STA's Substance Abuse Culture?

[Anonymous]

Parents with sons attending STA's upper school, how bad is the drug and alcohol use culture? Is the school addressing or providing counseling to boys with apparent addictions? A few years ago several boys were immediately expelled after being caught using drugs. Is this the school's drug prevention program? Is there real support for the boys when an intervention is needed to help a friend or does the culture support looking the other way because of its zero-tolerance policy?

Please don't tell me to go ask admin.

[Anonymous]

NCS parent here, so not directly involved, but I would say two things: (1) I don't think there is any school in this area, public or private, that wouldn't kick out a student found with drugs. This is not a response specific to STA, and (2) the biggest problem over the years with drugs has been with the boarders. I believe the boys who were expelled were boarders. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I do think thats a big problem for the school. And underscores my first response. With boarding schools in particular -- and everywhere -- there is a zero tolerance policy.

I think this is as it should be. I believe that kids with drug problem absolutely need support and help, but that doesn't mean they should stay within a specific school, especially if they are living away from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS parent here, so not directly involved, but I would say two things: (1) I don't think there is any school in this area, public or private, that wouldn't kick out a student found with drugs. This is not a response specific to STA, and (2) the biggest problem over the years with drugs has been with the boarders. I believe the boys who were expelled were boarders. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I do think thats a big problem for the school. And underscores my first response. With boarding schools in particular -- and everywhere -- there is a zero tolerance policy.

I think this is as it should be. I believe that kids with drug problem absolutely need support and help, but that doesn't mean they should stay within a specific school, especially if they are living away from home.

I'm aware of the problem with the boarders who were expelled. However, I've heard stories of recent graduates (not boarders) who left with major unaddressed drug and/or alcohol problems. Just wondering if the faculty, coaches, and their peers noticed but said nothing.

I fully understand that parents should notice when there's a problem and provide the necessary help, oftentimes parents are the last to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS parent here, so not directly involved, but I would say two things: (1) I don't think there is any school in this area, public or private, that wouldn't kick out a student found with drugs. This is not a response specific to STA, and (2) the biggest problem over the years with drugs has been with the boarders. I believe the boys who were expelled were boarders. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I do think thats a big problem for the school. And underscores my first response. With boarding schools in particular -- and everywhere -- there is a zero tolerance policy.

I think this is as it should be. I believe that kids with drug problem absolutely need support and help, but that doesn't mean they should stay within a specific school, especially if they are living away from home.

I'm aware of the problem with the boarders who were expelled. However, I've heard stories of recent graduates (not boarders) who left with major unaddressed drug and/or alcohol problems. Just wondering if the faculty, coaches, and their peers noticed but said nothing.

I fully understand that parents should notice when there's a problem and provide the necessary help, oftentimes parents are the last to know.

The biggest problem with drugs over the years has NOT been with the boarders including those involved in that incident. That incident is an example of students who were observed by a rather new member of the faculty. And yes you are correct about recent graduates. Nothing was done and I am surprised this is now seeping onto DCUM.

The whole thing makes me incredibly sad and disheartened. It is noticed and nothing is done creating a very difficult environment socially for reasonable people [students and parents] who had to interact with the STA favorites due to common sports or classes.

[Anonymous]

~~Crickets~~

Interesting.

[Anonymous]

The title makes it sound like this is a problem that is unique to STA? Maybe it is, but I doubt it. I can think of another DC private that has a much stronger rep for having a substance abuse culture. I'm having trouble getting my mind around what OP is getting at. At first i thought she was objecting to the fact that the school kicked out kids caught with drugs. Now I think its that they ignore kids with drugs. Not clear. Nothing in any of these posts makes me think this is an issue unique to STA.

I guess OP wants the school to keep the kids in the school but work with the parents on some kind of rehab. Maybe that would be ideal, but realistically does any school do that? Or maybe OP wishes there was more of a culture of kids reporting the fact that other kids are using to the administrators. But, realistically, will that happen? Anywhere?

I don't have a child at STA so I have no dog in this fight but I wonder how much responsibility can be laid on the school for kids graduating with substance abuse issues. Is this unique to any school?

[Anonymous]

Maybe she's worried about an at-risk freshman or 8th grader?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS parent here, so not directly involved, but I would say two things: (1) I don't think there is any school in this area, public or private, that wouldn't kick out a student found with drugs. This is not a response specific to STA, and (2) the biggest problem over the years with drugs has been with the boarders. I believe the boys who were expelled were boarders. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I do think thats a big problem for the school. And underscores my first response. With boarding schools in particular -- and everywhere -- there is a zero tolerance policy.

