So a little over two years ago, when I was just a wee junior on the high school newspaper, I was forwarded an email from a parent of a friend. The letters came from a "concerned" parent (I got word that it was a mormon parent) who had contacted the school districts superintendent.
Most of the content in these letters is absolutely ludicrous. But I found it particularly comical and just recently found it again. I figured you guys would enjoy it. Especially in light of the recent court cases dealing with school authorities and searches/drug tests
Enjoy...
" Hello to All Parents and Future Parents of
> 'GILBERT HIGH SCHOOL- <GHS>'.
>
> Many of you are aware of the 'DRUG PROBLEM' -
> 'NON-Enforcement of the DRESS CODE' and other issues
> 'GHS' has had and continues to have for the past
> several years.
>
> There is a very growing concern that
> 'EVERYONE' is turning a blind eye, looking the other
> way, etc., in hopes that these issues will just one
> day go away. Well I'm here to tell you -THEY ARE
> NOT GOING AWAY, in fact they are multiplying in
> intensity. Over 50% of the student body is either
> participating in one area or another or multiply
> areas. We as a community, as concerned parents need
> to 'STEP UP TO THE PLATE' and fight for change,
> fight for protection of our children and fight for
> what is right.
>
> I am not naive in thinking that these problems
> and issues are only at GHS...for we know that every
> school including our elementary level, jr. High
> level and high schools across the state and country
> are plagued with these issues. However; GHS has a
> very poor philosophy at enforcing the rules and
> therefore have created a nightmare for all those
> that attend this school.
>
> The things that are in the letter below are
> all TRUE - I have heard these things personally from
> several students that attend GHS and a few who have
> fallen prey and become victims to Drugs because
> everyone is looking the other way hoping that it
> will just stop.
>
> Without structure, guidelines, rules and
> enforcement we are allowing 'CHILDREN' to govern
> themselves. This only leads to one thing -
> Destruction, Chaos and ultimately the deterioration
> of a generation. The reason they are 'CHILDREN,
> TEENS, etc.' is because they have to have
> leadership, teaching, structure, guidelines, rules
> and adults to enforce and teach them in order for
> them to become productive, self-sufficient citizens
> of society and our community.
>
> Now some of you may be reading this and
> feeling I'm being dramatic or blowing things out of
> control. I will list a few items that are REAL and
> that are going on in "GHS' and you tell me if this
> is dramatic and out of control.
>
> 1) Lunch Time: Kids cutting 'Cocaine'
> and snorting on the lunch tables outside for all to
> see. The
> teachers response - we can't stop it, it's
> everywhere.
> 2) Bathrooms: Smoking 'Heroine' during
> class breaks and lunch time - Kids are smoking
> 2 - 3 times a
> day.
> 3) Drugs being sold and used behind the
> brick barrier wall at lunch time
> 4) Cigarettes being passed during lunch
> time
> 5) Open Homosexuality-make out sessions
> lying on top of each other using the lunch
> Tables as their beds, being
> displayed in front of everyone at lunch time
> 6) Sexual favors being done underneath
> the stair wells during lunch and class breaks
>
> This is what our children are being faced with
> on a day to day basis and as a very concerned parent
> I say we must band together and stand as a community
> and make a demand that a change be made, and that
> all of this has to STOP and STOP NOW!
>
> Last year a few students were busted for drug
> use...they were granted permission to come back to
> 'GHS' if they told who all the other parties were
> that were involved with the drug use. They complied
> with the request and gave the list to the
> administration. 'NOTHING' absolutely 'NOTHING' was
> ever done to any of those that were on the list and
> who are known for participating, selling and using
> drugs. My question to the administration is: 'WHY
> WAS NOTHING DONE'?
>
> I was privileged a week ago to be speaking to
> some students that attend the 'BASHA HIGH SCHOOL'
> and I asked them about their drug problem, their
> dress code issues etc. They informed me that there
> isn't a drug problem - because our school is a 'NO
> TOLERATE' school and the teachers and administration
> strictly enforce it. That their 'DRESS CODE' is
> strictly enforced and that if you wear a shirt and
> lift your arms up and skin shows - you are 'CODED'
> and so consequently because the students know the
> rules, know the guidelines, know the boundaries -
> there isn't issues. Now 'BASHA' I'm sure has other
> issues but this proves that if everyone is working
> together for the common good of the students - the
> issues can be minimized.
>
> I am writing this letter to request your
> 'HELP', 'SUPPORT' and 'INVOLVEMENT' to join in our
> crusade to change 'GHS' to a 'NO TOLERATE' school
> and that guidelines, rules and structure is enforced
> by everyone. Let's help take back the control and
> make 'GHS' a Great, Safe school for our children.
>
> Please respond to this e-mail with a YES or NO
> so we can keep you posted and up to date as to when
> the meeting is going to take place with Dr. Santa
> Cruz and Dr. Barrett. The more we can support each
> other and support our children - the bigger the
> difference we can all make.
>
> Please feel free to contact me either e-mail
> or phone for additional information and support.
