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Having high expectations and setting high standards for every student
will help build good citizens, good character, and good discipline.
We must teach students the skills they need and help them obtain the
knowledge to contribute in an ever-changing economy. We must help all
children get on the right course and stay on it.
We know that teen drug use is leveling off and, in some cases, even
decreasing. But it is still far too high. We must give young people
the opportunity to say YES to learning and YES to living safe and drug-free.
Locally, Fighting Back is among those organizations waging a noble
crusade on this front, with very positive results.
It’s also important to know that the average child spends some
40 hours a week in front of the television — that’s 40
hours when the child is not reading, playing the piano, sharing a hobby,
or getting extra help with a hard subject at school. In a very real
sense, it’s 40 missed hours of living and learning. We need to
work together to give our children something better to do with some
of that time.
As we think about how to do that, here are some key facts: Six in 10
Americans say that it is very common for teenagers to face social problems
like drugs, gangs, or crime. Four in 10 teenagers say they see people
their own age using drugs or alcohol almost every day. At the same
time, about half of our teenagers say they would be very comfortable
doing community service, like volunteering at a hospital, church or
soup kitchen; working with homeless children; or tutoring at school.
And here’s another pertinent fact: According to the FBI, youth
between the ages of 12 and 17 are most at risk of committing violent
acts and being victims of crime between the hours of 3 and 8 p.m. Surveys
show that parents want their children to be involved in after-school
learning and enrichment activities.
Community service is always vital for young people. Hundreds of corporations,
nonprofits, government agencies, communities of faith, civic and fraternal
organizations and service clubs across the nation provide opportunities
for young people to take part. Locally, Fighting Back is coordinating
a countywide effort to recruit and place mentors with school-age children.
You can volunteer to be a mentor by calling Jean Carroll at 682-6667,
ext. 113.
Here are some more resources, free of charge, that are available for
those who’d like to get involved and stay involved:
• Growing up Drug Free: A Parents Guide to Prevention
• Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
• Manual on School Uniforms
• Manual to Combat Truancy
• Creating Safe and Drug-Free Schools: An Action Guide
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These free materials can be obtained by calling the U.S. Department
of Education at 1-800-624-0100.
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