Weapons and Drugs in Our Schools

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Weapons and Drugs in Our Schools

Problem:

The problem of weapons and drugs in schools has become a serious problem in schools throughout the United States. Almost 20% of all students in high school report that they have carried a weapon at least once, and in the past two years there have been over 80 homicides committed on school grounds. Also, teenage drug use in America is the highest of any industrialized nation and it is only getting worse. After a decade of declining drug use, the use of all illegal drugs by teenagers has increased significantly. Sixty-one percent of seniors in high school report of having used drugs and the percentage of children using drugs by the sixth grade has tripled. "In a recent survey, 19 percent of high school seniors indicated that they had smoked cigarettes and 9 percent had drunk alcohol by the sixth grade; half of eighth graders had tried cigarettes and 77 percent had reported of having used alcohol; and slightly over half of twelth graders reported at least one experience with illicit drugs" (National Commission, 1990).

Effects:

When such things as weapons and drugs enter a school, the first victim is learning. How can students learn when they are afraid of such things as guns and knifes. As Secretary of Education Richard Riley states, "When our children and their families are afraid to go to and from school and afraid to be in school, learning obviously suffers. It is critical that we continue to do everything we can to ensure that schools provide a secure environment" (Dept of Education 1990). Drugs can also have an impact on children in schools. Frequent drug users often arrive late at school or skip school altogethor, and marijuana use can cause such things as memory gaps and ...

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The Indiana public school system took a step in the right direction by holding a Youth Drug Summit where over 300 of the states youth attended. College students moderated the teens' discussions in which adults and the media were barred from attending. The reason for the summit came about because of the rise of drug use among youths in Indiana. School officials were frustrated so they turned to the students to ask them what they thought should be done. There is no better source of information about the problems effecting our youth than the youth themseleves. They know what will work and won't work. All we have to do is ask.

Works Cited

"States Moving to Rid Schools of Guns." Dept. of Education. October 26, 1995. www. http://www.ed.gov/P..es/10-1995/gun. 11/6/96.

Summerfield, Liane. "Drug and Alcohol Prevention Education." ERIC Digest. www. 11/6/96.

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