Student suspended for speaking out against drug teachings

Ottawa Citizem ^

[starzed_]

Smells like teen spirit Ottawa Citizen Editorial Published: Friday, June 22, 2007

Teenagers are good at seeing through lies and half-truths. That's why baseless propaganda, like the old movie Reefer Madness, doesn't work. Why would anyone take advice from someone who doesn't know what drugs actually do?

The adults of Wawota Parkland School in Saskatchewan are acting like insecure children, because they feel threatened by the actions of one bright, principled, inquisitive teenager.

This year, the school gave a presentation to students about the dangers of drugs. Kieran King, 15, didn't react as the teachers expected. He started questioning, out loud, whether cannabis is really more dangerous than legal drugs such as alcohol or tobacco. Overblown warnings about the dangers of drugs, like those in the 1930s film "Reefer Madness," have never convinced young people. Kieran King was and is right to stand up against them. Overblown warnings about the dangers of drugs, like those in the 1930s film "Reefer Madness," have never convinced young people. Kieran King was and is right to stand up against them. Email to a friendEmail to a friendPrinter friendlyPrinter friendly Font:

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Kieran doesn't do drugs. He thinks drinking and smoking are stupid and dangerous. He's not encouraging substance abuse: He's standing up for the facts and expressing opinions.

The school wouldn't allow students to join a protest about the issue outside. Kieran and his brother went; the school suspended them, preventing Kieran from writing his final exams.

According to the Saskatchewan Marijuana Party, the school even threatened Kieran with legal action.

Instead of smearing a young man's reputation, the school and school board should be lauding his spirit and diligence. Education is supposed to nurture independent thought and the love of truth.

Adults will have more luck convincing teenagers of the very real dangers of many drugs if they come clean about the statistics and admit there are contradictions in law and social attitudes.

The "trust us, we know better" approach doesn't turn teenagers into good citizens; it makes them bitter, angry and rebellious.

[starzed_]

Now is there any wonder why students no longer think before doing stuff? When a student questions the "facts" they are told, they are given a suspension. That's not right! This is a great time to let them develop a questioning mind, not a "follower". They always tell teens to be themselves, not to follow the "bad people", yet this is exactly what they are stopping.

Btw its been reported that some people are awakened by this; which they should be. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070621/marijuana_suspension_070621/20070621?hub=Canada

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070621.POT21/TPStory/National

[Cicero]

In my experience, having known a fair number of marijuana smokers, it is a dangerous drug.

It’s all very well that this kid doesn’t “do” drugs, but if he persuades his classmates to do them, there will be a heavy burden on his shoulders. He will be responsible for the wrecked lives that result.

[PAR35]

When a student questions the "facts" they are told, they are given a suspension.

No, when a participates in a walkout, the student is suspended.

"The school wouldn't allow students to join a protest about the issue outside. Kieran and his brother went; the school suspended them,"

[Lexington Green]

Do not question official lies..

[herMANroberts]

Only the person who smokes it is responsible. He isn't responsible for them. You're giving license for the worst behavior if a friend influences it.

I'd like to know about some of the dangerous behaviors of all the potheads you know and how it's any more dangerous than what we have under the influence of alcohol now. Are you advocating bringing back alcohol prohibition?

[metesky]

Bad headline. It should read: Student suspended for leaving school without authorization.

[Lurker]

Maybe yes and maybe no. But that doesn't mean adults should be filling this kids head with bs.

L

[P-40]

We had teachers that told us drugs were great and you could have a fun time with them...but before trying them we should look around the community a bit at the people who are into doing drugs...because they also once felt that drugs were great and you could have a fun time with them.

[tiki]

I’m all against drugs but around here they tell the kids that alcohol and cigarettes are drugs. Now I agree but they lump them in with hard drugs. Now kids observe people drinking and smoking and it is an easy step to thinking that hard drugs aren’t that bad either. Some drugs are worse than others, I would teach that they are all bad but meth is a heck of a lot worse than marijuana and heroine is worse than cigarettes.

[headsonpikes]

Bad headline indeed.

Should read: “Student suspended for unmasking propaganda function of public schools”

Or, “Student suspended for calling ‘Bullsh*t!”

[Wolfie]

Kid picked the wrong topic. If he was protesting the Party Line on Global Warming, conserviatives would be hailing him as the next Patrick Henry.

[Zon]

but if he persuades his classmates to do them, there will be a heavy burden on his shoulders.

Which falls short of being a crime. It is a crime to initiate force, threat of force or fraud against any person and their property. Initiation of force violates the  person's/victim's inalienable right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Person's who enlist other persons to initiate force on their behalf are co-conspirators to the criminal act.

[Zon]

Hypocrisy knows no party line or geographical boundry.

[metesky]

You talkin’ to me, stranger?

[Kirkwood]

Out of all the people I knew in college smoking marijuana, none of them finished school and they all dropped out. All those who didn’t smoke got through in 4 years or less. One of the potheads went back a few years later and got a degree when he stopped smoking and got his head on straight. I lost track with all the other potheads. I’m not saying this is a cause and effect, but still it is a correlation. It could be that underachievers tend to gravitate to drugs so they can escape from responsibility and life in general. While others with low self esteem start doing drugs to fit into a crowd with equally low expectations. Show me someone on drugs and I will show you someone who has other mental or emotional issues, some potentially more serious than taking drugs.

[gcruse]

As a blogger noted the other day, so much for the chimera of teaching students to think for themselves. Education is not about that at all. It’s about introjecting the values/propaganda of the state.

[Oztrich Boy]

Read the tagline

[starzed_]

Not once did he say that Marijuana wasn't dangerous. What he did say is that the "professionals" should be telling them the whole picture. I would say that it isn't as dangerous as others. Why can't they just say its dangerous, and not "the most" dangerous thats out there. The reason he questioned it was the fact that he's heard the "most dangerous" statement before, and wanted a reference for it.

Eugene Oscapella, an Ottawa lawyer and founding member of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, said Kieran should be commended for standing up for his rights. "If he is saying that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco, he's probably dead right," Mr. Oscapella said. "So what is wrong in an educational institution with discussing these issues?" -globe article

Why do they think that the only way to teach is to state "extreme danger" then not allow students to quanitfy the "danger" for themselves? Why don't they let then use their critical thinking part of their brain?

If you think they do, then you should actually go to the school "drug education" (what ever they call them) days or classes. Now you try to put the whole world perspective on it, and you will have your eyes opened.

I once got told after a tobacco education day by about a 6 grade student" do you know my mother is trying to kill me?" Yes thats exactly what he said! I then asked how he thought that? He said his mother smoked. Now this is "tobacco education" in Ontario, Canada. Now go to your child's class and look for the perspective in the teachings, you may not find it. I want analytical thinkers to continue to be normal, not sheeple.

[RIGHTWING WACKO FROM MASS.]

Marijuana is only illegal for taxation reasons. It’s not as dangerous as nicotene or alchohol. If the government could control it and it couldn’t be grown in your backyard believe me they would be subsudizing farmers to grow it and taxing the hell out of it.

[sourcery]

And how do you know which is correct: a) marijuana causes people to have psycho-emotional problems leading to self-destructive behavior, or b) people having psycho-emotional problems (that lead to self-destructive behavior) are attracted to drug use (and other taboo behaviors,) including marijuana?

Perhaps one reason people graduate from Marijuana to harder drugs is because a) they're told how bad Marijuana is, b) they try Marijuana, and so discover it's less harmful than alcohol, and c) the lie about Marijuana makes them believe what they've been told about the other drugs is also a lie (of course, for most of the other drugs, it's actually worse than they've been told.)

Where's your peer-reviewed research?