Thursday, June 21, 2007

Say Cheese!

The schools in the D/FW Metroplex have recently been invaded by a new drug called Cheese. It's a mixture of black tar heroin and Tylenol PM, crushed up and snorted. Its cheap and over 20 teen deaths have been attributed to it since its invasion into this area. Strangely enough (according to articles I've read) the majority of deaths have been in the hispanic demographic. For some reason, this drug is really only prevalent in this area of the country. DEA has been working with local law enforcement in hopes of preventing the spread of this "fad" to other regions of the country. The Dallas Independent School District also started an "information" campaign to let kids know the dangers and to let parents know of the signs.

Some schools have also taken the initiative and had speakers (mainly law enforcement types) speak to students at assemblies to inform them of the dangers. And, this brings me to the main reason why I'm blogging on this particular issue.

The drug is starting to get some national news coverage now, and about a week or so ago CNN did a story on the drug. They had a camera crew go into a middle school which happens to be the school where my elementary school feeds into. So some of the kids at this school are my former pupils.

Anyway, the video was of an "informational" assembly conducted by a police officer on the dangers of drug usage and to warn students of this Cheese. Anyway, after asking students several questions in the "How many of you know someone that takes or sells drugs?" category, the officer went on to tell the students that, "The United States is the biggest consumer of illegal drugs in the world." What happened next, is just totally mindboggingly stupid and sick.

Applause and cheering!

Kids are really Stupid sometimes (with a capital S).

Some of these were my former students. But, really, what can I do? They come to me for one year, and then they leave. They come to school for about 7 hours each day, then they spend 17 hours elsewhere. And, of course that doesn't count weekends.

Anyway, its a sad, sad thing and I hate that I know some of these bozos. They are on the fast track to nowhere. Anyway, just a little rant on the futility of educating some of these kids.