B-CC Student Newspaper Blows the Lid Off of Drug Use and Distribution in MCPS High Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

Where is MCPS leadership? Clearly they're asleep at the wheel.

What can leadership do without parent support. It goes both ways.

I don't think B-CC lacks for parental support. They have an active PTSA and they lobbied for the security meeting at MCPS where they leadership dodged questions and paid lip service. So there are plenty of concerned and engaged parents. Now that's not true at all high schools, but if MCPS is playing dumb, blind and silent with a high school full of very present and engaged parents, [b]you can only imagine what's going on elsewhere where fewer parents are engaged[/b].

This, 100%! So true about that meeting. And: So many high schools in MCPS have minimal parent engagement...mainly because they don't have active PTSAs that have events and communications to engage with the school. I can't imagine that Kennedy would have held a parent town hall after the recent student death (please let me know if I'm wrong), because I know people w/kids at the school and know how the parental engagement in school matters is low. (this isn't to say parents are disengaged with their kids' lives more generally). And the B-CC parents specifically lobbied for MCPS to address its shortcomings system-wide (e.g., communications policy, training/drill) so that all students across the county can benefit from higher MCPS standards.

Side note: please do not just make random assumptions, or add an opinion on this thread unless you are familiar with the issues in the articles, and how they've been handled. For example, the parents advocating for changes on the part of the MCPS are not the parents of the kids who are grappling with addiction or drug use. There are different issues: (1) the drug use exists and (2) how the admin/MCPS deals with situations where that drug use affects operations during the school day, for instance (esp. if it negatively impacts 100s of students). And the changes requested related to (2), like communications and transparency, and responsiveness to concerns on bathroom safety. I'd say parents are equally concerned that drug/alcohol issues are prevalent and know it's a wider problem that takes a complex effort to address and aren't demanding that MCPS instantly solve that.

MCCPTA and most PTA's are very clicky and not welcoming. We tried to get involved and were basically told we weren't needed and just give money but what they spent the money on was absurd so I'd rather give to the school/staff directly. MCCPTA picks their pet projects and focuses on specific schools vs. the real stuff that needs fixed. Where are they on the school safety issue? What have they actually accomplished in terms of advocacy in the past 5-10 years.

Schools need to engage parents directly.

Of course schools should engage parents directly, but they don't do that (enough). And your view on PTSAs is a generalization, so you really can't use it as an argument here. There are certainly clique-y PTAs (my impression is that it tends to be more so at the ES level). But HS PTSAs around here are either too big to be cliquey (they need hands on deck for all their plans), or too small to be choosy about who they admit into their 'circle'. (This is a generalization as well, but based on several different PTSAs I've observed.) Like you, I've seen when PTAs/PTSAs funded projects that don't appeal to everyone and, in some cases, might be non-strategic, poor value for the money (or downright frivolous to some). Which is why having enough members to have a decent vote is important. I don't know much about MCCPTA--it's a level removed from the PTSA experience so harder to gauge; they could probably do well if there were more stronger PTSAs across the county to pitch in etc.

But the idea that people should blame cliquey-ness for all the shortcomings of HS PTSAs in MCPS is completely off the mark. But you sound like an engaged parent, willing to financially support projects that mattered to you and with a strong interest in safety. I think you can find a way to channel that which would be good.

I am not sure how this thread got to the PTSA good/bad debate, but I guess I'm responding because I don't like the idea of people discounting the opportunity to get involved through their PTSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

Where is MCPS leadership? Clearly they're asleep at the wheel.

What can leadership do without parent support. It goes both ways.

I don't think B-CC lacks for parental support. They have an active PTSA and they lobbied for the security meeting at MCPS where they leadership dodged questions and paid lip service. So there are plenty of concerned and engaged parents. Now that's not true at all high schools, but if MCPS is playing dumb, blind and silent with a high school full of very present and engaged parents, [b]you can only imagine what's going on elsewhere where fewer parents are engaged[/b].

This, 100%! So true about that meeting. And: So many high schools in MCPS have minimal parent engagement...mainly because they don't have active PTSAs that have events and communications to engage with the school. I can't imagine that Kennedy would have held a parent town hall after the recent student death (please let me know if I'm wrong), because I know people w/kids at the school and know how the parental engagement in school matters is low. (this isn't to say parents are disengaged with their kids' lives more generally). And the B-CC parents specifically lobbied for MCPS to address its shortcomings system-wide (e.g., communications policy, training/drill) so that all students across the county can benefit from higher MCPS standards.

