A Stranger In The House, Part 6a

A WAY TO 'EXPOSE THE PROBLEM'

You've read the stories in The Sun's series, "A Stranger in the
House," published this week. You've seen the statistics. You want to
know what can be done.

As associate superintendent for Edmond Public Schools, I work with
parents, administrators, counselors, community members and kids. They
all admit that some, maybe many, Edmond students illegally use alcohol
and drugs. As I read the stories, I see faces and remember names. The
anonymous are real people to me.

Our school system hasn't overlooked the facts. We've hired resource
counselors at each high school to work with at-risk kids. A Safe and
Drug Free Schools Committee meets regularly. Training programs offered
to staff members teach them how to recognize needy students. Police
officers at the high school campuses constantly search for signs of
substance abuse. "After Prom" offers kids a chance for a safe and fun
evening without alcohol. DARE teaches middle school students about the
danger of drugs.

And still the suspension notices for substance abuse keep crossing my
desk. Underage students easily can purchase beer. Parents offer
alcohol in their homes supposedly to keep drunk kids from driving.
"Field parties" planned mostly for the purpose of drinking continue to
occur. New and more dangerous drugs become the latest addiction.

Facts and figures show that last year more than a hundred drug and
alcohol incidents were reported in our secondary schools. We dread the
day when we pick up a paper or hear a newscast stating that one of our
students was hurt or killed in an alcohol or drug-related wreck.

The question remains: So what do we do?

First we need to define the problem. One way to do this is to give the
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) Survey to our high school
students. We have been talking with administrators, parents,
counselors, community members and students since last spring about the
YRBS; and we've received enthusiastic support. This anonymous survey
administered by the Oklahoma State Health Department would measure how
many of Edmond's youth practice a variety of health-risk behaviors.

The information would be helpful not only to the schools as we plan
curriculum and guidance programs, but it also would be beneficial to
church youth groups and other organizations as they search for
appropriate programs. Parents would have real facts and figures to aid
in discussions with their children about risky behaviors.

Finally, it would help the kids, and isn't that what it's all about?

We're considering administering the YRBS next spring, and we would
like to hear what you think about it.

Call me at 340-2821 or e-mail me at blyons@edmond.k12.ok.us. As "Joe"
stated in one of the articles on Monday, "Parents, schools and the
juvenile justice system can help alleviate the drug problem if they
work together to expose the problem."

Let's roll up our sleeves and get busy!

(Brenda Lyons is associate superintendent of Edmond Public Schools.
The views expressed are her own. She can be reached at
blyons@edmond.k12.ok.us)