>
> I hope your will 'SUPPORT' and get 'INVOLVED'.
> We need EVERYONE.
>
> Sincerely,
> ( I removed her name till I know more)
> In our relentless search for material wealth,
> Americans have embraced a culture where steep
> profits and shallow relationships have multiplied
> our possessions but reduced our social values.'
>
>
> - George Carlin"
Here is another letter from the same woman...
I'm a very concerned parent.
>
> I have been a resident of Gilbert for
> more than 13 years. I have seen the
> pros and cons of all the growth and
> for the most part I am very pleased
> with the community effort that has
> gone into carefully managing this
> expansion through the years.
>
> I recently attended a community
> meeting where feedback was shared from
> several of the Gilbert High student
> body. The collection of information
> was anonymous, which insured that no
> retaliation would be possible against
> the students who spoke up.
>
> Among the facts shared via the q & a
> were the increased drug use both on
> campus at GHS, and off campus. Some of
> the information included students
> witnessing the cutting of cocaine on a
> table at school, and the use of and
> exposure to everything from heroin to
> prescription drug abuse. Added
> information I have received from
> students is that of drugs and drug
> paraphernalia being seen in backpacks,
> lockers, etc.
>
> This information was particularly
> troubling with the added news that I
> personally know a GHS student who is
> now in treatment for drug addiction.
> As a matter of fact, the institution
> that is treating her has stated that
> Gilbert High School is currently the
> worst valley school for drugs. I do
> not have the statistical information
> she cited, but I can make that
> available to you.
>
> Other information shared by your
> students is your lack of enforcement of
> standards of dress code, which in an
> of itself may seem a trivial matter,
> but if the most basic rules of conduct
> are not respected, how can other
> more serious rules be followed?
>
> I am not a parent who is prone to
> complain to teachers or administrators,
> however this information is more than
> a little troubling to me because
> from every source I have spoken with,
> GHS has a lax policy on enforcement.
> This lax reputation for enforcement
> was shared by your students. This is
> the reputation that Gilbert High
> School has gained.
>
> I realize that the bulk of the
> responsibility of drug prevention must come
> from home. You can't expect educators
> to do a parent's job. I believe that
> I represent many parents who feel that
> way.
>
> However, there is a responsibility of
> school administrators to implement
> and enforce programs/policies that
> protect all students while on campus. I
> believe it is not reasonable to expect
> that students should be treated as
> if they are in a police state, but at
> the same time, there must be a
> deterrent or drug problems will only
> increase, as they reportedly have.
>
> I have several questions:
>
> What steps are in place at GHS to
> prevent the above mentioned, on-campus
> use of illicit drugs?
>
> Has the use of drug-sniffing canines
> been utilized? Will it ever be
> utilized?
>
> Is it within your policy at GUSD to do
> random drug testing, or random
> locker checks, especially when
> informants have notified administrators of
> drug use on campus/or directly prior
> to attending campus classes?
>
> The old saying, "An Ounce of
> Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure", may
> sound dated, but in all honesty, it is
> true, isn't it?
>
> If a student chooses to use illegal
> drugs and gets away with it, with no
> fear of punishment,that is going to be
> everyone's problem if it is done on
> campus, or done prior to a student
> being on campus.
>
> I am not alone as a concerned parent.
> I truly fear that an increased
> climate of drug-use only lays the
> foundation for situations like
> Collumbine.
>
> From all accounts, the reports I have
> heard cause me to envision a volcano
> that is starting to spew some waves of
> lava, just prior to the massive
> explosion that will take out the
> entire mountain. GHS has a pretty bad
> reputation, and the community seems to
> think you administrators take a
> blind eye to the majority of it.
>
> Please let me know what you are doing
> at this time to insure the safety of
> my child on your campus, and please
> tell me what you are planning to
> implement in the near future, because
> apparently the current method of
> choice isn't working.
>
> I look forward to your response.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Carol Emmett
> Gilbert
Here is the response of the superintendent
Mrs. Emmett,
> I really appreciate the concerns
> that you expressed regarding topics
> That, if proven true, would be of great
> importance to the district and
> Every parent of every student at the
> school. I have asked that a
> Personal meeting with you be scheduled
> to answer your concerns. Shortly
> Someone will be contacting you to
> schedule the meeting. I have asked that
> Representatives from the district,
> Gilbert High School and Gilbert Police
> Department be present to respond at the
> meeting. It would also be helpful
> If you could bring some details about
> some of the sources of your
> Information and opinions about the
> school in order to be able to respond a
> Little better. I am convinced that the
> meeting will be productive for
> Every one in attendance. If you have
> any concerns or questions please call
> Me at 480 497-3397.
>
> Brad Barrett
> Superintendent
For the record, Mr. Barrett is a complete asshole. I've dealth with him from another school district. The fact that he takes this loony parents accounts of "homosexual make-out sessions" seriously is absolutely mind boggling.
Remember folks. Nothing is more damaging to the mind of a teenager than homosexuals making out. It's super icky.
:eyes:
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