Side note: please do not just make random assumptions, or add an opinion on this thread unless you are familiar with the issues in the articles, and how they've been handled. For example, the parents advocating for changes on the part of the MCPS are not the parents of the kids who are grappling with addiction or drug use. There are different issues: (1) the drug use exists and (2) how the admin/MCPS deals with situations where that drug use affects operations during the school day, for instance (esp. if it negatively impacts 100s of students). And the changes requested related to (2), like communications and transparency, and responsiveness to concerns on bathroom safety. I'd say parents are equally concerned that drug/alcohol issues are prevalent and know it's a wider problem that takes a complex effort to address and aren't demanding that MCPS instantly solve that.

MCCPTA and most PTA's are very clicky and not welcoming. We tried to get involved and were basically told we weren't needed and just give money but what they spent the money on was absurd so I'd rather give to the school/staff directly. MCCPTA picks their pet projects and focuses on specific schools vs. the real stuff that needs fixed. Where are they on the school safety issue? What have they actually accomplished in terms of advocacy in the past 5-10 years.

Schools need to engage parents directly.

Of course schools should engage parents directly, but they don't do that (enough). And your view on PTSAs is a generalization, so you really can't use it as an argument here. There are certainly clique-y PTAs (my impression is that it tends to be more so at the ES level). But HS PTSAs around here are either too big to be cliquey (they need hands on deck for all their plans), or too small to be choosy about who they admit into their 'circle'. (This is a generalization as well, but based on several different PTSAs I've observed.) Like you, I've seen when PTAs/PTSAs funded projects that don't appeal to everyone and, in some cases, might be non-strategic, poor value for the money (or downright frivolous to some). Which is why having enough members to have a decent vote is important. I don't know much about MCCPTA--it's a level removed from the PTSA experience so harder to gauge; they could probably do well if there were more stronger PTSAs across the county to pitch in etc.

But the idea that people should blame cliquey-ness for all the shortcomings of HS PTSAs in MCPS is completely off the mark. But you sound like an engaged parent, willing to financially support projects that mattered to you and with a strong interest in safety. I think you can find a way to channel that which would be good.

I am not sure how this thread got to the PTSA good/bad debate, but I guess I'm responding because I don't like the idea of people discounting the opportunity to get involved through their PTSA.

+1 Great statement!

[Anonymous]

Vaping in the bathroom is common in MS as well…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vaping in the bathroom is common in MS as well…

People smoked in the bathrooms when I was in high school. Of course, at the time, the teachers smoked in the teacher's lounge, too. They didn't vape, because there was no such thing as vaping. They didn't OD on fentanyl, because you could only get fentanyl in hospitals. And they didn't shoot each other (mostly), even though a lot of families actually had guns for hunting, because the US was not yet awash in guns owned by people for the purpose of protecting themselves from people with guns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the Op-Ed is a slam dunk on MCPS administration: https://bcctattler.org/2018/opinion/what-weve-got-here-is-failure-to-communicate/

More than just upsetting PTSA members, poor administrative communication has seriously imperiled the most vulnerable students.

These cases are extreme examples, but they demonstrate an institutional, rather than individual, problem. County school boards need to release administrative training manuals to public scrutiny so parents and students can hold administrations accountable. The B-CC administration needs to drop its policy of “(don’t) do first, apologize later”. Until then, poor communication will continue to open students to harm and close parents off from the immediate safety of their children.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES!

MCPS and BOE, your time is up! It's time to clean house and get it together. Students and parents are fed up.

Parents have fake outrage or they’d do something about their kids drug use. What can mcps do? Let’s be real. They will not hire more security, give detentions and suspend kids so they are powerless.

either fake outrage or the outrage is coming from a few loud complainers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vaping in the bathroom is common in MS as well…

Vaping in class is common in MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vaping in the bathroom is common in MS as well…

Vaping in class is common in MS

We had kids vaping in 5th grade at our ES!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

Where is MCPS leadership? Clearly they're asleep at the wheel.

What can leadership do without parent support. It goes both ways.

I don't think B-CC lacks for parental support. They have an active PTSA and they lobbied for the security meeting at MCPS where they leadership dodged questions and paid lip service. So there are plenty of concerned and engaged parents. Now that's not true at all high schools, but if MCPS is playing dumb, blind and silent with a high school full of very present and engaged parents, [b]you can only imagine what's going on elsewhere where fewer parents are engaged[/b].