I think this is as it should be. I believe that kids with drug problem absolutely need support and help, but that doesn't mean they should stay within a specific school, especially if they are living away from home.

I'm aware of the problem with the boarders who were expelled. However, I've heard stories of recent graduates (not boarders) who left with major unaddressed drug and/or alcohol problems. Just wondering if the faculty, coaches, and their peers noticed but said nothing.

I fully understand that parents should notice when there's a problem and provide the necessary help, oftentimes parents are the last to know.

My nephew was caught up in these expulsions during the spring. There was posting of sta boys smoking pot on FB. These were boarders. They had one prior occurrence of pot smoking for which they were suspended. The second occurrence was captured on FB. For this they were expelled in the spring of their senior year. They did not graduate with their class. These are good, bright boys, from good families. It is very sad. But they'll recover.
Ior year


The biggest problem with drugs over the years has NOT been with the boarders including those involved in that incident. That incident is an example of students who were observed by a rather new member of the faculty. And yes you are correct about recent graduates. Nothing was done and I am surprised this is now seeping onto DCUM.

The whole thing makes me incredibly sad and disheartened. It is noticed and nothing is done creating a very difficult environment socially for reasonable people [students and parents] who had to interact with the STA favorites due to common sports or classes.

[Anonymous]

I think its interesting to know how schools handle these issues. At my (private) high school, drugs of any kind in any quantity would get you expelled immediately. Everyone knew this. Drinking, on the other hand, would get you put on probation. A second offense would probably get you kicked out.

I'm curious to know what people think. I am inclined towards a "zero tolerance" policy on drugs. I think that kind of clear, bright harsh line provides most kids with the excuse they need to decline - the consequences are just too great. I also don't think the school should be getting involved in treating substance abuse issues, which are incredibly difficult to resolve with even the best rehab. Kicking the kid out & handing him/her over to parents seems like the best approach. But I'd love to hear how other people think about this.....

[Anonymous]

A few thoughts.

First, from what I understand, St. Albans recommends that students who are struggling with alcohol/drug use talk to one of the school chaplains or counselors. Under those circumstances there can be a wholly therapeutic and non-disciplinary response. If the student is "caught" first I would assume that discipline does probably still apply but this is just a supposition. Institutional responses to drug/alcohol use are tricky because some students have a problem/addiction/disease, and others don't and are choosing voluntarily to break rules.

Secondly, I think the original poster should ask the administration, or if there is a fear of "outing" a child with a problem at least consult the school handbook which addresses the school's policies with respect to drug and alcohol use.

Lastly, St. Albans is a day school (or 90+% day school). In the end, ultimate responsibility for recognizing and addressing a drug or alcohol problem rests with families. As a school rigorous academics, STA doesn't appear to have more of a problem than the norm for American high school culture of the affluent type, and maybe has somewhat less. But all schools mirror society, so alcohol and drugs are certainly an issue that any parent at St. Albans (or elsewhere) needs to consider.

[Anonymous]

STA does have an alcohol/drugs education program, including a week of programming during freshman year; discussion of the subject by students and faculty in the chapel program; and discussion of the science of addiction by the school counselor. Of course, some students will still part-take -- there's a reason teenage boys make the best combat soldiers (and have the highest car insurance rates) they are often very impulse driven, not terribly cautious, and think they are made of Kevlar coated Teflon.

The school does its best but it also makes no pretense about the fact that it has a disciplinary code and drug use, particularly drug use on campus, is an extremely serious offense that may result in separation from the school. Lots of successful folks got kicked out of a school or otherwise had a brush with discipline that turned them around -- it is not a death knell for future life goals to have to leave your beautiful private school in the shadow of a Cathedral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe she's worried about an at-risk freshman or 8th grader?

PP, this is exactly what I'm worried about. I know first hand from a couple of the families who had sons expelled for using drugs on the Close. From what they said, they learned that their boys lower school coaches were aware of their son's drug problems and never said a word. STA is not a physically large high school where a boy can easily get lost in the shuffle. These particular boys didn't visit the school's counselor/psychiatrist during their time at STA and were quite successful in hiding their addiction from their parents.

Thanks for the additional information, everyone. I wasn't aware of the freshmen year, week long, alcohol/drugs education program. Hopefully, there are variations to this programming that are provided each year of upper school along with dialogue throughout the school year.

And no, I don't expect the school to run a drug-alcohol rehab program. I do expect parents to be notified by school admin in the event that a coach or teacher has suspicions of substance abuse.

[Anonymous]

Lower school? Well I agree that if the coaches were aware something is terribly wrong. My guess is that there is more to the story, but I have no idea.

