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As the Stuyvesant community remains concerned over the health of two students and a coach who were seriously injured after a track team van crash, it now seems that the trip was not authorized by the school.
The girls' junior varsity track team was headed to New Hampshire for the Dartmouth relays when their van hit a median and rolled over. Drivers passing by helped to hold the van so it would stop rolling and one said of junior Valerie Piro, who is currently paralyzed, "She was half ejected from the van, her face in snow, mud and glass, and all she was concerned with was the safety of others." Piro had serious neck injuries while fellow junior Lucia Hsiao (pictured with Piro) suffered neck injuries, a broken arm and a bruised lung; coach Erin Taylor, who was driving, had a fractured neck.
The Department of Education's investigation unit will be looking into the accident. The meet was not on the calendar of approved activities, and it appears that Stuyvesant was not aware that Taylor had organized the trip (parents did give permission to Taylor for the trip). Additionally, school protocol calls for "At least two staff members and one adult are required for up to 30 students."
The head of the extracurricular activities committee for the Stuyvesant's parents association told Newsday it's wasn't unheard of for students to "participate in non-sanctioned events," "We try to offer the kids the richest environment possible in every way, whether it's the math team or the track team. This is just a tragedy."
Piro's father told the Daily News the family hopes she will be able to walk again, but added "It's the phone call you never, ever want to get: the hospital saying your daughter has been in an accident and they're asking for permission to perform surgery." She is apparently upbeat and emailing friends from the hospital.
Last year, a Manhattan school teacher came under fire for organizing a student trip to Cuba, which had not been approved by the Department of Education (the State Department doesn't allow high school students to visit Castro's country). And the incident revealed previous illegal trips to Cuba as well.
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authorized or not, it's a damn tragedy. I'm hoping for a full recovery for all.
Criminal charges?
I think this was a plain and simple tragic accident, but I get a sense that there's some preemptive legal ass-covering going on.
I hope this doesn't turn into a witch hunt for this poor teacher's head. Here is a brilliant example of the Nanny State in action. People bitch and moan that kids aren't learning, and teacher's aren't doing anything, and now we have a teacher taking children out on her own time, and she is going to penalised for being a decent human being. The parents signed permission slips, and no amount of 'Official Permission' would have stopped a tragedy like this. I truly hope no charges are brought, and no careers are ruined.
as if this tragedy would never happen on an "approved" trip...
Depends whether or not that teacher is well received, #4. I remember we had some really awful people (due to their own nature or being told what to do by the Board of Ed./Dept of Ed, but awful nonetheless) working at Stuyvesant and we never had any respect for them. Coaches tend to be slightly out this loop.
Unauthorized events really aren't unheard of though, but for the sports teams they'll probably crack down a little more on it.
What the hell were they driving? That van looks like it was made of tin. Jees... poor kids...
The firefighters probably tore the roof off to get the kids out. What a tragedy.
The firefighters probably tore the roof off to get the kids out. What a tragedy.
I agree with some of the others, what would have proper authorization have changed? It was an accident.
I think this will end up hurting more people and hinder the "healing process".
i hope they heal well. they are the brightest of nyc has to offer. and hope the teacher doesn't get too much flak.
Why does it have to be authorised? It's a group of individuals getting into a van being driven to an individual athletic meet on a weekend. Since when is track & field a team sport. How can that be stopped? Surely no law of the land can prevent that in the USA or any other democracy. The girl was a coach there not a teacher. If she was sacked for that here (I'm not from the USA just a great friend of the driver) then she could sue for a fortune for unfair dismissal. To be dismissed for this would be an absolute disgrace.
Anyway, as others have said, authorisation is irrelevant. The thing is it was a tragedy and people were badly hurt, thankfully not killed, and now we hope everyone is ok.
When do the lawsuits start?
Ok I only got this membership because I clicked on a link which led me to this website. Ok 1st and foremost why the heck would you ask if track and field was a sport JamesA? Just because runners dont play with balls doesn't mean that it is not qualified as a sport. Runnners use the same, perhaps even more effort than baseball players or football stars. How about you try and run a 4:30 mile or a 50.5 400m? I am willing to be my life that no one can just go out there and do that without undergoing massive training. That simple comment really pissed me off because I am a member of a track team. You cant win a meet without teammates, so it is a team sport. Even though runners strive to get personal best times, there is a point system created to make it a team sport. We runners get soo little credit when it comes to our accomplishments. So dont EVER question that Track and Field isn't a sport.