This, 100%! So true about that meeting. And: So many high schools in MCPS have minimal parent engagement...mainly because they don't have active PTSAs that have events and communications to engage with the school. I can't imagine that Kennedy would have held a parent town hall after the recent student death (please let me know if I'm wrong), because I know people w/kids at the school and know how the parental engagement in school matters is low. (this isn't to say parents are disengaged with their kids' lives more generally). And the B-CC parents specifically lobbied for MCPS to address its shortcomings system-wide (e.g., communications policy, training/drill) so that all students across the county can benefit from higher MCPS standards.

Side note: please do not just make random assumptions, or add an opinion on this thread unless you are familiar with the issues in the articles, and how they've been handled. For example, the parents advocating for changes on the part of the MCPS are not the parents of the kids who are grappling with addiction or drug use. There are different issues: (1) the drug use exists and (2) how the admin/MCPS deals with situations where that drug use affects operations during the school day, for instance (esp. if it negatively impacts 100s of students). And the changes requested related to (2), like communications and transparency, and responsiveness to concerns on bathroom safety. I'd say parents are equally concerned that drug/alcohol issues are prevalent and know it's a wider problem that takes a complex effort to address and aren't demanding that MCPS instantly solve that.

MCCPTA and most PTA's are very clicky and not welcoming. We tried to get involved and were basically told we weren't needed and just give money but what they spent the money on was absurd so I'd rather give to the school/staff directly. MCCPTA picks their pet projects and focuses on specific schools vs. the real stuff that needs fixed. Where are they on the school safety issue? What have they actually accomplished in terms of advocacy in the past 5-10 years.

Schools need to engage parents directly.

Of course schools should engage parents directly, but they don't do that (enough). And your view on PTSAs is a generalization, so you really can't use it as an argument here. There are certainly clique-y PTAs (my impression is that it tends to be more so at the ES level). But HS PTSAs around here are either too big to be cliquey (they need hands on deck for all their plans), or too small to be choosy about who they admit into their 'circle'. (This is a generalization as well, but based on several different PTSAs I've observed.) Like you, I've seen when PTAs/PTSAs funded projects that don't appeal to everyone and, in some cases, might be non-strategic, poor value for the money (or downright frivolous to some). Which is why having enough members to have a decent vote is important. I don't know much about MCCPTA--it's a level removed from the PTSA experience so harder to gauge; they could probably do well if there were more stronger PTSAs across the county to pitch in etc.

But the idea that people should blame cliquey-ness for all the shortcomings of HS PTSAs in MCPS is completely off the mark. But you sound like an engaged parent, willing to financially support projects that mattered to you and with a strong interest in safety. I think you can find a way to channel that which would be good.

I am not sure how this thread got to the PTSA good/bad debate, but I guess I'm responding because I don't like the idea of people discounting the opportunity to get involved through their PTSA.

Many of these kids go through ES, MS and HS with the same kids/parents so if those parents are not inclusive in ES and they run them throughout the years, then its not a surprise come MS/HS why many families don't participate. They also take over the booster clubs in HS. Personally I'd rather donate to a booster club for a specific things vs. the PTA where they have to send money to MCCPTA, Freestate or what ever they call it and National.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

and they are powerless because ???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

and they are powerless because ???

Probably because teenagers are people who make their own choices, and you can't pick them up and carry them away like you could when they were two. Are you a parent, and if so, how old are your children?

[Anonymous]

“One B-CC student who sells nicotine as well as THC (or marijuana) products to numerous students at B-CC admits, “When I get it from another trapper [slang for a dealer] then it’s from their supplier, which is likely homemade,” adding “you really don’t know what is in it since it’s not regulated.””

This says it all right here. These kids are just wannabe thugs and are emulating pop culture. Imagine a Bethesda kid talking about Trap culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

Have you dealt with an addicted child or watch a family a deal with their addicted child up close?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

Have you dealt with an addicted child or watch a family a deal with their addicted child up close?

NP - look. Many, many parents minimize alcohol and cannabis use in teens. Many parents SUPPLY their kids with alcohol out of the misguided belief that they’ll be safer or learn better or some other such nonsense. This article is less about “addicted” teens than it is about widespread substance use. And yes, parents do often look the other way. I hear what you’re saying, but I also think you’re talking about what are mostly two different groups of kids and their parents, albeit with a bit of overlap.