Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 13, 1993 TAG: 9305130447
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROBIN PRICE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gina Ebbett of Northside Junior High was in Williamsburg to help write the document. Erin Hughes of Madison Middle School was selected to go, but couldn't attend at the last minute.
Sarah Airey, also of Northside, was one of 25 alternates selected for the "Bill of Rights for Drug Independence" convention, sponsored by the Governor's Drug Policy office.
The three Roanoke Valley students were selected from a field of 3,500. Each student had to write an essay on drug-free environments. Writers of the top 50 essays were invited to the conference.
In her essay, Ebbett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Ebbett, said that she "has the right to live in a drug-free community."
She expressed her concern that the majority of people in jails are there because of drug- and alcohol-related crimes, and her family is "paying for [the criminals'] negligence." Also, she said, many traffic accidents affect innocent lives because of alcohol and drug abuse. She also said many drug abusers steal from their communities in order to support their habit.
Ebbett's essay was an assignment for her English class. She wasn't even planning to submit the paper until her teacher, Bobbi Caton, encouraged her to.
Airey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Airey, and Ebbett learned of their selection to the conference when it was announced over the school's intercom.
"It shocked me when I heard it. I was hardly paying attention and at first I didn't realize what I'd won. I never planned on winning," said Ebbett.
"I only hoped that someone would read my essay and see drugs from the angle that users hurt more people than themselves," said Airey.
All of Northside's eighth-graders had to write essays in their English classes. Bonnie Rourke, coordinator for Roanoke County Schools' Student Assistance Program, gave students facts about drugs and answered questions for background information.
The students had three days to work on the essays. In their papers, students discussed the effects of drugs on those who don't use them, but who are affected by them anyway.
The essays by Ebbett and Airey were mounted on a poster in the hall for all students to read.
The statewide bill consists of 10 articles that the delegates proposed and voted on. Article I states that, "We have the right to say `yes' to a drug-free world, decide what we what to do with our lives, and choose positive influences."
Another article says everyone has a right "to speak out against drugs without fear of our personal safety being threatened or violated."
"No student's educational opportunities should be decreased because of drug-related violence, or by money spent to prevent it," says another article.
The students even adopted an article dealing with the promotion of drugs and alcohol: "We have the right to be free from the pressures of advertising and media influences which encourage the use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs."
The articles were sent to all middle and junior high schools in Virginia, where they were ratified by 32,800 students at 75 of the schools. At Northside, 489 students signed the articles.
One school in each of 10 regional districts will receive a $1,000 mini-grant to be used for drug-awareness programs, based on the number of signatures ratifying the document.
by CNB