Today, a couple of my students were talking about their plans for the weekend. You see the weekend, for them (and me) will start tomorrow because we have Friday off in honor of Veteran’s Day. Woo Hoo! Anyway, to my dismay their plans included “getting faded.” When I asked, “Well, what does getting faded mean?”, I was told that it meant getting drunk and enjoying the high and feeling that comes with it. So I pressed for more details. One student imitated the way she felt, which was carefree and loose (in the sense that she felt nothing was weighing her down) by slowly waving her arms and hands in the air. And then, she imitated herself throwing up in a toilet.
I stated, “So, X, you mean to tell me that it feels good to hug a cold toilet while puking your guts out?” She looked at me with this puzzled look on her face.
“No.” But, it feels good . . . . before that part. I’m just chillin’. I’m not caring about anything.”
I stressed the point over and over that they were underage and too young to be drinking. It didn’t matter. One boy said his dad and other relatives shared their beer with him. He told stories of how he spent his 16th birthday in Mexico getting drunk with family and friends there. He acted as if he was proud of it. Meanwhile, I was saddened.
Both my T.A. (teaching assistant) and I told them stories of people who we knew, while in college, who got drunk and had things happen to them. X, the girl who told me that she was planning to get “faded,” had mentioned that she stopped a drunk friend from getting raped. Still, the dangers of drinking, drugs and date rape would not deter her. Again, I felt saddened and helpless. Saddened because some of my kids lead such hard lives and face such harsh realities that I can understand why they look for ways to escape. But, I certainly don’t think that drinking and drugs are the answer.
And then, I feel helpless because no matter what I say or try to do. No matter what their school counselors say or try to do, some of them are encouraged by their own parents and guardians to engage in that type of behavior. That’s what saddens and frustrates me the most-the parental encouragement or lack of discouragement.
Sometimes I just want to yell and scream, “What is wrong with some of these parents!!!!????” I know you want your kids to like you and think you are cool, but seriously, does that mean helping them get plastered and contributing to their delinquent behavior? I’d like to know what you think.
Posted by School Teacher 
Posted by School Teacher 
