Pubdate: Thu, 01 Apr 1999 Source: Cincinnati Enquirer (OH) Copyright: 1999 The Cincinnati Enquirer Contact: http://enquirer.com/today/ Author: Amanda Curry TEACHING STUDENTS CONTRADICTORY LESSONS In the spirit of my grandfather I find myself compelled to write a letter to the editor. I am distrurbed with the recent suspension of the sixth-grade class at Our Lady of Rosary Catholic School. The story of a whole class being suspended for one student's drug possession is one of contradictory lessons. We tell children in the simplest form to "Just say NO." We tell them, as we are told, that drugs are out there and we will be confronted with the decision to take them. The harm in drugs is the choice to take them. All of those children acted in the way every after-school special and public service announcement told them. They chose not to use any of that marijuana. If we teach our children that just knowledge of near drugs is a danger, we teach them no self-control, no sense of personal ethics. Let's face it, if we want our kids to grow up to be active, go to college, get jobs, they will be confronted with a vast assortment of narcotics. The lesson they are being taught in sixth grade - to tell, rather than refuse - will certainly bring them into more dangerous situations. As adults we should realize the implications of being tattletales and punish not the children who did the right thing - walked away. AMANDA CURRY Pleasant Ridge - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea