TEACHERS SHOULD BE GIVEN DRUG TRAINING

Issue: Employee severely reprimanded for talking about school nurse
shortage. We Suggest: She had both the right and duty to discuss the problem.

Teachers can be a very important force in drug prevention if they recognize
the signs of drug use among students. With proper knowledge, they can
intervene at a crucial period, because the problem now reaches into the
elementary school level.

Recently, the Alexandria police department hosted an awareness seminar for
Rapides Parish educators. It was geared essentially to acquainting them
with the drugs likely to make their way on to campuses, and teaching them
to recognize the symptoms of use. Attendees included teachers, counselors,
coaches, principals and assistant principals. They were taught to identify
drugs by appearance and learned the impact that various substances have on
children. Of great importance, they were instructed on the symptoms to look
for when a student is suspected of drug use.

Those educators who attended are now qualified to play a substantial role
in the fight against drug abuse.

We suggest that similar programs by law enforcement agencies and substance
abuse prevention organizations would be valuable to all school systems. We
urge that school boards pursue the opportunity to educate their personnel
on this deadly serious problem.