Pubdate: Friday, December 17, 1999
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 1999, The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Page: A35
Section: Letters
Author: Phyllis Benedict

NO PROOF TEACHERS USE ECSTASY

On Nov. 20, The Star ran a front-page article entitled Agonizing over
Ecstasy. It alleges that Ecstasy "is moving from the rave scene to the
mainstream . . . populated by lawyers and schoolteachers."

This constitutes stereotyping of the worst sort. Are you suggesting that
teachers and lawyers are drug users? There is no evidence in the article to
support this. In fact, there is no evidence anywhere in the article that
the larger "realm of 30- and 40-something circles" is using Ecstasy.

We know that some people like to bash teachers and lawyers: they feel that
these groups make easy targets. We didn't expect it from a major daily
newspaper such as yours.

Phyllis Benedict
President, Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario Toronto
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart