DOING THE RIGHT THING

If it takes a community to raise a child, then it takes dedicated
educators to go beyond the classroom to help solve some of the
problems facing youth in our district.

School District 69 (Qualicum) has its Drug and Alcohol Review
Committee - going beyond simple expulsion or suspension for student
offenses when it comes to substance abuse.

While not the complete answer for drug and alcohol abuse issues, it
does deserve credit for trying to identify the reasons behind a young
person's misuse of, or addiction to, those substances. Instead of
kicking the kids out of school (although that remains an option),
teachers and administrators involved in this program work with the
student and their family to make positive change - and keep the school
environment a safe one.

This committee's efforts are good work - not just to ensure the school
district shows it cares, but for actually taking time to reach a young
person, whether they have made a first mistake, or have serious
substance abuse problems.

Other than parents, educators are often the first line of defense when
it comes to the well-being of children. Society places a lot of trust
in them to do the right thing.

Sometimes, simply kicking them out of school and often into the hands
of bad habits and poor decisions is not the right thing to do. This
committee is doing what it can to prevent further mistakes.