Drugs, alcohol available at both public, private schools
March 05, 2010 01:00 AM | 475 views | 8 8 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
DEAR EDITOR:

I was shocked at all of the press, accusations and finger-pointing regarding children recently involved in alcohol and drug use in Marietta. I know some of these children and their parents and I can tell you that they are good kids who have made bad choices. In addition, these parents are good people who are doing the best job that they can to raise their kids. Having a child who makes a bad choice doesn't make you a bad parent. The majority of us strive to do our best and pray that God protects our children and gives them discernment to make the right choices in the many decisions that they make every day.

It doesn't matter if your child goes to public or private school, they will be exposed to drugs and alcohol. This certainly doesn't mean the principal or headmaster condones the use of them. It means that we live in a country where our moral standards continue to decline and illegal drugs are prevalent and easily available. Where these children go to school shouldn't be the issue. As parents of teenagers, we need to support and encourage each other.

We need to pray for the children and their parents involved in these circumstances, rather than to point fingers at them or the schools that they attend.

I'm not one to write a letter to the editor), but it really frustrated and saddened me when I read the articles and comments posted online.

Jim Ford
Marietta
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comments (8)
« Public or Private wrote on Saturday, Mar 06 at 09:23 AM »
I think the consternation of the public surrounding this event is that the two school institutions (public or private) handled the issue very differently. Im not talking about the December incident, Im talking about the German convention. Both schools had students involved although the majority of those involved came from Walker. MHS began an immediate investigation, took action on Monday and continued investigating other students during the remainder of the week. MHS students did not receive preferential treatment and the consequences were serious and appropriate and controlled by a discipline policy in place for such instances. Walker seems to have done little and the consequences known to the Walker community were nothing more than a pat on the wrist. I believe the judgement of the public is that when parents are paying tuition consequences seem to be lighter and more collaboratively generated. In this economy, private schools are struggling to keep every student. I also think the MHS story coming to light was the "work" of Walker parents blogging and trying to alter the spotlight and send it over to MHS. The tactic misfired and only resulted in more scrutiny for Walker. The issue is teenagers and poor decision-making, but the take-away from the coverage is that one school quickly and directly addressed the issue and one is still skirting the real issue. As a Walker stakeholder, I am questioning our handling of our issues with regard to the misuse of alcohol and drugs. Our parents and our school have a lot of work to do to get serious about our issues. MHS conducts parent and student education nights and I hear MHS has police officers as a part of their staff, a full time dedicated canine, and drug test kits available to parents. Even these efforts will not eliminate the drug use of MHS teens, but it does show the school administration is serious about partnering with parents and the community to combat it.
« lucy W wrote on Friday, Mar 05 at 08:15 PM »
WOW indian Joe - how wrong you are!

What anger must live in your mind - I said I have been praying all along...

If you only knew I was from East Cobb - then you would be calling me a snob too!
« Indian Joe wrote on Friday, Mar 05 at 04:22 PM »
Amazing now that the great MHS and its students are in the news, we all hear how we should pray for the children and their parents, how parents are now concerned that if their child makes a "mistake" they will be publically flogged. Gee, when it was the Walker kids 90% intimated they should be stoned on the square, along with the Walker headmaster. What a difference locale makes - but then I guess thse MHS students are not the elite, rich, snobs from the MCC area. How convenient.
« Willy6 wrote on Friday, Mar 05 at 04:17 PM »
Where the kids who were involved in the Busch-Wiles-Middleton scandal go to school never was an issue, Jim. Don't know how you could possibly come to that conclusion? Walker school was mentioned as part of a factual news story. What would you have journalists do, pick and choose what facts might or might not be politically correct? And Jim, no one is pointing fingers at the kids involved in this incident. Again, journalists report facts and write an objective story, and we should be thankful that the MDJ still follows these guidelines, because virtually all the media is far left liberal which is reflected in their subjective so called news stories. Unfortunately Jim, although Walker school was started by a Catholic priest, the school is now a secular institution, so the kids will not be able to follow your suggestion of praying.
« gatorboy62 wrote on Friday, Mar 05 at 11:45 AM »
What Mr. Ford does not understand is that parents are the model who children emulate. The actions of Judge Busch and Rep. Wiles are undefendable.
« lucy W wrote on Friday, Mar 05 at 10:47 AM »
I have been praying

Praying that I have taught my children to make the right choice in trying times.

Praying that my children will make it through the trying teen years that we have created in our society.

Praying that if they make a mistake, they will not be publically flogged as these children have.

I will continue to pray.
« regular reader wrote on Friday, Mar 05 at 08:53 AM »
I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Ford. Its time for this to be looked into with a little common sense. Teenage alcohol abuse crosses all lines and also goes back years. What these kids are doing is dangerous to everyone of us and we should try, as a community, to do something to stop it. I can think of several things which could be tried that might help, but hysterical finger pointing just isn't going to accomplish a thing.
« North South wrote on Friday, Mar 05 at 05:31 AM »
Drugs and alcohol are evrywhere! so Mr. Ford nothing new here. Now, great concept of bringing religion once again in your letter...what a change? Why do you need to pray for them? Did they ask you to do so? Do you have special powers? I do respect your religious views, but as far as I go, they made a mistake! it is agaisnt the law, let's move on...