Pubdate: Tue, 31 Jan 2012
Source: Herald Times Reporter (Manitowoc, WI)
Copyright: 2012 Herald Times Reporter
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Bi8dueb3
Website: http://www.htrnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1293

ANTIGO DRUG PROBE SHOULD CONCERN ALL OF US

We are shocked by the information contained in preliminary court 
documents about teachers and other school personnel allegedly 
involved in illegal drug activity in the Antigo and Merrill schools.

More accusations concerning use and sale of marijuana and cocaine are 
likely to emerge in the ongoing probe.

But why should we care? This is happening far to our north and has 
nothing to do with us, right?

Wrong.

It is a major deal when those in positions of public trust, 
particularly those charged with educating our children, violate that 
trust and engage in illegal activity.

It's a big deal anywhere it happens and raises our antennae to be 
continually alert on our own turf.

A varsity football coach in Antigo, who doubles as an elementary 
school principal, is among those at the center of the investigation. 
Also named thus far are a former athletic director and two other 
school employees.

Those involved -- and more charges are expected -- reportedly sold 
and used drugs at a secluded golf resort north of Antigo. The only 
good news to come out of the entire fiasco to this point is that -- 
apparently -- no students were involved in the drug transactions.

But students certainly will be affected by all of this. They will be 
left wondering if they can trust adults and the mixed messages they 
apparently send. They might think it's OK to use drugs; after all, 
their teachers and coaches do it.

All of us should be concerned when these are the lessons students 
learn at any school in Wisconsin. We don't disparage the Antigo and 
Merrill school systems, where the alleged perpetrators practiced, but 
it will prove difficult for those districts to recover reputations 
tarnished by the actions of a few wayward individuals.

We hope they are able to move forward during the investigation and 
continue to educate students to the positive standards the vast 
majority of teachers, parents and students expect and desire.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom