Posted on 02/03/2004 6:28:00 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK
Chancellor High School student suspended for five days for having two Tylenol
YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
It happened like this:
Each seventh of a school day has its own distinct characteristics. The first class of the day is passed in a half-dazed state of semiconsciousness and quickly blends into second period.
At this point, the dull realization sets in that a new day is just beginning.
After first period, waking life is a thing of the past. The sour taste of the early morning is cut by Winterfresh gum, and the teacher's writing on the chalkboard looks a little less blurry.
However, eyes still droop every now and then, and an occasional thought drifts back to the warm and comfortable bed that had been robbed of its only occupant by a raucous alarm clock.
For one Chancellor High School student, second period on Friday, Dec. 12 was no daydream.
Rachel Warrick changed into her PE clothes and headed for the gym, leaving her book bag in the locker room as she always did. She then joined the other students as they waited for class to begin.
Shortly, an announcement came on through the PA system explaining that all students would be locked into their second period classes until further notice. Drug bust. This is a normal event in almost every high school across America.
Warrick had nothing to worry about. She had never been in trouble before in her life. The only sedatives she carried came in the form of heavy textbooks.
She was not in the least bit unnerved, and waited until Jacqueline Bass-Fortune, Chancellor's principal, dismissed the students from second period.
When she walked back into the locker room, she was shocked to find that her bag had been taken. A gym teacher was waiting for her. She explained that the police had taken her bag after one of the dogs had barked upon sniffing it.
Warrick was to report immediately to the office.
Upon entering the office, she was faced by a panel of grim looking adults. Her backpack was on a table. A small plastic zip-lock baggie lay beside it.
"We found this in your bag," someone told her.
There were two Tylenol tablets enclosed in the plastic.
The police, performing a routine canine drug-search, had been alerted by the dogs of something suspicious when they inspected Warrick's belongings.
Drug dogs are not trained to smell Tylenol. They barked when they caught the scent of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that she had brought with her the day before.
Warrick was suspended for five school days. Apparently this was to be considered lucky--according to the Spotsylvania Student Code of Conduct, the possession or use of alcohol, drug paraphernalia or restricted substances (other than tobacco) requires a minimum punishment of 10 days of out of school suspension.
"This has been the only time I've ever been in trouble," she said. "They have to take that into consideration. It's Tylenol--not a drug."
However, the Code of Conduct's "zero tolerance" policy makes no concession for first-time offenders. The punishment is pretty non-negotiable.
Normally there is an appeals process that one can go through to attempt to null punishment, but not for drug-related suspensions.
"The intent behind the zero tolerance is a good one," said Bill Warrick, Rachel's father. "The goal is to prevent dangerous drug use and to make sure the students are safe, but there's a serious flaw if this kind of situation can arise.
"I think this policy is being too strictly interpreted--and in this case, the repercussions were too heavy handed. There's no discretion, and it doesn't allow for any exceptions."
According to healthsquare.com, "Tylenol is a fever and pain reducing medication that is widely used to relieve simple headaches and muscle aches; the minor aches and pains associated with the common cold; backache; toothache; minor pain of arthritis; and menstrual cramps." The back of the bottle states that the typical dose for adults and children 12 and over is two tablets. Users are instructed not to take more than 12 Tylenol over the course of 24 hours.
"She had two Tylenol, not the whole bottle," said her father.
Bass-Fortune, the school's principal, did not return repeated calls and e-mails regarding this story.
This offense will show up on Rachel's permanent record. Fortunately for her, the Warricks were informed that this infraction would not be divulged to any universities to which Rachel might apply.
Students in the school were outraged by the news--but one Stafford High teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, supports the policy.
"Regardless of reason or innocence, these procedures for administering medication at school were established for a reason and must be followed," the teacher stated. "Without such safeguards, teachers would be held responsible for identifying pills.
"I, for one, do not want to be held responsible for the high risks associated with bending this policy."
But on the student front, discontent with this incident is loud and clear.
"This just seems like it's punishing the wrong people," said Emily Croke, a sophomore at Courtland and one of Warrick's friends. "She's the nicest person you'll ever meet, and she was suspended for five days while other people are getting away with actual crimes."
Warrick is a student of the Commonwealth Governor's school, a rigorous academic program that demands constant attendance. These five days set her back noticeably, although friends helped to keep her up to speed on all her assignments.
"My teachers seemed disappointed in me," she said, "but all my friends and my parents were very supportive.
"They all asked 'How can they do this to you?' Everyone was telling me to do something about it, but there's not really much I could have done."
Having completed her suspension, Rachel is back in classes. She knows that she will have to suffer any future aches and pains without the benefit of Tylenol.
ALLEN SCAIFE is a senior at Stafford High School.
High risks? For using your brain? No wonder our kids can't read!
There ya go.
I hope the girl aces her studies. I hope the teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity hears those same words directed at him or her.
I wonder if they give the teachers here drug tests.
Unless someone at the college is smart enough to Google her name...
I'm an asthmatic. I had my asthma inhaler with me when I was in school. It was against the rules. So what. The rule sucked and wasn't worthy of being followed.
Not the Permanent Record!!!!
They wouldn't dare, the teachers' union would have a fit!
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