Talk to them.

When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder I can think at all
But my lack of education hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall
~Paul Simon "Kodachrome"

Part of my day tomorrow will include showing up at my son's high school--that would be "The Mighty Fremd"--and joining him and his peers on the Scholastic Bowl Team for a little drug and alcohol film.

All students on teams of any kind must have their parents do as I'm doing if they wish to play.

I'm assuming educating footballers about steroids is probably more what this is all about but in the interest of everyone feeling they are being treated fairly, the kids in the Bowl will hear about the evils of illicit substances during the after school time when they would normally be prepping for their first meet.

I don't mind showing up at my son's high school in the middle of the day. I like getting to know what the vibe is like there.
But this is not my favourite reason to go there as I believe strongly that at this late stage it's a wasted (no pun intended) effort.

Our kids have been harped at to say no to drugs since oh, first grade. Again and again it is drilled into them--sort of like Jesus is at Bible school or the multiplication tables in math class.

By now (at age 14, minimum) they are headed in the right or wrong direction when it comes to drinking and drugging. Talk to them. You'll know pretty quickly who thinks frying his/her brain is stupid vs. someone who may be chipping around with the stuff already.

I appreciate that my son's high school cares that he not use drugs but I don't feel it is their responsibility to make up his mind for him nor to police him, for lack of a better word. As his parent I make my feelings on the subject known and he does the same. (Right now, he's quite dismissive of even adults having a beer or a glass of wine--he just can't see the point.)

Early on in this school year after a ride home on the school bus he related overhearing a 16-year-old girl boast about how drunk she got on her birthday. His voice dripped with disdain as he related it. I'm glad he overheard it though because it is his reality--his world as it is right here and now.

So isn't watching a 15 minute anti-drug film at this late stage rather moot when all he's got to do is get on the school bus to hear about the latest exploits of kids for whom the DARE (police anti-drug) program did not work?

Comments

[Cyn]

Thank you for the kind words.
I would consider submitting it but Chris would absolutely die if I did. It's bad enough that I "exploit" him on my blog, lol.

Just by the by, before showing the film, the Scholastic Bowl sponsor mentioned that it was "pretty funny." I guess no one was meant to take it seriously.

[Her Brother]

I can't imagine what you're going to say to them. You don't believe in total abstinence, so how can you preach it? "Weed is safer than aspirin, but don't do it because...well, because I said so."

Nice writing, BTW. You should submit it to your local Pioneer Press.