Pubdate: Wed, 29 Mar 2006
Source: Cape Gazette (DE)
Copyright: 2006, Cape Gazette
Contact:  http://www.capegazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2722
Author: Jim Westhoff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

PARENTS LEARN ABOUT SIGNS OF TROUBLE IN TEENAGERS

Parents must be nosy about where their children are and  what they're 
doing, and parents who notice that their  children are hanging out at 
the Midway Movie Theatres  or the Wawa on Route 1 should be concerned 
about their  children's activities, Cape Henlopen School District 
officials say.

At a Wednesday, March 22 meeting for parents held at  the high 
school, School Resource Officer Det. Mark  Ostroski presented a 
handout listing locations where  police say they've seen teen 
violence and drug  activity. Also listed were the Red Mill Inn, 
the  Anchorage Motel on Route 1 and the Boardwalk during the  summer months.

About 35 parents attended the meeting to learn about  school safety 
and how to spot the signs of drug abuse.

The signs are there, and parents need to be vigilant,  said school officials.

Ostroski also said parents should take notice of common  household 
items that could indicate problems, including

- - Cigars that can be unwrapped and marijuana inserted.

- - Soft drink cans with holes poked into them,  which can be used as a 
bong for marijuana and crack.

- - Visine, often used to clear up a person's red  eyes after they have 
smoked marijuana.

- - Cologne or perfume, used to mask the odor of marijuana.

Ostroski said the key to finding out early if your  child has a 
problem is to be vigilant.

"Check up on them," Ostroski said. "If they say they're  going to 
someone's house, call their parents and ask if  your child is there. 
They might be mad at you for a  couple of days but it's for a good cause.

Robert Maull, student services coordinator, said staff  at the school 
district is making the schools safer, but  he asks parents to become 
more involved.

"We can't do this without you," he told the parents. He  asked 
parents to alert him to conflicts in the  community, or to a student 
who appears to be having  difficulties.

Some of the parents had questions about the school  district's 
discipline rules.

Maull said there are three steps in the discipline  plan. The first 
step is student and teacher conference.  The second step is a parent 
and teacher conference. He  said the third step involves school administrators.

"We are asking our teachers to call home more often,"  Maull said. 
"They are supposed to call home if they are  having a problem with your child."

Maull stressed that he wants to hear from parents. "We  have a lot of 
different people who can help your  child," he said.

So far this school year, there have been 29 cases of  school 
violence. There have been two cases of  second-degree assault, 13 
cases of third-degree  assault, and several cases of disorderly 
conduct, Ostroski said.

Looking For Signs

Ostroski said parents need to be nosy.

"You have every right to go into their bedroom and  search it," Ostroski said.

Children might be angry at the perceived violation of  privacy he 
said, but it's important to search  everywhere including the back of 
the underwear drawer  and in boxes at the back of the closet.

Ostroski said he has seen an increase in students  abusing 
over-the-counter medications such as Coricidin,  which has a 
dextromethorphan, also known as DMX.  Ostroski said that if DMX is 
taken in excessive doses,  it can produce a high.

He said he has found a number of students who were  carrying empty 
foil packs of Coricidin.

He said marijuana is still the illegal drug that  students seem to be 
abusing the most.

Some parents at the meeting said it was good  information and it 
opened their eyes to the problem of  school violence.

"There is definitely an effort to keep the school  safe," said parent 
Linda Sapienza. "But Mike Ostroski  is stretched too thin. One man 
cannot take care of 10  schools. He's always talking with kids, but 
he needs  some assistance. There needs to be more help."

"There is a strong effort here to improve the  discipline, but they 
don't have enough help to handle  the problem," said parent Kim Yost.

"It has to start with the parents," she said. "The  school has proven 
that they are trying, but look at  this parent turnout. I think they 
need more help and it  needs to start with the parents."

Yost said she would like to see a parent group step  forward and 
offer help for the school.

If parents have more questions, they can call Maull or  Ostroski at 645-7711.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman