PARENTS HEADS IN THE SAND

Ms. Sandy Thacker, president of the MHS PTSA, completely misses the
point and is not addressing the issue. We are not questioning MHS'
scholastics, nor asking for interventions, rehab, a correction
facility, etc. on campus. We want our children safe at school. My wife
and I accept our part in our child's situation, as does he. But MHS
and Ms. Thacker are out to cover their butts and unwilling to take any
responsibility. It becomes a debate about blame. Their response is
defensive and their purpose is to protect the school's reputation.
MHS' reputation is sealed... as one of the most drug-riddled schools
on the West side. Drugs will never be completely wiped out, but school
should be part of the solution, not a contributing factor.

We received calls from many parents of MHS graduates. One father
stated his kids graduated 10 years ago, and that "the school was a
cesspool of drugs then, just as it is now." Nothing has changed in 10
years and there are no future plans.

The parents of our child's friends keep their heads buried in the
sand. Speaking to some of them, most feel it is not their problem. One
parent was shocked to learn his child had tried drugs, even though
most of the child's friends are dopers. Wake up. This is a community
crisis.

MHS principal Kelley stated students do drugs recreationally on the
weekends. That's not the school's responsibility, but the fact they
buy and are able to do drugs on campus is.

The problem does not exist because "Malibu is filled with rich kids."
It is partially because of the extended families children come from;
multiple divorces, stepfathers, stepmothers, stepsiblings, etc. There
is a lack of parental supervision at home that carries into a lack of
adult supervision at school. Many kids are lost in the shuffle between
"families."

Ms. Thacker stated our letter was a "disservice to our community." The
real disservice is that our president of MHS PTSA is so out of touch.
She wrote about the Angels at Risk program on campus. We have been
going to Angels at Risk meetings every week at Samohi for the past
three months. Why go there? MHS does not have Angels at Risk meetings
because they were unable to get more than two parents to attend. We
would like to attend an Angels at Risk meeting at MHS with Ms.
Thacker. Just let us know when and where.

Sandy & Harriet Helberg