Pubdate: Fri, 09 Mar 2007
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Gail Conrad Davey

INFURIATED BY COMMENTS

Coun. Jenny Gerbasi's comments regarding cocaine being sold in a city 
high school infuriate me. The comments were, at the least, naive, 
and, at the worst, deliberately provocative, publicity-seeking, 
irresponsible ramblings. If the councillor has knowledge of this 
activity and is legitimately concerned, she should be informing the 
school first and foremost. As a parent of children who attend that 
school, she should offer her services in attempting to solve problems 
such as these. They are not school problems exclusively. We all own 
the problem.

I am willing to bet that drugs are or have been bought and sold in 
every high school in this country -- in washrooms, in hallways, in 
alcoves, in the schoolyard and even in classrooms. But unless we 
eliminate high schools, this activity will continue. I believe, 
however, that we can manage these problems with co-operative 
community efforts. Perhaps a police presence in schools is one 
strategy but finger-pointing and irresponsible comments without 
offers of assistance and/or solutions are extremely detrimental to a 
school and the people inside. We can all run around saying there are 
drugs in that school but how many of us (including Gerbasi) are 
supporting our local schools in managing this problem?

Gail Conrad Davey

Lac du Bonnet 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman