In Los Angeles, students have easy access to drugs and alcohol. From middle school to high school, students come to class high and/or drunk or with a hangover. The teacher is challenged with being able to identify the child that is high and/or drunk. Steps a teacher can take is to send the student to the nurse’s office or notify a dean. Teachers deal with behavior possibly associated with drugs and/or alcohol on a regular basis. Behaviors in students may include hyperactivity, inability to focus, drowsiness, lethargy, anger and moodiness. However, sometimes it is difficult to pin point the causes of these symptoms since the possibilities of origination can be numerous.
Drugs and alcohol use by students is an issue teachers can’t deal with alone. Teachers need the support of students’ family members, the school, the district, and the city. If an important goal is high test scores for students and to nurture life-long learners, critical thinkers and contributing members of society, then it is necessary to create an environment where drugs and alcohol are not so easily accessible to children.
Any substance that can inhibit thinking and perception can be detrimental to a child’s intellectual growth. Societal awareness of the widespread problem of drugs and alcohol in the middle school and high school classroom is a first step.
Via: examiner.com