Pubdate: Thu, 30 Oct 2008
Source: Andover Townsman (MA)
Copyright: 2008 Andover Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.andovertownsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1652
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

CREATING A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Police should enforce the law and keep drugs away from the schools 
where students and their parents have a right to expect a safe and 
drug-free setting.

Schools and their principal should enforce discipline, but also 
provide a positive, supportive environment. They should be 
cheerleaders for students and all they accomplish.

That combination of "tough love" appears to be taking place at 
Andover High School.

As most people in town know, Andover High Principal Peter Anderson 
and Police Chief Brian Pattullo decided to hold a surprise drug 
search of the school last Friday, Oct. 24. The search was no small 
matter, involving 15 drug-sniffing dogs and officers from a variety 
of Massachusetts police departments. It led to only one arrest, from 
marijuana found in a student's car parked in a school lot.

While one would think such an unusual hammer would be wielded to 
address a major drug issue, Anderson says he wanted the search to 
quell rumors that lots of students are using or bringing drugs into 
the school. It's a charge that he says he has heard for years. One 
can certainly debate whether such a hammer was the right tool. 
However, Anderson says he wants the community to see what he sees: 
hundreds of kids who are preparing to be the next generation of 
leaders and workers. "One of the great frustrations of my life is 
that the kids at the high school are incredibly talented," Anderson 
says, "and we don't give the kids enough credit."

He believes the result of the search -- just one arrest -- shows 
there is not the problem some believe, even while rumors persist, 
fueled by Internet comments from some students themselves.

Lest anyone think the drug search was a lone event meant to make a 
splash, Andover police do appear to be continuing to monitor drug use 
on school grounds. A drive through the Andover High parking lot at 
lunchtime on Monday led to another arrest, of a 16-year-old student. 
Police should continue to make reasonable efforts to keep drugs off 
school grounds.

Meanwhile, Anderson is focusing his comments where they belong -- on 
the majority of Andover students who accomplish great things. 
Fortunately, he has built a trust with most parents and students over 
his time at the school. For instance, in previous years he has met 
over pizza in small groups with sophomores to get to know the 
students in his building. So most in the community know he has 
students' best interests at heart.

No one should pretend that Andover youth don't do drugs. Of course 
some do, as their own anonymous answers to health surveys show. 
Parents and other authority figures in town should continue to try to 
help youth stay away from drugs. But adults can't be everywhere and 
some people will always be attracted to drugs.

For now, a combination of routine enforcement to keep drugs off 
school grounds and Anderson's efforts to create a positive school 
atmosphere should continue to give most Andover students the type of 
environment they need to learn, develop and have safe fun.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom