"PFHS: Crowning
Underage Drinking"
by Therefore
According to our handy "Student Handbook," Post Falls High School recognizes its responsibility to maintain a school environment free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. Last week, I witnessed a drug deal, a sophomore whispering to another in the lunchroom, "you got the weed?" He did have the weed; I even saw it passed to the buyer. A big congratulations is going out to the administration for maintaining a drug-free learning environment for me! The administration also preachs at us this concept of zero tolerance, but the longer I attend Post Falls High School, the more I have come to find that zero tolerance is defined by one's status. If the student is valuable to the school, for example, a talented athlete, drinking is more likely going to be overlooked. Post Falls High School justice system, how I love thee!
Junior Prom took place on March 19. It went relatively well, but there were the select few that choose to consume alcohol. Some of these even brilliantly decided to show up at prom. One of these students was Jessica Kuhn; the official police report filed by Officer Rice states that Kuhn was found "sick in the bathroom stall and was lying on the floor" (1). Upon interrogation, she eventually admitted that "she had a couple of drinks of alcohol in the limousine on the way to the prom" (1). As a result of what happened at Junior Prom, Kuhn was suspended from school for two days. Kuhn was also involved in Junior Miss. A good friend of mine also participated in Junior Miss, and I am told that at the beginning of the program the participants were all sat down and told that any drinking or drug usage would result in immediate disqualification. They were fed the romantic and idealistic speech that the Junior Miss program has no tolerance for that sort of behavior; one of the traits emphasized to Junior Miss competitors is "living by moral principles" (2). That was apparently all relative.
Jessica Kuhn, however, was not kicked out of the program. Kuhn is a varsity cheerleader, and she maintains good grades. From knowing her, I would say she is an average, popular, smart, athletic, and promising young girl. She was serious competition in the Junior Miss scholarship program. After hearing of the suspension, a few of the girls went to speak with Allison McArthur about the situation. McArthur was in charge of Post Falls Junior Miss. She was appalled the girls would bring "that" up. That's right, fellow students- "that sort of thing" is not proper to bring up and question. Issues as ugly as this one need to be swept under the rug or censored. She also made it clear that the contract the girls signed at the beginning of the program only specified that if the Junior Miss was caught drinking or using drugs after winning, she would be forced to give up her title. McArthur told The Spokesman-Review that Kuhn's citation had been passed to state Junior Miss officials (2).
Trudi Kuhn, Kuhn's mother was also heavily involved in the program and is a candidate for an open seat on the Post Falls School Board (2). The official police report states that Kuhn's mother argued with Officer Rice over whether or not Kuhn should be issued a citation. According to Kuhn's mother, Kuhn should not have been expected to receive one as "she did not blow into a breathalyzer nor did she receive the citation on the day of the incident" (1). Officer Rice then explained to Kuhn's mother that the time he had spent with Kuhn, in addition to an eye gaze test and her admission of drinking were enough to warrant a citation, to be administered the following Tuesday, March 22 (1). At the event, Kuhn's mother was even personally thanked as being "the greatest snack mom ever." After hearing that Kuhn would still be allowed to compete, I mumbled under my breath at the ridiculousness of it all. I find myself doing this more and more often here at Post Falls High School.
Cut to April 9; after almost an hour, the judges finally made a decision. Naomi Cooper was named first runner-up. None other than Jessica Kuhn was given the title of Junior Miss. My jaw must have dropped to the floor. The same girl that was suspended for showing up drunk to prom was now Post Falls's Junior Miss. She will be representing our school, town, and community at the state competition.
I am outraged. I am angry. I cannot understand how this has happened to my own class. It is a great injustice. It is an injustice to all citizens of Post Falls, to the juniors of Post Falls High School, and especially the girls that competed alongside Kuhn. Naomi Cooper, first runner-up, is the rightful Junior Miss. It is not right. It is not fair. More than a few complaints have been made to Allison McArthur, and an article has appeared in The Spokesman-Review exposing the truth instead of telling a silly, public-friendly fairy tale.
It was the hot topic today at school, and by the end of the day my best friend snapped at me that she wished everyone would stop talking about it, that it was done, and that there was nothing we can do about it. I stared at my shoes for a moment and let that sink in. There was nothing anyone could do about it. The decision was made. Well, I say screw that. I want to change this; it must be changed. It's unfair and wrong. I understand that people make mistakes. Maybe this was Kuhn's first offense, but I do not understand how less than a month later she is representing my junior class. I'm so sick of our generation just not caring about these issues. We are lazy to the point of destruction. Don't just let this slide. Don't just say, "oh well." I have witnessed a lot of atrocities and injustices at PFHS- just remember our last two homecoming weeks -but this just takes the crown.
1) http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/nhb/media/drunkjrmiss.htm
2) http://spokesmanreview.com/idaho/story.asp?ID=64334