the coach that benefits from it's reputation as a football power should be held accountable. They certainly have no responsibility and shouldn't be held accountable for setting up and reinforcing the "culture" that puts KIDS in the position of having to make the choices that they do, now should they?
So to review:
We went from 97-3% for punishing the kids.
To 57-43% for just asking the schools to do what they've been doing all along, just maybe do it a little better since it seems like you may have failed a bit here, what with this positive test and all.
To 40-60% against holding the team, the coach, and the school (ie: leadership) accountable.
And we call this leadership. AMAZING.
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The other questions are entirely unrelated to the issue so I left them out, but in my opinion, it is morally wrong for the schools and the so-called leaders of young men and women to take this position. I do not understand how they can look these kids in the face, much less expect to lead them after basically saying "Kids, if we fail in teaching you about the serious consequences of this issue, you're on your own. You'll take the hit by yourself."
What happened to the teachers refrain of "If you fail, I fail"?
What happened to the concept of team?
If one of us goes down, we all go down.
We preach that to teams all the time as coaches. I know in speaking about this issue with my wife, whose opinion I respect greatly, she did not feel that you can punish the entire team for the actions of one person. But in reality, in a team setting, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
And I think most who participate in team sports, understand and appreciate the concept.
And I'm not sure if that actually where the environment in practice, instead of just in words, that perhaps the climate and the culture would change.
Because if a kid is doing something like this on a football team for example, generally speaking I think its fair to say that someone else on the team knows about it.
If the punitive setting were such that the TEAM, the ENTIRE TEAM would suffer the consequences, then the WALL OF SILENCE COMES DOWN, THE ENTIRE CULTURE changes. Coaches would have to ensure that they are not spewing mere words and that their actions are sending an entirely different message to these kids.
And then we have a real chance of beating down the numbers of kids who are tempted to use PED's. You have to attack the entire culture and EVERYBODY has to be one board, willing to take on the responsibility. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE KIDS ARE INVOLVED.
Do these so-called leaders think that kids are stupid and don't understand what's going on here?
SHAME ON THESE SCHOOLS (THE SHAMEFUL 60%) THAT ARE SELECTIVELY IN FAVOR OF THE CONCEPT OF ACTING AS PARENTS WHILE OUR KIDS ARE IN THEIR CARE, BUT CHOOSE TO ABDICATE THE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT SERVES THEIR OWN INTEREST.
THAT'S NOT HOW A RESPONSIBLE PARENT WOULD ACT WHEN THEIR CHILD'S HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY ARE AT STAKE. I APPLAUD THE 40% WHO SEEM TO HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE.
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