The Old Failures of New and Improved Anti-Drug Education I'm at the February 2001 Teens at the Table conference, a feel-good event sponsored by a coalition of Los Angeles youth organizations and high schools. It's designed to boost self-esteem and teach teenagers how to make smart decisions. In one of the sessions, a group of students is about to learn how easy it is to stay off drugs. It doesn't require anything as lame as red ribbons or "Just Say No" chants. It just takes knowing what constitutes a healthy decision -- one that is all your own -- coupled with a little real-life practice. [continues 4101 words]
Mira Costa High School will crack down on students who skip classes or get caught with drugs by taking away some of their most cherished activities - sports teams, school clubs and prom nights - under new policies adopted this week. The guidelines, approved by the school board Wednesday night and effective immediately, are designed to be tough but flexible, providing students with options, appeals and opportunities to keep violations off their transcripts. "In essence, it gives them a second chance," board member Tracey Windes said, referring to the new drug policy. [continues 531 words]
After an unprecedented number of drug and alcohol offenses this year, Mira Costa High School plans to crack down on student violators by banning them from extracurricular activities, putting them in counseling and possibly subjecting them to random drug tests. The proposal - part of a comprehensive overhaul of the school's disciplinary system - is slated to come before the Manhattan Beach Board of Education for discussion on July 17. The proposed policies are undergoing legal review. Topping the list of recommendations is a two-pronged approach for dealing with first-time drug offenders, which has been a nagging problem at the Manhattan Beach high school. In the past year, there have been nearly 50 suspensions for drug and alcohol offenses, 17 in one month - a school record, officials say. [continues 328 words]
