EDUCATION IS POWER

Re: "Pot smokers' penalty has mom fuming" (April 1).

I was impressed with the ingenuity acting principal Pam Smith showed in
disciplining her Grade 7 students by having them spend three days in Grade
2 for smoking marijuana. There is nothing less cool than being put back a
few grades (A+ for follow-up with drug awareness study).

I was appalled, however, at the reaction of the mother who was against this
because little kids look up to big ones as role models (not any more); and
she didn't want to have to talk to her eight-year-old about drugs. How long
should parents bury their heads in the sand?

Drug discussions at my house started as soon as my kids were old enough to
understand that we don't take medicine because it's a tasty treat. Now, at
six and eight, they are starting to understand that people under the
influence of certain drugs can do serious damage to their bodies and minds.
My husband and I discuss news coverage of drug abuse with them. I plan to
inform my children while they are young enough to see it as information,
and not a lecture.

Informing my children about drugs does not mean I encourage drug use.
Children who have entrenched values about what is good, bad or needs to be
handled with caution will have more reason to make good choices than
children who don't. Education is power.

Isabelle Campbell, Stellarton