On Keeping Your Word

Eden Prairie high school students were suspended after pictures of their involvement in a party with alcohol showed up on Facebook. There are many ethics issues to examine here, but one that hasn't been talked about too much is the ethics of keeping one's word.

Reportedly, students involved in athletics and other special activities signed a contract agreeing to no involvement with drugs or alcohol. They violated their agreement. All the protests of being treated unfairly, being spied upon, being unjustly accused because their cups may not have contained alcohol - all that is irrelevant to the fact that they violated their agreement.

One of the protesting Eden Prairie students interviewed said she was trying to show that the school couldn't control them, but that really isn't the point, is it? If she truly believes agreeing to no alcohol or drug involvement is a control measure, then don't sign the agreement. Have the strength to stand up for your convictions and pay the cost. Ethics is not about what you can get away with, it is about holding and acting on deeply held beliefs. It takes courage and it often carries a cost.

If students want to drink or take drugs or hang around with those who do, then make a choice NOT to be involved in the activities like sports that specifically forbid it. If you don't believe that's fair, stand up and protest that - not that you got caught violating your promise.