Drugs remain family problem

Drugs have resulted in the expulsion of multiple Rockhurst students in recent years, particularly with last year’s Junior Retreat incident.  These cases have caused the administration to consider implementing random drug testing which could potentially affect all students in the years to come.  While it is unlikely that any new testing will soon be established this year , students still feel strongly about this issue.

It is parents’ duty to control their son’s drug usage.  Rockhurst’s administration should only get involved if students bring drugs to school or a school-sponsored event.

The administration is still concerned about drugs outside of Rockhurst, but this falls under the jurisdiction of the parents. Parents must not turn a blind eye to the potential presence of drugs in their sons’ lives and must be prepared to discipline and properly punish their kids for use of such substances.

The administration exists to keep Rockhurst as a whole running smoothly ,from academics to extra curriculars,  not to reach out into the arena of parents and catch students who decide to do drugs on a weekend.

If students are bringing drugs to Rockhurst events or showing up to Rockhurst events under the influence of illegal subttances, the administration can and should step in.  Such actions cannot be tolerated on or around the school. However, the idea of a random drug test by an outside company at a random point during the year is wrong and intrudes upon students’ lives outside of school.

The current policy allows for the faculty to adequately monitor and punish drug use among students at Rockhurst events.  Because the current policy works, random testing is unnecessary.

In the past, students using drugs at Rockhurst events have been caught and dealt with.  The Junior Retreat is a clear example.

The members of last year’s junior class who were caught using drugs on the retreat were  severely punished by the administration.

Under the current policy, students who bring drugs to Rockhurst events or show up to these events intoxicated are voluntarily putting themselves in a situation in which they can, and likely will, be caught and punished by the administration.

However if this action occurs outside of school, it becomes the parents responsibility. The school does not condone drug use; however, drug use outside of school events should fall under jurisdiction of the parents and not under the schools.

Tags drug testing Drugs