STUDENTS WANT DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS

REGARDING the Oct. 3 news article "Northside students differ about
undercover cop":

We're sixth-graders at Northside Middle School who are looking forward to
our future education at Northside High School. The recent drug operation at
NHS gave us much to be proud of. Although a few were involved in the drug
deals, we're proud that most of the students are drug-free.

This should make Northside High School stronger, not to mention safer.

Maybe those who oppose this operation do not oppose drugs as strongly as we
do. We younger students feel more secure because there are no drugs in the
high school. This operation might discourage someone from doing something
stupid like taking drugs because he or she might be afraid of getting caught.

We're also glad that none of the operation revealed any drug activity at
our middle school, next door to NHS. That makes us very happy and very secure.

NHS has so many wonderful things to offer us. We're glad drugs aren't going
to be part of our future, and that someone is watching out for us to see
that doesn't happen.

SHERRY M. GUERTLER, Teacher, sixth-grade

Language arts class

Northside Middle School

ROANOKE

Editor's note: This letter was also signed by the 25 students in the
sixth-grade language arts class.