Bossier School Board upholds Advil expulsion Girl had over-the-counter pills in purse at school

shreveporttimes.com ^ | 12/06/03 | metalboy

[Skooz]

This is my Alma Mater.
Parkway High School
Class of '78.

You wouldn't believe the type and quantity of drugs we used to carry in our jackets in that place, way back then.

Still, expulsion for one Advil borders on insanity. And that the school board actually upheld the expulsion is mindboggling.

[Amelia]

I've spent plenty of time in the classroom and have seen cases where students have been carrying around illegal stuff in their Advil, etc. bottles. Then, I've seen them share it. If this is allowed you create a situation where teachers end up checking that it's really Advil in the Advil bottle.

Our school allows the students to carry a 1-day supply of OTC medications in the original package. They aren't allowed to share. Prescription drugs must be dispensed by the nurse.

We've had to call EMS before because of students overdosing on OTC cold medication provided by another student.

The headline here looks pretty ridiculous but I'll note two things: first, the parent can say whatever she wants, but if the school board gave all of its side of the story, it would be violating the student's privacy, so we probably don't have all the facts.

I also noted this part:

"...another school official said earlier Thursday that having medication on campus doesn't automatically lead to a one-year expulsion. "After an investigation and a hearing then, if necessary, punishment is administered. It could be no punishment," said Betty McCauley, Bossier schools student services director."

I don't think we have the full story.

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

It amazes me that because you people read something in the news, that you actually believe that as a result you know all there is to know about the event reported, sheesh!

[pageonetoo]

'I've spent plenty of time in the classroom and have seen cases where students have been carrying around illegal stuff in their Advil, etc. bottles. Then, I've seen them share it. If this is allowed you create a situation where teachers end up checking that it's really Advil in the Advil bottle."

Sounds, to me, like an abrogation of responsibity, on the teachers' part.

There is no justification, by saying someone MIGHT break the law. The implication is that teachers seem to think it is ok to suspend the Bill of Rights, because they are only chil'run!

The fact that there are bottom-feeders (lawyers) out there, looking for an opportunity, is certainly no reason to take away someone's Fourth and Fifth Amdt. Rights. If a crime is committed, the teachers, and others in authority, have an obligation to see that it is prosecuted, and the offender punished. Zero tolerance 'Rules" are an infringement on Individual Rights. (Where is a lawyer, when you really need one?)

Sorry, but I still think you HAVE been fooled, or just don't see any necessity in maintaining the promises made to the Citizens, in the Bill of Rights...or you have just received a contemporary 'public school' education (and don't know any better!). (I did go to a public school, but at NHHS, Wilmington, NC, class of '65, they taught us about the Constitution, and WHAT IT MEANS!)

[eno_]

The other point is that these kids are minors, and nobody should be giving them a pharmaceutical, over the counter or not.

That's ridiculous. Minors get sports injuries, and not using anti-inflammatory medication when it can safely be used is borderline irresponsible. This is something where the school is intruding waaay too far into what is rightfully parental discretion.

[Amelia]

The implication is that teachers seem to think it is ok to suspend the Bill of Rights, because they are only chil'run!

Two points here: (1) In general teachers don't make these rules, and many teachers think they tend to go a bit overboard. (2) Regardless of what some of you may think, school districts make this kind of rule in response to problems*, not so that they can expel or violate the privacy of students.

I'm also intrigued at your contention that minors have full constitional rights - on a thread a few days ago, which got quite contentious, a father was suing the school district on behalf of his daughter, a high school senior who apparently didn't want the school to be sued. Those on that thread who claimed to be arguing from a Constitutional point of view said that the 17 year old's opinion didn't matter because she was a minor.

Don't want to bring that thread over here, but I do find that interesting.

*Problems = students overdosing on medications they or others brought to school, students sharing medications, parents suing school because their child had a reaction to a medicine given them at school. There's a reason teachers aren't allowed to give students aspirin any more, and it's not cruelty or stupidity, it's a liability issue, because some people are just looking for a reason to sue.

[grania]

It's interesting you both right about individual rights of students. Yet, when education is disrupted many Freepers say it's because public schools don't do a good job.

These are the kinds of cases where (even if it's ludicrous) teachers can end up responsible (IE:sued) because our first obligation is the health and safety of our students. Actually, when I first started teaching in the '60s, these no medication rules, everything in the nurses office, were in place. They weren't taken very seriously then, because (1)you didn't have the abuse and drug problems to the degree you had starting in the '70s and (2) you didn't have an incredible percentage of kids on meds like Ritalin and having to worry about combinations.

I would also submit that if a young lady was discreet about her Advil no one would know she had it.

[William Tell]

Amelia said: "Our school allows the students to carry a 1-day supply of OTC medications in the original package."

Few medications are sold in 1-day quantities. This would mean that all but 1-day supply would have to be removed. On the second day, medication would be returned to the container for that day. The greater mass of the medication would be potentially separated from its identifying labels, dosages, use warnings, and expiration dates. I don't do this in my home. I consider it bad practice.

[Amelia]

The greater mass of the medication would be potentially separated from its identifying labels, dosages, use warnings, and expiration dates. I don't do this in my home. I consider it bad practice.

You can buy those small individual dose packets but they are expensive.

This thread was posted yesterday here.

[Manda_DeMoss]

Your kidding..............did they notify the F.B.I.

