Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990 TAG: 9005140139
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BLUE RIDGE LENGTH: Medium
"We have some schools that are doing exceptionally well," Robert Northern said. "But there are some school districts that aren't doing enough."
Northern, Virginia's version of President Bush's drug czar, William Bennett, has been traveling the state with an optimistic message: Overall demand for drugs in public schools appears to be dropping.
"The news is good and we should be encouraged," Northern told educators, civic leaders and politicians attending an education conference at Colonial Elementary School earlier this month. "But we cannot afford to let up. The drug problem is serious and has a remarkable tenacity."
Northern backed up his assessment with the recent results from the first Virginia Youth Survey showing that the use of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine by students in grades 8, 10 and 12 was below the national average.
He also announced that three Virginia schools, Franklin High School, Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg and Hines Middle School in Newport News, were among 51 schools in the United States whose anti-drug programs were honored by the Department of Education.
The award, now in its third year, recognizes schools that "substantially reduce drug use among students."
Northern said the anti-drug programs in the three schools included drug education classes, strong administrative support and organized and active parental support and involvement.
School officials and parents across the state could learn a lesson from the three schools, Northern said.
"There still are some school administrators who refuse to admit that drugs are a problem in their schools," he said, adding that many parents also have a "not-my-kid syndrome."
"The No. 1 problem is apathy," Northern said.
Next year, all schools will have classes in their health education programs that teach students how and why to avoid using illegal drugs, Northern said.
The Department of Education has a draft of the drug education curriculum that will be "field tested" at a teacher education and training conference in July and finished by Sept. 1, said Marla Coleman, coordinator of the effort.
Schools will have leeway on the structure of the courses. Coleman said the basic curriculum will include the dangers of using drugs, the consequences to social life, family life and personal health and the skills with which to say no to drugs.
"This is in effect putting teeth in `just say no,"' Coleman said from her Richmond office.
Northern said the governor's office has set aside $50,000 for training teachers to use the new curriculum.
Northern also said he expects an expansion of a program in which law enforcement officials come into 5th- and 6th-grade classes to tell students about the dangers and consequences of using drugs.
Drug Awareness Resistance Education, or DARE, has been payed for by federal grants, but Northern said the administration is looking for permanent funding within the state budget.
by CNB