drug police dogs in APS HS

[Anonymous]

How is this thread not garnering as much attention as the stupid ASF one?!?!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:18 arrest already in 2017: https://www.arlnow.com/2017/06/01/acpd-18-drug-arrests-on-public-school-grounds-this-year/

How are they going bury their heads now?

This statement is troubling to me with rising MSers next year:

“The middle schools are the worst,” said a senior. “Kids have older siblings that are in high school and are able to sell to the younger students. It’s a cycle.”

from same article:

A current junior at Yorktown High School said the issue extends beyond prescription drugs.

“Yorktown definitely has a drug problem,” she said. “So many people have started getting into cocaine and a lot of the other harder drugs and many of them don’t even think much of it just because they see it around so often. It’s definitely considered ‘cool’ to be into that sort of thing, which is why I think so many kids are drawn to it.”

“There’s not much else to do so a lot of people do for fun,” said a recent graduate. “I don’t think people really think of themselves as addicts.”

This is why I started getting my kids involve in sport very young. This is especially important for boys - to much down time can equal trouble. They need physical activity. From my experience, there are kids in sport that dabs in drugs too but they generally falls by the wayside eventually because of the drug use. For some kids, the discipline and the time kill that sport provides is important to keep them clear headed and mentally focussed, and confident. For us, it has helped to keep our kids committed on weekends and most nights. They always have an excuse as to why they can't go to parties or go very rarely, which where the pressure is to do drugs according to them.

Hate to break it to you, but most of the hardcore partying at Yorktown revolves around the sports teams.

I am well aware. I also know the ones who are more hardcore drugs takers are not committed and eventually give up. Nothing is fool proof when it comes to drugs in HS these days. Kids connect through social media, and the fact that parents can't really keep track of their kids friends and therefore influences so that they can stir their kids to the right social environment is an issue. Boredom is a big issue, so I keep my kids busy. By 10th grade, the more parties the go to the more exposure. The goal is to minimize access so it doesn't become a culture, but yeah, the only fool proof way to keep them from being exposed to drugs is to lock them up and throw away the keys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ How can they be shooting heroin and still able to show up and play any of the sports listed above?

I have heard opiods and heroin are a huge problem. I don't deny it could happen to anyone's child. I just know from being a D-1 college and HS athlete myself that it would be incredibly hard to retain focus or show up for required practices, games, etc., if you were that strung out.

I am sure there are different classes and types of drugs being used. I also know that drug use of weed or the like could lead to drug use of the sh*t that becomes addicting or deadly real fast. They are also cutting weed with some pretty dangerous stuff these days. It's not the same as 20-years ago.

I'm not the above posters, but I was a D1 athlete and three-letter HS athlete as well. There was tons of partying at both levels, and some athletes participated and some didn't, with alcohol or alcohol plus weed or other harder drugs. Lots of people showed up hungover to practice or even games. Having never done heroin myself, I would imagine someone deep into it could definitely have trouble with athletic obligations, and I don't know to what extent you can just dabble in opiods. I do know, though, that there's plenty of extremely problematic and dangerous behavior that can go down on a weekend, or even during the week, and the student-athlete can still make it to practice the next day.

Just like anything else, it depends on the kid. I hope to get my kids into sports too as a way of helping avoid or minimize these issues, but it's far from a guarantee. I get the sense a lot of parents aren't familiar with the party scene either from their own youth or today and think it would mutually exclusive with stuff like good grades and athletic performance. It wasn't 15 years ago and it probably isn't today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18 arrest already in 2017: https://www.arlnow.com/2017/06/01/acpd-18-drug-arrests-on-public-school-grounds-this-year/

How are they going bury their heads now?

Uh, the people you are criticizing were the ones asking for this sort of information. You should thank them as they probably prompted the question from Arlnow in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:18 arrest already in 2017: https://www.arlnow.com/2017/06/01/acpd-18-drug-arrests-on-public-school-grounds-this-year/

How are they going bury their heads now?

This statement is troubling to me with rising MSers next year:

“The middle schools are the worst,” said a senior. “Kids have older siblings that are in high school and are able to sell to the younger students. It’s a cycle.”

from same article:

A current junior at Yorktown High School said the issue extends beyond prescription drugs.

“Yorktown definitely has a drug problem,” she said. “So many people have started getting into cocaine and a lot of the other harder drugs and many of them don’t even think much of it just because they see it around so often. It’s definitely considered ‘cool’ to be into that sort of thing, which is why I think so many kids are drawn to it.”

“There’s not much else to do so a lot of people do for fun,” said a recent graduate. “I don’t think people really think of themselves as addicts.”

This is why I started getting my kids involve in sport very young. This is especially important for boys - to much down time can equal trouble. They need physical activity. From my experience, there are kids in sport that dabs in drugs too but they generally falls by the wayside eventually because of the drug use. For some kids, the discipline and the time kill that sport provides is important to keep them clear headed and mentally focussed, and confident. For us, it has helped to keep our kids committed on weekends and most nights. They always have an excuse as to why they can't go to parties or go very rarely, which where the pressure is to do drugs according to them.

