Teachers are not here to solve drug problems

Most of the people giving quick comments about drugs in our schools had the right idea — parents need to be doing their job of raising their children.

Being their pal won't work for most teens. They really want you to say "no" so they don't have to make those decisions that they really aren't ready to make. They don't realize how taking drugs or drinking too much alcohol will affect their future.

Please don't ask the schools to do more. I taught for 38 years, and teachers are asked to do more and more all the time. If we are to concentrate on teaching the standards that have been handed down to us to teach, we don't have time to do the parents' jobs as well.

As an elementary teacher I was asked to teach sex education, drug education, toothbrushing skills, study skills, health and more, depending on the grade level — and don't forget to teach reading, math, P.E., writing, social studies and life, earth and physical science.

Oh yeah, don't forget geography, so they won't be one of those people on the street who doesn't know where the capital of their country might be!

How many of you know the three branches of the government and what they do? Standards say that all third-graders should know this information.

So please don't ask teachers to also solve the drug problems in our schools.

Parents need to step up and parent the children they chose to bring into this world.

Janet Ferguson
Lodi

Reader Feedback

Tired of It Teacher wrote on Jan 23, 2007 4:41 PM:

" Janet, Many thanks for very true remarks on need for parenting in today's families. Because their students have not been taught respect, manners, common courtesy, teachers don't have time for teaching all that is required. Many students are robbed of equal education because disfunctional students take up teacher attention. We are afraid to offend or to be sued if we hold parents accountable. It begins with our tolerant society that pays young women when they have babies out of wed-lock....now we deal with 3rd generation disfunctional fatherless children. "

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Akmed Akbar al Hakeem wrote on Jan 22, 2007 7:47 PM:

" Janet, You are right. You should teach. Parents should parent.... Why can't people get this simple concept. I think that parents do not want to face their responsibilities wish to make teachers and others responsible for their failures. Good summary "

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R.G. Goldstein wrote on Jan 22, 2007 7:42 PM:

" The school kids range from scientists to rot. The biggest problem is the breeding stock...the parents. Parents are the scourge of high school children. They have so many personal problems they haven't time to bring up their kids with values and morals because they don't have any themselves. 36 years in this business makes me puke. Your kids are like you, crooked, rotten, drunks, alkies, lyers, cheaters, and all the rest. "

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nylodian wrote on Jan 22, 2007 5:02 PM:

" I completely agree with you, Janet! "

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Mr. HG wrote on Jan 22, 2007 8:33 AM:

" Janet, I love your article and agree with everything you say. Unfortunately, times have changed. Crystal Meth didn't exist back in the day. Parents are so messed up with divorce, drugs and other sin that kids need a rock in their lives. You may be the only sober roll model in the lives of these kids. Kudos to you for all your hard work, Janet. "

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There Has To Be A... wrote on Jan 22, 2007 7:51 AM:

" "Checks and Balances" system in this country, because parents are failing to guide their children in critical areas like smoking, drinking and drugs as well as crime. The pendalum has shifted to the RIGHT to an extreme to the point you cannot stop your child from leaving the house. You cannot use physical punishment. The Courts are incredibly lenient and these factors only encourage youths that they can do as they wish! Add those parents who "COULD CARE LESS" about arguiing till they are blue in the face with a teen and children are indeed "LOST"! "

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