We watched Tuesday morning as Mayor Jim Petitjean exhorted the Head Start pre-schoolers spread out in front of him in City Hall.

We wish the message of No Drugs that he and others like Principal Verelda Girouard exclaimed to her pre-k and kindergarten students last Friday would really take hold.

It's a simple, straight forward message to stay away from illegal drugs. It's not complicated.

But the message, regrettably, faces an uphill battle. Some parents and family don't care enough to drive the message home to their children. Parents are the best teachers for their children. They should never relinquish their responsibility to the school or churches. Schools, churches and the community as a whole can re-enforce the message, but just like learning good manners and respect for your elders begin in the home, the message of right and wrong begins with the first loving words of discipline.

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