LENIENCY ON DRUGS DOES STUDENTS NO FAVORS

To the editor:

I would like to applaud the students and teachers at Virginia High School
who are insisting that the "zero-tolerance" policy be followed regarding
the students who have been caught smoking marijuana in a school bathroom.

Our society is falling apart because of people's refusal to take
responsibility for their actions. By giving the students a "slap on the
hand" in order to avoid disrupting their education, the School Board is not
doing these students any favors. On the other hand, if the board were to
enforce the rules that "law-abiding" students are following, maybe a year
of sitting out of school functions would give the students time to reflect
about the poor choices they are making.

Schools are expected to teach "character education." What kind of lesson
are the rule-breakers learning from the 20-day punishment.

Tamyra Kennedy

Norton, Va.