WHS Drug Search Worries Students; Parents Remain Silent
Originally printed in The Westerly Sun
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Author: Emily Dupuis
"I'm struggling with the fact that more of our parents and community members aren't knocking on my door," says Westerly High's principal.
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| At the meeting, from left, Police Chief Edward Mello, Varsity Athletes Against Substance Abuse member Christine Corah and Youth Task Force President Franklin Patton. | ||
"There are kids who, because of that, saw the school and police department are not messing around," said Nick Schilke, senior class president, adding the show of force "definitely made a huge impact."
While the K-9 search, which turned up no drugs, may have concerned students, school officials said they are not sure parents took similar notice.
Westerly High School Principal Paula Fusco said she received only one e-mail from a parent.
"I have not heard from anyone," she said.
"I'm struggling with the fact that more of our parents and community members aren't knocking on my door."
Westerly Police Chief Edward Mello said he is glad the search, done annually, affected students. "It is more about sending that clear message" that underage drinking and drug use are not tolerated, he said.
On Tuesday, community and school leaders continued their efforts to spread that message.
Roughly 30 people attended the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force's annual town hall meeting, which featured a panel of students and school, police and ambulance corps officials. All urged community members to talk with their children about underage drinking and drug use.
Mary Lou Serra, task force coordinator, said, "Our goal is simple, at least to us. Start the discussion. Start talking, parents. These kids need to hear from you."
Parents could mention the police department's recent lockdown and K-9 search to spark that conversation, said Jessica Spencer, a student assistance councilor at the high school.
"It shouldn't just stop there. Although these are professionals, it is not their job to baby-sit your children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So this being scared (during the drug search) and those sorts of messages should also go home. Continue those discussions at home," she said.
Youth Task Force President Franklin Patton said drinking and drug use is a problem at the high school, where he is a sophomore.
An aspiring police officer, he said lunchroom talk revolves around weekend drinking, and students smoke cigarettes when they pass between the school's two buildings.
Schilke, also football team co-captain and a member of Varsity Athletes Against Substance Abuse (VAASA), said athletics deterred him from drinking or using drugs. But a "small group" at the high school chooses otherwise.
Nick Algiere, vice president of the senior class, football co-captain and VAASA member, agreed, and said roughly 70 percent of the high school's students abstain from alcohol and drugs.
But Mello said of the remaining 30 percent - roughly 300 students - "that's a big number."
All of the students said it is not difficult to get alcohol or drugs using fake identification cards, parents' liquor cabinets and refrigerators, or older siblings.
Some parents, they added, allow their children and friends to drink at home if they hand over their car keys.
"Whether you have their keys or not, it's still dangerous because you're promoting it," Algiere said of those adults.
Christine Corah, a senior, three-sport athlete and VAASA member, said parents are responsible for asking where their children are going and with whom. And students must know there are consequences for underage drinking or drug use. "We ask for guidance. We ask for help. This is where we get shaped as adults, during this time. And this is where we need our parents most," she said.
Fusco said the school department follows clear guidelines, which include notifying parents or police. "For me, it's non-negotiable," she said. "Students are here to learn."
Mello added that drug arrests at the high school are not unusual: "That's a pretty regular occurrence."
And Westerly Ambulance Corps Commander Dennis Mello said his crews deal with incidents related to teen drinking and drug use "almost daily."