Storyrider Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 As an English teacher I encourage my students (college) to write from their personal experiences, passions and interests. One of my younger students (18 or 19 and right out of high school) wrote a paper detailing his very recent drug experiences, including doing shrooms, cocaine, pot, and smoking meth at the same time. If this were something from the past that he was moving beyond, I wouldn't be so concerned, but he expressed it more as an ongoing thing. Believe it or not, the paper basically met the assignment as I described it. However, I am worried about him. He is not a minor but an adult and not living at home, so I don't think contacting his parents is an option. Also, I know we are not legally permitted to tell parents their child's grades without the student's permission. I think this would also apply to paper content. Does anyone have any thoughts about an appropriate way to express my concern without treating him like a child? I would also hate to leave him with the thought that he had better not write anything honest for me in the future. What do you all think? Link to post Share on other sites
napoleandynamite Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Your concern is understandable in every way. As a sibling of an English teacher, I can see why you encourage students to write about their personal life. However, you are correct about knocking the idea of contacting his parents. If he were a minor and living at home, then legally you probably would be expected to bring it to their attention, if not, then the school Principal or a Guidance Counselor and leave the situation for them to handle. Maybe the best approach would be to speak to this student confidentally and express your concern with his/her use of drugs. Emphasize how although his/her paper was well-written and met the requirements of the assignment, the topic itself depicts his/her potential danger to become a so-called, "drug addict." You should advise him/her that the habit can lead to an unproductive life. In my humble opinion, maybe his/her paper topic was "too personal" and a "poor suggestion" to write about??? Is there anything else in his/her life that could be more of an interest? As an English teacher, if you encourage this person to write about other aspects in his/her life, perhaps he/she will find drugs less intruiging (from a writer's pov). When you do discuss this with your student, be sure not to bore him/her with the long harang of how "Doing drugs is bad...Just say No" speech. You will not get your point across well, nor will this student be influenced to cut the ongoing habit. Hope this helps. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Is it possible he was pulling your chain? Was the paper well written? Could the story line have been plagerized? Guest Link to post Share on other sites
Author Storyrider Posted October 17, 2006 Author Share Posted October 17, 2006 I have reason to believe he didn't make the story up, given what he's told me about himself, and what I've been able to learn about him, but it is possible he exaggerated to make a point. I could ask him. I also realize what I say to him likely won't have any effect on his actions right now. It just doesn't seem responsible to say nothing. Just FYI, I am female, so I can't really have a "man to man" with him. Link to post Share on other sites
burning 4 revenge Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Do you have a crush on this student? Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Isn't drugs a part of the college experience? Link to post Share on other sites
seven Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Meth alone can increase heart rate, produce irregular heart rhythms (possible heart failure), and damage small blood vessels in the brain (could lead to stroke). Combining that with cocaine which has similar potential problems (plus others) ... the guy is jeopardizing his health and future. It's interesting that he wrote about it in such detail. I would think that if he didn't want some kind of a reaction, that he would have kept his drug use to himself and wrote about something else.?? So I'm guessing he feels comfortable with you. Is there an on-campus health person who could give you some literature on drug interactions to pass along with a simple message to the student that you're not judging ... you just care. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 B4R, no, I don't have a crush on him. How is that related? I just think he could accidentally OD with all the combination of substances. I think he might have a bit of a death wish, actually. Westernxer, Yes, drugs have traditionally been part of the college experience, and if he was just describing smoking pot or doing a couple of hits of extacy, I wouldn't be so concerned. Many of us looking back (at least genxers) have been there at one time in our lives. It is just he is doing so many different drugs at once. I hope he survives to move beyond this phase with enough brain cells intact to live a normal life. Seven, Thanks. I might try to find something about drug interactions on the web. I would at least like him to know I'm not just going to nod and wink, give him a B, and act like there is nothing troubling about what he wrote. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Storyrider Posted October 17, 2006 Author Share Posted October 17, 2006 B4R, No, I don't have a crush on him. How is that related? I just don't want him to O.D. or end up like Terry Shiavo. Westernexr, yes, drugs are traditionally part of the college experience, and if he were just smoking pot or doing a couple of hits of extacy I wouldn't be so concerned. Looking back, many of us (especially genexers) have probably been there. It is just that he is doing so many drugs at one time and seems to have a bit of a death wish. Seven, Thanks. I may look up drug interactions on the web. I have thought, as you said, that he may be reaching out for help in some way. I would hate to treat it like its no big deal. Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I haven't a clue on how to proceed but google campusblues and go to that web page.. there might be an answer to your dilemma.. Link to post Share on other sites
bab Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 As an English teacher I encourage my students (college) to write from their personal experiences, passions and interests. One of my younger students (18 or 19 and right out of high school) wrote a paper detailing his very recent drug experiences, including doing shrooms, cocaine, pot, and smoking meth at the same time. If this were something from the past that he was moving beyond, I wouldn't be so concerned, but he expressed it more as an ongoing thing. Believe it or not, the paper basically met the assignment as I described it. However, I am worried about him. He is not a minor but an adult and not living at home, so I don't think contacting his parents is an option. Also, I know we are not legally permitted to tell parents their child's grades without the student's permission. I think this would also apply to paper content. Does anyone have any thoughts about an appropriate way to express my concern without treating him like a child? I would also hate to leave him with the thought that he had better not write anything honest for me in the future. What do you all think? I would agree that you would be breaking quite a few privacy laws by contacting his parents. On the other hand, you can talk to him. Have him come by your office hours and let him know that what his paper describes is beyond the typical college drug experience and is potentially dangerous. Let him know that if he wants to talk about anything that there are people on campus that he can talk to in a confedential way, and supply him with the information. There really isn't much you can do, but you can and should express your concern for him. So what if he doesn't write about it again. In the big scheme of things knowing that there is help out there if he wants it is more important than feeling like he can write about his drug use in English class. Link to post Share on other sites
seven Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Storyrider, NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) website may help. Here's a link: http://www.nida.nih.gov/nida_notes/NNVol13N1/Comparing.html Link to post Share on other sites
Author Storyrider Posted October 18, 2006 Author Share Posted October 18, 2006 Well, I spoke with him tonight when class went on a break. I just told him I was worried about him and he asked "Why?" and I said, "Because of all the things you wrote you were doing." So then he told me it was back in high school and he wasn't doing it anymore. I don't really believe him b/c of some of the details in the paper, but I am not going to contradict him and argue with him about it. He did agreed that it was dangerous, etc. I made a couple of more comments about how we wanted him to be around to fullfill his goals and dreams. By that point he seemed eager to get out of the room. I think he was embarrassed and also wanted to go smoke a cigarette before class started up again. So, I guess that is that. Link to post Share on other sites
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