Don't have kids, have a dog. They don't talk back.

It must be very difficult to get today’s teenager’s attention talking about drugs and alcohol when some of the parents themselves smoke pot, abuse prescription drugs or indulge in numerous cocktails every evening to unwind.

What Barry Groves and the school board is not telling all is the increase in drugs, arrests and crime at MVHS. Barry does not want to disclose that the academics are on the down turn with the influx of the english learners at MVHS. Since the move of these students (mainly hispanic) the drug use, crime has gone up and the GPA has gone down. The teachers are noticing it.This resembles the bussing mistakes of years past. My son who graduated last year came back to school over break and did not recognize the place- the demographics have changed and the effects are negative. The high end students and parents are frustrated with the lack of leadership from Barry Groves and the board. There is only 1 board member with students at MVHS and the rest are out of touch. And that does not account for the board members that have been on the board for over 25 years!!!It is time for a change at the top!!!!

Cyndy's comment is likely the most ignorant, racist I've seen in some time. I have considerable, and I mean CONSIDERABLE, experience with MVHS and I can tell you from personal experience that it is NOT the "influx of English (sic) learners" who are responsible for the perceived increase in drug use and crime. Best look closer to home folks, the amount of denial and scapegoating is pathetic. Anyone want to talk about the "party gone bad" and who was there??? I'm guessing the "English language learners" didn't start that one.

I can assure Cyndy that those "high end" students (read "white and upper middle class" I assume) need no help from Latin students in getting sidetracked and into trouble. I agree with the neighbor from Monta Loma that the scapegoating is pathetic. Even worse, it's useless. The best way to address teen drug abuse is for parents and other elders to cultivate an open and attentive relationship with their kids that is non-shaming but holds kids responsible for their behavior. To me, drug use signals boredom and a need for the community to provide more varied activities for youth. Drug abuse however points to a lack of skills in managing emotional distress. For that, there are plenty of supports in the community to help kids develop distress tolerance skills. There are also widely available 12-step groups for those struggling with addiction and for the people who love them. Reason and compassion are key.

BRAVO CYNDY

There were way more drugs when it was called Awalt...believe me!

I am not affiliated with these schools. I came across this article while searching for information about the drug krokodil reaching the United States, as I, among most others, find it terrifying. That said, what was said about the other drugs is mostly a complete lie (ecstasy does not fry brain cells-the worst damage associated with it is that of dehydration, which its use can certainly cause). While it is important for parents to be educated about drugs and drug use, presenting completely false statements to children in this age of information will likely cause an adverse affect than what is intended. I encourage all parents reading this to scour the internet or whatever legitimate, fact-checked source available to them in order to become fully educated on the actual dangers of these drugs. You see, when teenagers are fed complete lines of crap for so long, they eventually do some experimenting of their own, and when they find that just one "fact" their parents informed them of is blatantly wrong, they have a tendency to completely disregard everything their parents say about anything, because, in their eyes (and reality), their parents are liars. For the sake and safety of your children, please become informed. If your children don't try drugs first, their friends will, and the truth will eventually come out. Besides, wouldn't you have more peace of mind knowing that you've done your research and you know exactly what you need to about the situation? When your children ask questions or are caught doing things they shouldn't be, you will be able to have an honest discussion with them and offer REAL answers. Thanks for your time!