I have been actively following the many stories and letters regarding Steve Bertrand in your paper over the last few weeks and could not be more pleased that he is being reinstated as a coach for Cascade High School.
From the many letters of encouragement and the stories of kindness, community and compassion, it is clear to everyone that ‘Bert’ has been, and remains, a positive influence on so many lives.
While this last two months have been draining on so many people, not the least Bertrand, it is good to see calm heads prevail. But it is also an important time to look back at the situation. Not to place blame or to gloat but to take the time to understand how we arrived at this point, how it could have been prevented and how it could have been handled differently to reduce the damaging impact!
After all, school days are all about learning!
The many students who were actively involved in this process have gone through an emotional roller-coaster starting with shock, denial and anger when they heard the initial decision. Their beloved coach was being taken away from them for no apparent reason. These are natural emotions and it is necessary to go through them in situations like this. However, as adults we must support them through these phases as quickly as possible. Negative emotions can lead to negative actions and negative actions can have serious and lasting consequences.
After anger, fear and depression can set in as students start to believe that they cannot get the change they want. This can often be a new experience as they have been taught for years by parents and teachers that they can change the world. The longer negative emotions stick around the more they start to question their belief system. This doubting can be paralyzing and we have to help them see there is something at the other end of the tunnel if they just keep moving!
Finally, they start to understand, accept and then they are ready to finally move on. This is where we are today with the Coach Bertrand decision. He has been allowed to continue coaching and all involved need to work together to ensure students understand that there are always two sides to a story, mistakes can be made, words can be said (often driven by emotions) but most of all reasonable people work together to find solutions. With good intent, good things can happen!
Steve Bertrand is a person of the utmost character and integrity. Having someone like him to support these students through the ups and downs of high school and helping them to learn and grow as individuals is the right decision. It is the only decision that makes sense if you put the students first!
Now, without a doubt I wish these lessons did not have to be learned in relation to the Bertrand coaching decision. However, I am glad that students have been able to see how adults behave on an issue that they care so deeply about. This will be a lesson that will shape them in their adulthood and we can only hope it helps them continue to have passions, assume good intent in others and be willing to work together to resolve differences. These are lessons that as adults we can often forget!
Welcome back, Bert!
Ian Boswell is a parent of a Cascade High School cross-country runner.
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