So, I was just browsing the web and I come upon an album full of pictures with about 6 girls on my cheer team doing drugs. I know what they do in their spare time is their own business but why have the picture up on the internet where anyone can see? And where a senior team, what kind of example does this set for the younger girls at our gym. I know many of the younger girl have myspaces and photobuckets so there is no telling how many of these girls have already seen these pictures. What should I do? Should I try talking to these girls and asking them to take them down? But what if that doesnt work? Should I bring it to our gym owners attention? Or should I do nothing? What do you think?
I know what they do in their spare time is their own business but why have the picture up on the internet where anyone can see? As soon as thos pictures were posted it became your business. It is a huge deal that they first of all are doing it and second of all posting it. They are certainly in the wrong. What should I do? Show the gym owner and their parents. That kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable and while i am not naive to kids doing such stupid things, it should NEVER be posted anywhere.
I also think that it makes a difference if on their myspaces as well they have the gym name posted or are in their uniform. It makes the gym look bad and automatically is affiliated with -"the girls who do drugs." Not such a great reputation to have.
As far as the younger girls seeing it, i think it is really sad. Kids will be expsoed to things but you hope it wont be from their team/gym mates.
If i were the coach I would take it to the gym owner and make a VERY strong suggestion depending on the situation.
*If on their myspace they have their uniform or have any pictures in practice clothes or it says where they cheer, i would pull them from the team. I dont care what they have to say. Its illegal and their is no need to have the gym or anyone affiliated be in trouble with the law.
*if no picture in gym wear and no mentioning of the gym, i would call them into the office and tell them that their behavior is inappropriate and should not be showcased on myspace especially because what they are doing is illegal. It needs to be pulled off imediately and this is their warning. If it occurs again, thats the end.
-i dont care when or where these pictures may have been taken, what if these girls come to practice or competition under the influence? just a thought. I feel very strongly about this. Its a shame that this really does happen.
Also you have to consider this..... If they are using drugs and they have no restraint to not post it on the internet. They most likely do not have enough restraint to not use them before practice. That is dangerous to the other cheerleaders. You can not say for sure they have never come to practice under the influence and either are basing or up in the air. two years ago our owner kicked a girl off because she found out she was coming to cheer high. it sent a strong message. she too found out by myspace. At first her mom was so pissed off and swore the owner was wrong. but a few months later she came home to find her daughter very sick from drug use and later apologized to the owner and the coaches. you may take some flack from the parents and maybe even from the gym owner or other cheerleaders, but it is more important to protect the other children as well as these 6 cheerleaders who are using drugs and endagering themselves and maybe others. good luck with that
thanks for the help i had my mom contact the gym owner. she told her that i didnt not feel comfortable with these girls as m bases if they are going to do these things and sent her some of the pictures. hopegully something is done because i really love cheer and would hate to have to quit because of this
So, its been 5 days and we still havent heard anything from our gym owner. Its looks like nothing is going to be done about this situation and that makes me really mad. I bet if i had posted the pics on here or said where i cheer i would have got a response right away. This is so dumb.
I have an idea, this is very aggressive but could possibly save a life, drugs are nothing to mess around with especially if a kid overdoses or gets something that is mixed etc, you see this stories on lifetime all the time. Bottom line contact the parents and the gym owner, also contact YOUR LOCAL POLICE DRUG INFORCEMENT UNIT!
This will get everybodys attention, they will be on them so quick, then Child Protective Services, etc, although this seems rash and you wont be a favorite in the gym, these parents and kids my need to be forced into some type of rehab and counceling sessions.
So, its been 5 days and we still havent heard anything from our gym owner. Its looks like nothing is going to be done about this situation and that makes me really mad. I bet if i had posted the pics on here or said where i cheer i would have got a response right away. This is so dumb.
This is really a big deal. The gym owner may be talking to them and trying to get to the bottom of it all. Some of the parents are going to be in denial, some parents are going to jump on it. But, the gym owner can be sued if they say the wrong thing. Even with proof. Even, so this site could be in trouble if you were to show a picture of a minor doing drugs. Making people aware of what's up is very important, but how you handle it in sue happy Cali is something else. Good luck!
At what point did the parents no longer have any responsibility and it became the gym's job to parent these kids?
There should be consequences at both. The parents should be notified and, hopefully, they will handle the situation at home while the gym owner takes care of it at their gym.
It definitely becomes the gym's business if pictures/videos etc. are posted online and they are identified as cheerleaders with xyz gym. Even if not, if there are any safety concerns of practicing or competing with kids who might be under the influence, that's the gym's business as well. You can't ignore this as being a private family matter if there's a situation where innocent kids will be put at risk because of risky behavior of some of the team.
Our gym had a girl posting pictures of herself in lingerie as a default and other pictures. Parents coaches and staff saw the pictures and nothing was said to her. Some people even commented oh u look good in these pictures. Where is the responsibility in that. And if you are from my gym and you are reading this you should be ashamed. Thats why there has been problems with "friendships" and people being to close if you know what I mean
I can't believe how parents are not intouch with what their kids are doing. Shame on them, big time. They need to quit thinking it is everybody elses kid.
As a parent, I would want to know that my daughter was posting inappropriate things on her myspace. I do check it, but things can slip by me... I would want you to come to me and she wouldn't have to know where it came from. If you felt uncomfortable with that, I would want your parent to come to me, or the coach or owner.
You did the right thing in going to your mom. But just because you haven't seen any action doesn't mean that none was taken. I would hope that this was handled quietly to avoid gossip. I would think that at a minimum the girls have been warned that if this continues they will not be welcome at the gym anymore. One way to see if anything has been done quietly is to see if the pics are still up. If they aren't, someone has handled it. If they are then your mother needs to put her foot down for your safety as well as everyone else's in your gym.
As a parent, I would want to know that my daughter was posting inappropriate things on her myspace. I do check it, but things can slip by me... I would want you to come to me and she wouldn't have to know where it came from. If you felt uncomfortable with that, I would want your parent to come to me, or the coach or owner.
You did the right thing in going to your mom. But just because you haven't seen any action doesn't mean that none was taken. I would hope that this was handled quietly to avoid gossip. I would think that at a minimum the girls have been warned that if this continues they will not be welcome at the gym anymore. One way to see if anything has been done quietly is to see if the pics are still up. If they aren't, someone has handled it. If they are then your mother needs to put her foot down for your safety as well as everyone else's in your gym.
Good response. I have been in a situation where my daughter got in trouble over something, and I believe people were expecting a public flailing and believed that just because they did not see the punishment that it did not occur. If the pics are gone, I would imagine something went down.
This is so dumb.
