June 7, 2001--
The attitudes of some parents threaten to undermine zero tolerance drug policies in schools.
Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer has more.
I should first point out the vast majority of Utah students never use drugs.
But educators have new research that shows loosening attitudes about drug use, not just with students, but with their parents.
Drug use among students increased 16-percent last year in the state's largest school district.
That's concerning, but so is the response administrators hear when they call the teens' parents.
Dr. Susan Chilton/Jordan School District: "WE WILL HEAR PARENTS SAY WE WERE AWARE OF THE MARIJUANA USE, OR WE WERE AWARE OF THE DRUG USE, WE KNOW OUR KIDS ARE PARTYING ON THE WEEKENDS. BUT WE REALLY DON'T WANT THEM TO MISS SCHOOL."
At one graduation, parents we talked to take a hard-line against drugs in school.
Sally Stewart/Parent: "UP TO GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL, YES, IT SHOULD BE WATCHED MORE CLOSELY AND NOT TOLERATED."
Eva Gardner/Parent: "I THINK THAT THERE MAY BE SOME MERIT IN HAVING THEM OUT OF SCHOOL."
But new research collaborated with the University of Utah shows just the opposite.
"WHAT WE FOUND IS PARENTS HAVE A MORE RELAXED ATTITUDE ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT STUDENT DRUG USE."
Our own Survey USA poll supports schools' findings.
While most parents say zero-tolerance polices are fair, nearly one in five say they're too harsh.
And when asked, should schools be allowed to punish students even if parents don't agree, nearly a third say no.
Educators believe the attitude stems from parents who themselves went to school during a time when drug use was more accepted.
Survey USA found 47-percent of people agree.
The results are problematic for schools trying to enforce their own policies when drug use is up, but parents concern is down.
"OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT AS ONE GOES UP AND THE OTHER GOES DOWN THAT WE HOLD THE LINE SO THAT OUR SCHOOL STUDENTS DO UNDERSTAND THAT DRUGS ARE HARMFUL."
In fact, some parents may not know that drugs like marijuana are much stronger today than when they were teens.