What idiots are running this school? I understand them taking the bottle away from her, but after they obviously discovered that it was Advil, they should have just dropped it. These people are getting ridiculous.

[Scenic Sounds]

Well, I guess they feel that they have to draw the line somewhere. I've been told that some of these kids take those Advil tablets, grind them up in the school shop and put the granules under their contact lenses. What will they come up with next? ;-)

[Amelia]

As I said earlier, we're only hearing the mother's side of the story. The school can't give out many details without violating the student's privacy.

It was pointed out on the other thread that the mother could have asked for the hearing to be open to the public (which would have given us the school's side of the story) but she did not.

The article does quote a school official as saying sometimes the students don't get punished at all for having medicine. It also says the girl was smoking and tried to run and hide when caught. (I'm guessing she ran into the girls' restroom because a male teacher found them but the story doesn't say so.) It also says this wasn't the first time she'd been in trouble.

I think there's more to the story.

[Amelia]

*rolling eyes*

You can read #32 also.

[Scenic Sounds]

*rolling eyes*

You're right, that's what I heard the kids call it - "rolling eyes." Sounds dangerous!

I also agree that there must be more to this story than that which is printed in this article. Most school officials figure out a way to do justice despite some of the crazy rules. ;-)

[Kirkwood]

IDIOTS! DOLTS! NINCOMPOOPS! Okay, enough name calling. I really have to wonder if they are willing to apply this dumb rule to themselves? I doubt that this rule would last more than a day if they weren't allowed to take an asprin or an NSAID at work. Folks we can't just keep rolling over and letting the idiots run our lives. Today it is a student in a school. Tomorrow, it will be illegal for all of us to take an aspirin in public.

[Doc On The Bay]

WELL, Now: How Many Teachers, Administrators, worthless beurocratic "Functionaries" have "Pills" in Their "Possession???"

IF the "Students" Must be "Searched;"--SO MUST the "Educational Burocrats!!"

"SEARCH THEM ALL!!,"--& APPLY EQUAL JUSTICE!!

BUT THEN, we might "loose" a LOT of "Teachers & Administrators!!"

SO BE IT!!

It is TIME that the "SH+T-for-Brains FOOLS" who Invent Stupid Rules are FORCED to "Live by Their Own Mistakes!"

MAYBE a "Dose of Reality" will "Prod Them" to Undo some of the IDIOCY they have created!

But THEN, WHY should us "Intelligent People" expect Rationality from to MORONS we have allowed to "Teach" our Children??

GOD HELP US!!

Doc

[Amelia]

I'm a teacher, and when I'm at school I usually have both prescription and OTC drugs in my possession.

Do all the names you called above apply to me?

[Ed_in_NJ]

Most school boards are made up of volunteers (not paid) who can't be sued individually.

They frequently have their seat because nobody ran against them in the last election. It is not a 'popular' slot.

So, what kind of person do you typically find on the boards? From what I've seen it's frequently someone who has worked for a school somewhere along the line, and like the social surroundings (they are 'comfortable' there). It is also common that these are folks that have not distinguished themselves in any way (it's their one shot to 'be somebody'). The fact that they can't be sued is great for someone that screws up a lot.

If we have any hope of improving the candidate pool for board members, there needs to be a carrot-and-stick in the mix: pay them for their service, and be able to fire them (or sue them) when they screw up. It's the only way to get rid of the current crop of socialist boneheads.

[Doc On The Bay]

YES!--in the Specific "Case" I will delineate.

IF you have "Motrin" in your possession,--EVEN IF you got it "Over the Counter,"--you have NO MORE NOR LESS "RIGHT" to have that "Drug" than your "over-14" Student!!

IF the Federal Government says that a 14-yr-old can possess Motrin & Use it appropriately, then SO CAN YOU!!

If your Local "School Board" thinks that It can SUPERCEDE the FDA regarding a 14yr-old, then SURELY "The BOARD" has EVERY RIGHT to "Regulate" your "Choice of" medication.

We are dealing with conflicting "spheres of Power."

OTC MED's--CLEARED by the "FDA"--should NEVER BE "Objects of Concern" for schools.

Haven't you got ENOUGH problems with ILLEGAL DRUGS??

EHOUGH CRAP!!!

WHY can't we get the "Jerkweeds" who run the "School Boards" to PAY ATTENTION TO what matters??----HMMMM???

Doc

[Amelia]

OTC MED's--CLEARED by the "FDA"--should NEVER BE "Objects of Concern" for schools. Haven't you got ENOUGH problems with ILLEGAL DRUGS??

We had to call EMS two years ago for students who overdosed on ephedrine or pseudoephedrine based cold medications, bought over the counter. One student brought them to school and shared with others. All the students were over 14.

I hope I have more sense than to do something like that. The school system assumes that, as an adult, I do. Obviously, most of the students do as well, but rules and laws are not made for responsible people. (If everyone who came to FR was polite & responsible, would we need posting rules?)

Another reason schools regulate what students can possess is that some students tend to share things such as Ritalin, or put "other" pills in aspirin-type bottles. The last reason is a liability issue - lawsuit-happy parents who would sue the school if their child overdosed or had a reaction to medication ("someone else must have given it to him!") on school property.

Our school regulates the *quantity* of medication students are allowed to have in their possession. They are allowed to have enough tylenol, midol, etc. to get through the day - but not enough to share with their friends. Does that make sense to you?