DRUG ABUSE? LET'S HEAR FROM STUDENTS

The Logan Banner would like to know more about what is actually going on
inside our public school system. As we hear it, drug and alcohol abuse and
student bullying are on the rise. We have even heard rare cases of teacher
misconduct. Before something like Columbine comes to our region, we ask for
your help. Since our board has not yet given us a clear picture of what
they are doing to irradiate these problems that involve our children, we
are reaching out to the ones that are most affected - the students. So, in
order to gain understanding of what the problems are, we are asking for
students to write us anonymously - we definitely don't want your name - and
tell us about any specific problems you see, including illegal drug abuse
at the schools. You don't have to name any names; however, we do invite you
to expose the circumstances and problems you're aware of. We will publish
our findings in this newspaper. We encourage teachers and parents to get
behind this effort and persuade your youngsters to write us. What is our
real intention? We want to raise awareness of the problems in our county
public schools. We also want to encourage the Logan County Board to find
practical solutions - whether it is increased hall monitors, drug and
character education, security guards, added police surveillance or frequent
school searches with drug sniffing dogs. Maybe the answer is a combination
of several programs and aggressive actions. Several of our board members
have said in the past that they intend to fight this epidemic. The time to
start is now before we lose anymore of our young people to drugs. Write to:
The Logan Banner Drug Abuse In Our Schools PO Box 720 Logan, WV 25601
Please, give your age and the school you attend when you write. Again, we
do not want your name. Along with your story of the school, we invite your
suggestions in curbing these problems. Additionally, we invite counselors,
pastors, community leaders, and teachers to give suggestions of solutions
to the drug problems in our schools.