I say they're a huge problem. Kids that say they not only smell drugs being smoked in corners at school, to shutting down wings because the teachers smell it - is a problem. I say that kids smoking pot out in the open BEFORE school - is a problem. I say that kids posting photos of themselves drinking and doing drugs - is a problem.
Now to the facebook issues of posting their photos. Now, these are photos/statuses I have seen. And I am not "friends" with these kids, which means their profiles are completely public. I have to ask - parents, when is the last time you looked at your kid's profile? Ever? Some kids talk about can't wait to get f&#$ed up this weekend. Where are we going to get the sh#&? And guess what folks, these aren't just at one high school. They're at all of them. Oh, and guess what more... these are also cheerleaders and kids in sports. Not just the "thugs" or "trogs" as we used to call them in my day...
So, it's just a question.
In a day that not much gets done around campus because administrators are all so "overwhelmed" with budget cuts and other BS, it seems it's just easier to turn the other way on drugs. Is it a victimless crime? No way. Smoking pot before school can't possibly be good for the attention and care needed later in the school day. Hearing of middle school kids drinking vodka out of water bottles during PE does not instill too much confidence that today's kids, despite all the education, are any smarter than the kids of yesterday (or my day).
More young people are now in treatment for marijuana dependency than for alcohol or for all other illegal drugs combined.
I know, I know, I'm looking at this TOTALLY differently now that I'm a parent. But isn't that a normal progression? I hope so.
And believe, GREAT THINGS HAPPEN at the high schools every single day. There is no denying there are more good things than bad, BUT I'm not going to be quiet about the bad just because it makes the school look bad.
THE SCHOOLS NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. They have the power to EXPEL any kid caught with drugs. They have the power to SEARCH lockers if it smells like POT!
Parents , you need to be watching homelink. Are your kids tardy to school each day when you KNOW you dropped them off on time? Or that they left home early enough? Are you checking in? Are there consequences? Just asking. Do you know where the local "hang outs" are for the perpetually late?
So, there, I'm done with my rant. But there's a story I've been dying to do, but I'm not a reporter and I don't get enough readers to do it justice, so I sent some info to the Mayor of Claycord - hopefully he'll shed the light.
Parents, what can we do ? I ASSUME most parents aren't ok with kids smoking dope on school grounds. So if that's true? What are we going to do about it?
I am not OK with kids smoking pot on school grounds, but arresting or suspending them is one of the reasons why Prop 19 came about.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot afford to waste resources tracking down kids who smoke pot when we are cutting school budgets to the bone. Prop 19 would have made it hard for kids under 21 to get pot. That's how it is now for alcohol and any high school student will tell you that it is easier to score pot than liquor.
I don't advocate students smoking pot or doing any drugs, but the reality is that kids do experiment--just like many of us did when we were in high school, and now are self righteous about.
Let's legalize drugs because our schools need money?
ReplyDeleteDid you walk door to door for the parcel tax or is that the hard way?
Prop 19 would have made it hard for kids under 21 to get pot?
You might think about this.
Pot will always be easier to "score" than liquor. If it were legal it would even be easier than it is now. Also, it would not be the revenue source proponents want us to think it would be.
The difference between pot and liquor is that anybody can grow pot. When it is legalized it will not be regulated like alcohol, it will be grown in backyards and bedrooms. It will not be a source of tax revenue because people will not buy it, they will grow it. And it will not provide a savings for taxpayers, it will simply be a trade-off. What we save on putting offenders in jail we will spend on enforcing the laws they break while high.
I am guessing that the parent who supported Prop 19 is the same parent who prefers their teenager drink at home? Another mistake!
Signed,
As a parent, I am obligated to be self-righteous.
3:56pm- I didn't say we should legalize drugs because schools need money. Our laws are hypocritical when it comes to drinking vs. smoking pot and legalizing and regulating pot makes the most sense to me.
ReplyDeleteThe self righteous moniker stems from the fact that many parents of our generation did experiment with drugs and alcohol, yet expect that our kids won't do the same. I was speaking to the reality that kids DO experiment. Even from the "best" families.
I supported the parcel tax, school bond, and continue to support local education foundations and PTA fundraisers. To me, it is ridiculous to spend money for police to arrest students for smoking pot. That being said, I am all for parents taking responsibility for their children.
You make it sound like it is so easy to grow pot. It is a crop that needs a growing season and then has to be harvested. Just like individuals who make their own wine and beer, it requires effort and most of all, time. The end result is often not pleasing, which means there will always be a market for legal pot.
Why do you think there are so many medical marijuana places? Patients are allowed to grow themselves, but most don't. It's easier to buy it than grow it.
If pot is legal and the law says that people under 21 cannot legally smoke it, then those kids outside the school would be obviously breaking the law. Right now, the law is hazy and unevenly enforced. You don't see kids drinking openly outside the high school, because it is clearly illegal. Changing the law would provide clarity in enforcement.
As far as the sales tax generated, I agree that it is a straw argument. I don't want to save the state by having them sell drugs, but if the state makes money from the sale of pot, so be it. Better in their hands than criminals.
Pot smokers don't really break laws when they are high. They are usually too mellow or hungry. The money spent on enforcement could be spent on education and rehabilitation instead of making kids who experiment have a criminal record.
As someone who both drank and smoked when I was in college, I know that when I was drinking, my behavior was way more dangerous--to myself and to others. Not so when I was smoking.
By the way, my kid attends UC and is a good student. They don't drink but have smoked pot on occasion. While I am not thrilled about this, I am glad that they trusted me enough to tell me.
