DESTROYED FROM INSIDE

For Jim Parker to imply that actions of students who do not
participate in extracurricular activities do not affect others is
absurd. Student drug users come from all genres. I don't know what
happy little world he is living in, but I see drug trafficking in our
halls and am faced with them on a daily basis. I see the effect they
have on the users, as well as those the users come in contact with.

A friend of mine was assaulted by a boy who was under the influence of
drugs. This boy claimed my friend had offended him and then proceeded
to beat him with a baseball bat. He was out of school for three days.
When a child is being harmed by another student due to the use of
drugs, it is most certainly the parent's business and right to respond.

My generation is growing up in a sad world. If things continue as they
are, future generations are doomed. If we continue to take this "It's
not my kid so I don't care" attitude, this country will be brought to
its knees. We worry so much about terrorism and wars, yet we are
allowing our country to be destroyed from the inside out. Forgive me
if I want more for my future children than a broken nation without any
hope or morals.

CHELSEY POWERS

Editor's Note: These letters were submitted by
students in Melanie Ragland's journalism class at
Hawley High School in response to Jim Parker's Jan. 24
letter to the editor, "Hawley drug testing invasion of privacy."