Pubdate: Tue, 27 Mar 2001
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2001 News World Communications, Inc.
Contact:  202-832-8285
Website: http://www.washtimes.com/
Author: Malcolm Lawrence

WRONG CROWD STEERED DRUG EDUCATION POLICY ASTRAY

The article "America is losing drug war, poll finds" stated that the demand 
for drugs is so high it will be impossible to stop their use (March 22). 
White House spokesman Scott McClellan was quoted as saying the Bush 
administration favors "a balanced approach to combat drugs based on 
education, treatment and law enforcement."

I couldn't agree more with that approach, but I wish to point out that the 
weakest leg in that triangle is education.

A major contributing factor to the tolerance of illicit drugs and narcotics 
in America is that our schools have been sending out weak and confusing 
messages. Since the early 1970s, educators have been brainwashed by 
permissive pundits and curriculum developers to believe scare tactics and 
facts about drugs are counterproductive and that the solution to the drug 
abuse problem for students is to use a values-clarification approach, apply 
compassion, give counseling, set up hot lines and at all costs avoid using 
the word "don't" when discussing drugs.

The fashionable approach in drug education has been to let the children 
examine all aspects of their feelings, attitudes, values and societal 
pressures and then make their own decisions about whether to use drugs.

Until our schools change their pitch, illicit drugs will continue to be a 
tragic part of our culture.

Malcolm Lawrence, Chevy Chase
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