Hate to break it to you, but most of the hardcore partying at Yorktown revolves around the sports teams.

Are we calling dance team a sport now?

[Anonymous]

I think the key is the what the kid quoted in the article said - "there's not much else to do for fun." There's a perfect storm at Yorktown:

- kids with disposable income with parents who practice a parenting philosophy of "benign neglect"
- teachers who have been beaten down so often by demanding parents that most classes, including APs, are easy A/B+'s so long as the kid turns in his homework and does the test corrections; less need to study ---> more time with nothing to do
- the sports teams are the top of the social heap -- they are like mini fraternities and sororities, with all that entails
- the academic clubs are generally poorly-attended or no longer exist so few kids spend their free time working on their speeches or practice for quiz bowl, etc. -- no geek-chic at Yorktown
- I'm seeing some more kids getting jobs, but there's still a large group of parents who feel like their delicate snowflakes are too good to be working at the donut shop or pizza place
- there aren't many babysitting jobs because of all the nannies/au pairs/Marymount students taking the jobs
- several parents have the attitude of "hey, I partied in HS and I turned out OK...."
- everyone seems to have a prescription for something so pills are readily available
- parents are reluctant to drive/supervise their kids on Friday/Saturday nights because then they'd have to give up their social life

Think about it, what did you do on weekends when you were 15 or 16? I babysat, talked on the phone to my friends, sometimes went to a movie, hung out at the mall where there was a big game room, miniature golf, bowling.

Many of these entertainment options are now no farther than the basement of the kid's 6000 sq ft house, and since mom and dad are at the club tonight lets grab a bottle from the custom wine room and one of mom's Xanax...snapchat/instagram our night and everyone can see how cool we are without leaving the house...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the key is the what the kid quoted in the article said - "there's not much else to do for fun." There's a perfect storm at Yorktown:

- kids with disposable income with parents who practice a parenting philosophy of "benign neglect"
- teachers who have been beaten down so often by demanding parents that most classes, including APs, are easy A/B+'s so long as the kid turns in his homework and does the test corrections; less need to study ---> more time with nothing to do
- the sports teams are the top of the social heap -- they are like mini fraternities and sororities, with all that entails
- the academic clubs are generally poorly-attended or no longer exist so few kids spend their free time working on their speeches or practice for quiz bowl, etc. -- no geek-chic at Yorktown
- I'm seeing some more kids getting jobs, but there's still a large group of parents who feel like their delicate snowflakes are too good to be working at the donut shop or pizza place
- there aren't many babysitting jobs because of all the nannies/au pairs/Marymount students taking the jobs
- several parents have the attitude of "hey, I partied in HS and I turned out OK...."
- everyone seems to have a prescription for something so pills are readily available
- parents are reluctant to drive/supervise their kids on Friday/Saturday nights because then they'd have to give up their social life

Think about it, what did you do on weekends when you were 15 or 16? I babysat, talked on the phone to my friends, sometimes went to a movie, hung out at the mall where there was a big game room, miniature golf, bowling.

Many of these entertainment options are now no farther than the basement of the kid's 6000 sq ft house, and since mom and dad are at the club tonight lets grab a bottle from the custom wine room and one of mom's Xanax...snapchat/instagram our night and everyone can see how cool we are without leaving the house...

bingo!!

[Anonymous]

EXACTLY. I moaned about being bored in HS, too. But I didn't start doing drugs. My mom made me get a job. Or help around the house, or go to a movie or roller skating or something. I didn't live anywhere close to a place that had as many options as DC. Our only alternative was to go drink in a field somewhere. But my parents actually parented me and made sure I had responsibilities and I had to check in with them and they would check up on me, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:EXACTLY. I moaned about being bored in HS, too. But I didn't start doing drugs. My mom made me get a job. Or help around the house, or go to a movie or roller skating or something. I didn't live anywhere close to a place that had as many options as DC. Our only alternative was to go drink in a field somewhere. But my parents actually parented me and made sure I had responsibilities and I had to check in with them and they would check up on me, etc.

THIS!!! By HS, they've released their au pairs, but never figured out for to parent for themselves. Also, the kids have grown up watching their parents party all weekend and are just following suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the key is the what the kid quoted in the article said - "there's not much else to do for fun." There's a perfect storm at Yorktown:

- kids with disposable income with parents who practice a parenting philosophy of "benign neglect"
- teachers who have been beaten down so often by demanding parents that most classes, including APs, are easy A/B+'s so long as the kid turns in his homework and does the test corrections; less need to study ---> more time with nothing to do
- the sports teams are the top of the social heap -- they are like mini fraternities and sororities, with all that entails
- the academic clubs are generally poorly-attended or no longer exist so few kids spend their free time working on their speeches or practice for quiz bowl, etc. -- no geek-chic at Yorktown
- I'm seeing some more kids getting jobs, but there's still a large group of parents who feel like their delicate snowflakes are too good to be working at the donut shop or pizza place
- there aren't many babysitting jobs because of all the nannies/au pairs/Marymount students taking the jobs
- several parents have the attitude of "hey, I partied in HS and I turned out OK...."
- everyone seems to have a prescription for something so pills are readily available
- parents are reluctant to drive/supervise their kids on Friday/Saturday nights because then they'd have to give up their social life

Think about it, what did you do on weekends when you were 15 or 16? I babysat, talked on the phone to my friends, sometimes went to a movie, hung out at the mall where there was a big game room, miniature golf, bowling.

