SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T CARE

Re Smoking pot in front of homes (letter to the editor from Andrea Beechey,
Oct. 8).

I am a 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Preston High School and over the
past few weeks I have been following everything that has been written about
my school in The Cambridge Reporter. I've always had the urge to write in,
but it wasn't until Andrea Beechey's letter that I decided to actually do it.

First, I agree with some of your points, Ms. Beechey. Yes, students smoke
pot at the front of the school, yes they yell profanities at drivers, yes
they litter, and yes they cause damage to property in the vicinity of the
school. However, they are not supposed to smoke pot in the designated
smoking area of the school. It is designated for the smoking of cigarettes
only.

The only problem is that the administration does not have time to monitor
every single person and what they are smoking.

I detest the fact that the front of our school is crowded and blocked by
smokers. However, the school has to designate an area for people who want
to smoke. Unfortunately, the front of the school is the only place that
they can do so, as it is illegal to smoke on school property.

The administration does all that it can to keep these students in line,
however, as I'm sure you'll remember from your days at Preston, when you
tell certain students what not to do, they feel the need to do it even
more. Also, when these students are punished for their actions, some just
don't care and keep doing what they have been doing all along.

As a nonsmoker, and a proud Panther, I urge you to understand that just
because some students decide to smoke pot, vandalize property and swear at
drivers doesn't mean that the "pride" of Preston High School has disappeared.

It simply means that just like everywhere in the world, there are people
who just don't seem to care about their actions and the consequences those
actions have on their neighbourhood.

Alicia Singh

Cambridge