One of the first qualifications for teaching or coaching children should be that you have a higher level of maturity than those you would lead. Unfortunately, at Pleasantville Middle School in Pleasantville, NJ, no such standards applied at the time these idiots were hired:

The 13-year-old boy's coach called him just before last month's team banquet and told him to make sure he attended because he was getting a special trophy, the boy's father said.

At the event, the boy watched as all of his Pleasantville Middle School teammates received trophies or certificates.

He was then called up to receive his award, and a coach told the crowd that the boy was being honored because "he begged to get in the game, and all he did was whine."

The trophy had a silver figure of a baby atop a pedestal engraved with the boy's name, which was spelled incorrectly. Family members said the teen — an honor roll student — was so embarrassed that he stayed home from school on the following Monday.

Fox News failed to name any of the coaches involved, which is unfortunate indeed, because parents in the ironically-named Pleasantville have the right to know who these cruel and heartless morons are. This was no off-the-cuff remark or a butt-chewing in the heat of competition, which would be understandable, perhaps even motivational, although I would argue that approach with thirteen-year-olds. Buying a "trophy" of a crying baby demonstrates well-planned hostility and contempt, and presenting it without warning in front of an audience of parents and fellow students is nothing less than sadistic.

The school principal stated that he would recommend "some kind of punishment," but if I were a parent at his school, I would attend tonight's school board meeting and insist on termination. People that mean-spirited should not be allowed to work with children in the future. In fact, parents should insist on transfers for their children if they wind up under their supervision. Hopefully, parents who attend this meeting will spread the names of these coaches around the community, and wider, to ensure that they do not have an opportunity to indulge their antisocial behavior in the future.

UPDATE AND BUMP 5/6: According to CNN, the school board voted to terminate the coach, but the superintendant wants them to reconsider:

A middle school basketball coach who presented a "Crybaby Award" trophy to a 13-year-old player has been fired from his coaching job, and the board of education wants him out entirely, officials said Wednesday.

James Guillen, 24, must make a public apology, attend sensitivity training and hold a second banquet to give out a proper award, School Superintendent Edwin Coyle said. But he said he opposed firing him as a teacher.

Perhaps the school board should also consider Coyle's employment status if he thinks that someone like Guillen should be allowed to work with students in the future.

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» this pisses me off! from Auterrific
This has been bothering me since last night. By now, you might have heard about the coach in Pleasantville, NJ who, at an end of the season banquet, presented one of the players with a “trophy” of a baby. His... [Read More]

Tracked on May 7, 2004 6:56 AM