Many of these entertainment options are now no farther than the basement of the kid's 6000 sq ft house, and since mom and dad are at the club tonight lets grab a bottle from the custom wine room and one of mom's Xanax...snapchat/instagram our night and everyone can see how cool we are without leaving the house...

Pretty much. Add to this, the ability for kids to be alone with themselves. This phones has changed the way they socialized, they have to be plug in all the time, with no time to contemplate their actions or experiences. They are exposed to drugs, porn sooner. Access is right at their finger tip. They lack maturity to prioritize their experiences. Their closest relationships are with their phones. It is even harder to know your teens now - we are all alone together. Unlike old time, your kids environmental influences goes beyond you, his teachers
, neighbors, church or peers while they're at school. The internet, youtube, and other social media are the primary influence on your kids after 13/14, younger if they have a smartphone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:EXACTLY. I moaned about being bored in HS, too. But I didn't start doing drugs. My mom made me get a job. Or help around the house, or go to a movie or roller skating or something. I didn't live anywhere close to a place that had as many options as DC. Our only alternative was to go drink in a field somewhere. But my parents actually parented me and made sure I had responsibilities and I had to check in with them and they would check up on me, etc.

THIS!!! By HS, they've released their au pairs, but never figured out for to parent for themselves. Also, the kids have grown up watching their parents party all weekend and are just following suit.

Yep. I stopped sending my late elementary schooler over to a house where it's basically just the nanny. I rarely ever see the parents. All communications are through the nanny. I stopped feeling comfortable.

As those kids have gotten older, they also learned how to pull fast ones on the nanny. One fakes sick constantly to get out of tests and school work. It's the nanny's job to get them when they call. A present parent would start questioning it because it's the talk of the entire grade--including all of the 'lost' homework. It's on a downward trajectory. The parents don't now half of what they are up to, but swoop in with $ to fix any problem that arises. They are 'very important people'---just like the rest of us that work but still manage to parent.

Sadly, this is similar to a large population of APS kids---nanny culture until they outgrow the nannies/au pairs---then left on their own. The nannies were a poor substitute because when you are paid to keep the kid's happy and not complain so you don't lose your job--they get away with a lot of sh*t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is this thread not garnering as much attention as the stupid ASF one?!?!!!!!

What is the "stupid ASF one"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the key is the what the kid quoted in the article said - "there's not much else to do for fun." There's a perfect storm at Yorktown:

- kids with disposable income with parents who practice a parenting philosophy of "benign neglect"
- teachers who have been beaten down so often by demanding parents that most classes, including APs, are easy A/B+'s so long as the kid turns in his homework and does the test corrections; less need to study ---> more time with nothing to do
- the sports teams are the top of the social heap -- they are like mini fraternities and sororities, with all that entails
- the academic clubs are generally poorly-attended or no longer exist so few kids spend their free time working on their speeches or practice for quiz bowl, etc. -- no geek-chic at Yorktown
- I'm seeing some more kids getting jobs, but there's still a large group of parents who feel like their delicate snowflakes are too good to be working at the donut shop or pizza place
- there aren't many babysitting jobs because of all the nannies/au pairs/Marymount students taking the jobs
- several parents have the attitude of "hey, I partied in HS and I turned out OK...."
- everyone seems to have a prescription for something so pills are readily available
- parents are reluctant to drive/supervise their kids on Friday/Saturday nights because then they'd have to give up their social life

I'd add to this list that overcrowding makes the schools less aware and less accountable with absenteeism. This makes it easier for kids to slip through the cracks.

And one other thought that troubles me: Proximity to DC where pot is legal plus lots of kids are given a car by their parents equals a lot of majuana coming into APS.

[Anonymous]

Hey guys! Where ya been?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Think about it, what did you do on weekends when you were 15 or 16? I babysat, talked on the phone to my friends, sometimes went to a movie, hung out at the mall where there was a big game room, miniature golf, bowling.

Many of these entertainment options are now no farther than the basement of the kid's 6000 sq ft house, and since mom and dad are at the club tonight lets grab a bottle from the custom wine room and one of mom's Xanax...snapchat/instagram our night and everyone can see how cool we are without leaving the house...

Seriously? I went to parties, drank beer, and smoked pot. (I also did all those other things a well...)