Too bad that you think parents have to be self righteous to be effective. I think kids see right through that, but hey, if it works for you...
3:56pm- I didn't say we should legalize drugs because schools need money. Our laws are hypocritical when it comes to drinking vs. smoking pot and legalizing and regulating pot makes the most sense to me.
ReplyDeleteThe self righteous moniker stems from the fact that many parents of our generation did experiment with drugs and alcohol, yet expect that our kids won't do the same. I was speaking to the reality that kids DO experiment. Even from the "best" families.
I supported the parcel tax, school bond, and continue to support local education foundations and PTA fundraisers. To me, it is ridiculous to spend money for police to arrest students for smoking pot. That being said, I am all for parents taking responsibility for their children.
You make it sound like it is so easy to grow pot. It is a crop that needs a growing season and then has to be harvested. Just like individuals who make their own wine and beer, it requires effort and most of all, time. The end result is often not pleasing, which means there will always be a market for legal pot.
Why do you think there are so many medical marijuana places? Patients are allowed to grow themselves, but most don't. It's easier to buy it than grow it.
If pot is legal and the law says that people under 21 cannot legally smoke it, then those kids outside the school would be obviously breaking the law. Right now, the law is hazy and unevenly enforced. You don't see kids drinking openly outside the high school, because it is clearly illegal. Changing the law would provide clarity in enforcement.
As far as the sales tax generated, I agree that it is a straw argument. I don't want to save the state by having them sell drugs, but if the state makes money from the sale of pot, so be it. Better in their hands than criminals.
Pot smokers don't really break laws when they are high. They are usually too mellow or hungry. The money spent on enforcement could be spent on education and rehabilitation instead of making kids who experiment have a criminal record.
As someone who both drank and smoked when I was in college, I know that when I was drinking, my behavior was more of a danger to myself and others. Not so when I was smoking.
By the way, my kid attends UC and is a good student. They don't drink but have smoked pot on occasion. While I am not thrilled about this, I am glad that they trusted me enough to tell me.
Too bad that you think parents have to be self righteous to be effective. I think kids see right through that, but hey, if it works for you...
Response to 3:56-- PART ONE
ReplyDelete3:56pm- I didn't say we should legalize drugs because schools need money. Our laws are hypocritical when it comes to drinking vs. smoking pot and legalizing and regulating pot makes the most sense to me.
The self righteous moniker stems from the fact that many parents of our generation did experiment with drugs and alcohol, yet expect that our kids won't do the same. I was speaking to the reality that kids DO experiment. Even from the "best" families.
I supported the parcel tax, school bond, and continue to support local education foundations and PTA fundraisers. To me, it is ridiculous to spend money for police to arrest students for smoking pot. That being said, I am all for parents taking responsibility for their children.
You make it sound like it is so easy to grow pot. It is a crop that needs a growing season and then has to be harvested. Just like individuals who make their own wine and beer, it requires effort and most of all, time. The end result is often not pleasing, which means there will always be a market for legal pot.
Why do you think there are so many medical marijuana places? Patients are allowed to grow themselves, but most don't. It's easier to buy it than grow it.
Sorry my post showed up three times.
ReplyDeleteI got an error message saying it couldn't post because it was too large, so I tried again, failed, and then tried to post in two parts.
If MDUSD Parents can delete the duplicate posts, I would appreciate it.
One of my children is extremely sensitive to smoke. She says kids in class smell of marijuana and she can't breathe. It would be the same with cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your child, but is she sensitive to smoke or smells?
ReplyDeleteI am sensitive to smoke and it bothers me to walk by or even catch a distant whiff.
Smelling the after effects of someone's smoking is different.
marijuana possession and use is illegal today. prop 19 failed. if a student is caught with possession of pot on school grounds, the whole school should be locked down and the cops should be called in to eradicate the illegal drug from the premises.
ReplyDeleteno story on mildred brown's birthday party?
ReplyDeleteNope, absolutely not. You can read all the gossip at Claycord.
ReplyDeleteThink about this people.
ReplyDelete"Kids" have been doing drugs in school for decades. Just because you never heard of it happening or your just concerned about your child. Doesnt make a differnce its still going to be there and I dont understand how people now care so much about it. Its been happening for many many years now. Nobody will stop it so stop getting so worked up about it.
Prop 19 would make a differnce.
For the person who said that people wouldnt be it. well Amsterdam its legal. A ton of people buy it from when the shops open until they close.
alot of people wont want to grow it because just maybe just maybe they have a job, dont have time for a garden, or just dont want to grow it etc.
How many of you people know about vegetables, fruit and meat. Well did you Know that you could grow that? Wow big discovery 2010 people will never have to go to the store to get food again. so why are you still buying food when you could grow it in your house.
the difference between pot and alcohol is that just about every teenager has a parent who drinks it. Which means they could most likley sneak some if they wanted to.
Also they used to grow "hemp" in the U.S. every farmer was made to grow it. Then a super parent came along and said my child tripped on a pot leaf bannnn it. oh wait im sorry parents were not like that back then. They are all stressed out and care so much about what their way has to be perfect. Not seeing reality.
Why dont you "parents" calm down take a chill pill try a doobie or just calm down and go spend time with your children instead of writing dumb things that you cant and will not change.
signed,
as a human we are obligated to as we please well unless you are a computer then you follow every law comanded to you and think everything in law is right but hey nothings perfect
good bye close minded people
Drug use is rampant? As compared to which decade? 60s? 70s? 90s?
ReplyDelete