I also suspect that unless you are really not observant, the first sign that your DC has an addiction problem will not be his getting kicked out of school. I can imagine it being a total surprise if it was some kind of drug thing but not addiction. You sound like a very attentive parent and my guess is that even if you didn't know what was going on, you would know something was going on, and you would find out what it was.

Remember you are hearing these stories from the parents who will look to blame anyone. I'm sure they are good people but I've seen this dynamic before, the search for a villain. Sometimes there is no villain. Sometimes the parents screwed up and missed the signs. But you do have to consider the source here. If you have a child dealing with something so difficult you will naturally be angry and look for someone to hang your anger on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS parent here, so not directly involved, but I would say two things: (1) I don't think there is any school in this area, public or private, that wouldn't kick out a student found with drugs. This is not a response specific to STA, and (2) the biggest problem over the years with drugs has been with the boarders. I believe the boys who were expelled were boarders. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I do think thats a big problem for the school. And underscores my first response. With boarding schools in particular -- and everywhere -- there is a zero tolerance policy.

I think this is as it should be. I believe that kids with drug problem absolutely need support and help, but that doesn't mean they should stay within a specific school, especially if they are living away from home.

I'm aware of the problem with the boarders who were expelled. However, I've heard stories of recent graduates (not boarders) who left with major unaddressed drug and/or alcohol problems. Just wondering if the faculty, coaches, and their peers noticed but said nothing.

I fully understand that parents should notice when there's a problem and provide the necessary help, oftentimes parents are the last to know.

My nephew was caught up in these expulsions during the spring. There was posting of sta boys smoking pot on FB. These were boarders. They had one prior occurrence of pot smoking for which they were suspended. The second occurrence was captured on FB. For this they were expelled in the spring of their senior year. They did not graduate with their class. These are good, bright boys, from good families. It is very sad. But they'll recover.
Ior year[i]


The biggest problem with drugs over the years has NOT been with the boarders including those involved in that incident. That incident is an example of students who were observed by a rather new member of the faculty. And yes you are correct about recent graduates. Nothing was done and I am surprised this is now seeping onto DCUM.

The whole thing makes me incredibly sad and disheartened. It is noticed and nothing is done creating a very difficult environment socially for reasonable people [students and parents] who had to interact with the STA favorites due to common sports or classes.

I noticed a response buried in the quote [bold is mine]. This was not the result of a post on FB, did not involve current boarders, and was incredibly stupid . That "they" did not graduate with their class is not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS parent here, so not directly involved, but I would say two things: (1) I don't think there is any school in this area, public or private, that wouldn't kick out a student found with drugs. This is not a response specific to STA, and (2) the biggest problem over the years with drugs has been with the boarders. I believe the boys who were expelled were boarders. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I do think thats a big problem for the school. And underscores my first response. With boarding schools in particular -- and everywhere -- there is a zero tolerance policy.

I think this is as it should be. I believe that kids with drug problem absolutely need support and help, but that doesn't mean they should stay within a specific school, especially if they are living away from home.

I'm aware of the problem with the boarders who were expelled. However, I've heard stories of recent graduates (not boarders) who left with major unaddressed drug and/or alcohol problems. Just wondering if the faculty, coaches, and their peers noticed but said nothing.

I fully understand that parents should notice when there's a problem and provide the necessary help, oftentimes parents are the last to know.

My nephew was caught up in these expulsions during the spring. There was posting of sta boys smoking pot on FB. These were boarders. They had one prior occurrence of pot smoking for which they were suspended. The second occurrence was captured on FB. For this they were expelled in the spring of their senior year. They did not graduate with their class. These are good, bright boys, from good families. It is very sad. But they'll recover.
Ior year[i]


The biggest problem with drugs over the years has NOT been with the boarders including those involved in that incident. That incident is an example of students who were observed by a rather new member of the faculty. And yes you are correct about recent graduates. Nothing was done and I am surprised this is now seeping onto DCUM.

The whole thing makes me incredibly sad and disheartened. It is noticed and nothing is done creating a very difficult environment socially for reasonable people [students and parents] who had to interact with the STA favorites due to common sports or classes.

I noticed a response buried in the quote [bold is mine]. This was not the result of a post on FB, did not involve current boarders, and was incredibly stupid . That "they" did not graduate with their class is not true.

I posted about some of the boarders not graduating with the class. It is true. But there is no point debating this with you. I know what happened in this case. And the second infraction did involve a FB picture posting. As i said, it was a sad situation. The blame rests squarely on the boys. I was just saying that they are good boys and that they will recover from this setback.