Charlotte Lizon is an Olentangy parent who lives in Lewis Center.
A system’s espoused values are most tested, and most apparent, in times of crisis.
This is the case with Olentangy Local Schools.
The Dispatch reported
on the alleged hazing activities of OlentangyOrange High School’s girls soccer team, where an initiation ritual had younger teammates restrained, blindfolded, and force-fed as part of a preseason activity known as “the kidnapping.”The district has a strong reputation.
My decision to purchase my Lewis Center home in 2020 was largely driven by the school district.
Olentangy is known for academic and athletic excellence. As a new, first-time mom, the prospect of sending my daughter to one of thehighest-rated districts in the state was
a source of great pride.
My personal experience has since been concentrated at Oak Creek Elementary School,but my involvement with the parent-teacher organization and various extracurricular communities has only corroborated my view of this district as warm, accepting, and supportive.
What hasn't happened with the Olentangy hazing case makes the difference
Sources claim the hazing alleged in the Dispatch's reports is part of a long-standing “tradition” rather than an isolated event, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Thus far, action has appeared slow, inadequate, and vague.
Even with video evidence of the assaults, the Delaware County Sheriff's Office has filed no criminal charges.
The district’s response was that it "investigated under its policies, assigned consequences, addressed the staff, and began leadership-development and restorative work" with the athletes.
Laws regarding student privacy appropriately limit what can be shared publicly in relation to individual students’ discipline. But disclosing information on what has been learned, and what will follow institutionally, does not require releasing a single name.
What happens next is important, and everyone involved will learn something. The children of this district do not only receive education in classrooms, but also through witnessed behavior that contributes to lifelong consequences. Teenagers are of an especially susceptible age, where their maturity level is ripe for learning comprehension of complex subjects like power dynamics, personal identity, bodily autonomy, and social norms and consequences.
To be clear, I am unqualified to offer specific suggestions on remediation
There must be consequences and lessons learned
Details are still emerging, and additional action may be taken with greater transparency. But ideally, subsequent actions would teach lessons aligned with this district’s values. Lessons that teach young people what trusted adults tolerate and confront, and how they respond when someone is hurt.
My hope is that the young girls harmed will learn their boundaries and voices matter, and that their dignity is important and deserves respect.
The girls who allegedly inflicted harm or otherwise participated will know that the humiliation of others comes with consequences. Not necessarily ones that wholly destroy futures, but ramifications that adequately prepare them for those futures, where ownership of our actions creates better societies.
And anyone else, bystanders or kids who later enter these sports programs, would know that silence is not a requirement for loyalty to a group. Fighting the harm of others is brave. And in this community, it’s expected.
At least, this district’s written priorities would have one think so.
The Olentangy Local School District has a stated commitment to students that their well-being matters.
We deserve to have our questions answered
Board President Brandon Lester has publicly described the support of mental health as a top priority, even spearheading the creation of the Well-Being and Mental Health Committee (next meeting scheduled for October 21).
Effective and caring mental health advocacy does not begin only when there are apparent signs of student struggles or traumatic experiences that have already ingrained themselves in the psyches of vulnerable children.
It means proactively shaping environments in which coercion and fear are unquestionably indefensible.
And when something goes wrong, there are swift, public, and transparent answers to questions like: What warning signs were missed? How did this persist? How do we prevent this moving forward? What activities will change? What additional training is needed? Will reporting systems be better? Will new strategies be implemented? What and when and how?
I’m sure the reader can think of a few real-world examples in recent media that showcase what happens when our young people aren’t taught to respect the mental and physical health of others.
How all of society can be affected when we don’t clearly show where the line of acceptable behavior lies.
It’s time to act on our values. Kids are watching.
Charlotte Lizon is an Olentangy parent who lives in Lewis Center.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: We deserve answers about Olentangy girls' hazing case. There must be consequences | Mom
