Photo:Buymarijuanaforsale.com
A student written article in an Austin, Texas high school’s newspaper has drawn heated controversy. The article written in McNeil High School’s Trail Blazer was pulled from “distribution centers” around the campus after Principal Cindy Doty found the article to be inaccurate and not reliable. Here is the full letter Principal Doty sent to parents.
“Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Community Members,
“The article below appeared in the November 16, 2007 Trail Blazer, which is written and produced by McNeil High School students and the journalism teacher. It has been the practice for years that the newspaper is student driven and the journalism teacher is the sole adult that approves the newspaper, with the expectation that the articles contain appropriate content, that the content is valid and that sources are reliable. The journalism teacher gives final approval for publishing.
“Shortly after the time of distribution, I discovered an article in the paper that did not meet these criteria. The article was titled Drug Use Common at McNeil. I recalled newspapers from the distribution locations on campus until questioning about the article could take place. I found that the content and sources could not be validated, that information from school counselors were misrepresented, and that it was not even known if the student sources even existed as the names used were aliases. I was very disappointed that rules of good journalism were not in place and that the approval system failed as well.
“The action of recalling the newspapers is not an effort to cover up or deny student drug use on campus, but to be responsible for information about McNeil High School that goes out to the public. McNeil is no different than any other high school in that some students chose to use illegal drugs. We feel that parents, campus staff, counselors and law enforcement need to work together to address the issue of drug use on campus.
“If there is suspicion of a student being under the influence, they are referred to the school nurse and/or drug and alcohol counselor. Parents are contacted. Drug dogs are dispatched to the campus at random dates and school resource officers are on campus and part of the campus personnel. Recently the student counsel sponsored a Drug Awareness Week.
“No drug prevention is 100% effective; however, the following is a report of drug activity from the campus school resource officer, Keith Allen:
“For the period of 08/07 – 11/07 (until today) we had the following:
1 arrest for Possession of Controlled Substance in Drug Free Zone (Xanax)
3 arrest for Possession of Marijuana in Drug Free Zone
1 arrest for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
“In the near future, we will be releasing Trail Blazer with the article in its entirety along with a factual response to the article. In addition, we want to include tips from our drug and alcohol counselor on how parents can identify drug abuse behaviors. We believe that if we all work together we can help provide a safe learning environment…..
Sincerely,
Cindy Doty
Principal”
And here is the article in question, with my rebuttal following.
Drug use common at McNeil – Trail Blazer Article
Students have the option to buy drugs from their peers and some choose to take advantage of it.
Distributing drugs occurs on campus on a daily basis. Students attain drugs mainly through asking a dealer in casual conversation during class or even through text messaging.
“Kids deal all the time,” Josh*, a distributor, said. “More cops patrol around.” Teachers and administrators are very aware that this takes place on school premises, according to drug and alcohol counselor Sean Redeker.
“Some people have good hearts about it,” Josh said. “One time, an administrator turned away while aware of a sale going on before school.”
Marijuana has become a staple for many teens. According to Redeker, it is the most purchased drug next to prescription pills, but alcohol is used most frequently.
“People talk about weed in class,” Josh said. It is not uncommon for some students to arrive to class high or on prescription medications. Smoking pot is part of many students’ lifestyles and part of their daily routine.
“Sometimes I smoke four times a day,” Michael*, another distributor, said. “My friends and I would go in a certain spot before school near the bus stop to smoke, off campus at lunch, after school in my room and before I go to sleep.”
The age of drug users has steadily increased. Now even eighth graders purchase weed from high school dealers on a regular basis. It is not just the stereotypical pothead who buys drugs from dealers, even straight A students and those in Advanced Placement classes choose to participate in such activities. For some people, drugs are mandatory to fit in with their group of friends, but some abuse for other reasons.
“[It can] take them away,” Josh said. “Some people just need it in their lives because of family issues.” Another dealer stopped distributing because it was too difficult.
“You have to be careful who you sell it to; they might snitch on you,” Michael said. “Freshman kids I didn’t know would come up to me and I wouldn’t sell to them.”
One reason for dealers to take the risk in selling is that they are able to make a large amount of money in a matter of days.
“If I dealt to 10 or 20 people one day, I could make $400 sometimes,” he said.
Prescription pills are popular for school-related issues. Many teens diagnosed with ADD or ADHD sell their Aderol, Ritalin and Hydrocodine. Some students believe that pills help them to better focus and concentrate on school work.
Shrooms, or mushrooms, a hallucinogen, are quite popular.
“You don’t hear about it a lot,” one student said. “You don’t get it in large quantities.”
Harder drugs, such as cocaine, are distributed more quietly than marijuana and handled in a more low key manner.
McNeil crisis counselors Sean Redeker and Jinx Lacey believe they and other students should help those who are substance abusers. Redeker sees between 15 to 25 people a week who struggle with any sort of drug or alcohol problem.
“A lot come to get help,” Redeker said. “Some do, but are not ready [for help].”
Over the course of one year, Lacey recorded seeing more than 1,000 McNeil students including students with drug and alcohol problems. They send referrals to rehabilitation programs.
“We try to keep up with the facilities,” Lacey said. Both counselors choose to help students in a democratic way. If there are any illegal activities involved, counselors must report the student. When a situation is serious and parents are notified, “it is done in the presence of the kids or with their knowledge,” Lacey said.
Students with drug and alcohol problems are encouraged to seek help from student support serviced in room A119.
I just found McNeil High School’s data page, and I cannot believe that 1000 out of 2,700 kids would see a guidance counselor for drug related issues. I attended a high school of 2600 students and I believe around 50-75 students abused substances. I can see why Principal Cindy Doty did suspend the article, it is not truly factual. However, the distribution might be. I know for a FACT that kids tried to sell me marijuana, crack, and alcohol(beer and wine) along with pills in nearly all of my classes.
This stuff is not hard to get. Many of the kids empty out water bottles and put in diluted wine. Or if its a Pepsi bottle, diluted beer. And pills? People order them off the internet. It is bad how our schools are these days.
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