Story: Teachers defend shock tactics in DWI program
I'm pretty sure there are better ways to curb drinking and driving than to orchestrate a school wide conspiracy where the entire student body is led to believe several of their classmates have been killed in a car crash for hours on end. "They were traumatized... we wanted them to be traumatized" says guidance counselor Lori Tauber. Always good words to hear from the school guidance counselor. We welcome your letter of resignation Ms. Tauber.
Outrage: School stages student deaths
Smells Like: alcohol, California, drunk, idiocy, panic
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19 Comments:
How ironic would it be if one of these teachers was actually killed in a DD accident in the near future?
Wolf!
This story makes me disgusted. I can't believe that any group of adults would all agree that this is the best way to educate about the dangers of drinking and driving. I have a 3 year old, and this website has convinced me that private education might be my best option.
At least they're admitting that teens drink!
Of course, what those short-sighted administrators failed to realize is that people have to *actually* be dead in order to cause long-term behavioral changes. The road to hell...
Good point Jason. Which is why next year they will actually be killing several students to send an even more effective message.
Huge mistake.
Unbelievable.
I'm speechless...writeless?
I think it teaches the kids a valuable lesson.
Never trust anyone in charge.
hey carol loves cats,
i have attended private schools from k-8 and 11th-12th grade, public school 9th-10th. let me tell you private school is no better. drugs are everywhere. kids are actually crueler. better chances of your kid not understanding what the real world is like. lucky me i went to public school 9th-10th would have stayed but had to go back to private school
Either way, i think theres a better way to educate youth about drinking and driving. F the private school debate.
^a better way...meaning it's time parent(s) start being more involved instead of relying on just the education system.
Parents aren't going to get involved until the community can admit that there is a problem with the education system. Hopefully, the stories on this site exemplify that.
Our school did a similar program called, "Every 15 Minutes." The students were warned before hand the program was a dramatization and that every 15 minutes a person is killed by a drunk driver. Every 15 minutes a grim reaper takes one student from class and for the rest of the day they dress in black robes and paint their faces a ghostly white. The "dead" are not allowed to speak with anyone, even each other, and they walk the halls and attend classes in a very somber manner the rest of the day. Effective? Children live in the now, so give it a day, week, month, year, and the emotional impact of the program doesn't exist anymore. I believe this type of education should be left up to the parent(s) at home. Unfortunately, in the community I teach, the parents supply the alcohol for their children's drunken parties to create a "safe" environment. A few of the parents even join in by getting drunk with the kids. This is definately a recipe for disaster. We have a curse at our school in which one senior dies each year from a drug or alcohol related accident. The seniors told me that I should not try so hard to help them plan for their future since most of them believe they won't live past thirty. I don't think "Every 15 Minutes" is the answer, but what is?
Teen school it is a platform for the teens who are making start at their career. The school offers courses which will be useful for the teens in later part of the year for achieving success.
http://www.teensprivateschools.com/
hick town teacher, this is for you:
What the message should be:
I know that a big thing is that schools don't want to acknowledge that teen drinking ever does happen, so they try to make alcohol out to be some scary thing that kills people. They miss their mark, and screw up the message. The message SHOULD be one that extends far beyond prom night: never get in the car with a drunk driver, never let someone who is drunk (regardless of age) have the keys, and the fact that one can ALWAYS call a cab if they don't think their ride will be safe. Parents would BY FAR prefer their child comes home safely and drunk in a cab than attempting to drive and risking their life. In the end, trends of responsibility trump the occasional bad decision.
What I think a Prom week should look like:
Aside from a Prom Promise sort of deal (which should again be about drinking for school functions but emphasize drunk driving), the school should use one (1) dramatic assembly to show how serious the matter is (having a parent speak who's child was killed by a drunk driver, for example). Also, on prom night, the school could provide a limo bus for those who don't have their own limo to reduce driving in general. A slight police presence at prom will keep people aware of the seriousness without oppressing them. Ushering students quickly to a school-sponsored after prom with prizes, karaoke, music, dancing, a fake casino, those bungee trampoline things, etc. and requiring them to stay until 4 am will keep the kids wanting to stay under close watch until they pass out from exhaustion. This is the best a school can do for its students.
These teachers are despicable!! They put themselves on pedastels and look down on parents. They act as if they are morally superior when really their institution is corrupt AND attracts pedophiles. That is a fact! I met my fair share of these creeps in junior high! Its about time parents put these people back in their cages where they BELONG! I am a warehouse worker and my peers dont DIDDLE WITH CHILDREN!
I'm surprised that you are only a warehouse worker. With all of your insight, you should run for public office. Give this some thought, oh wait you are probably busy attending a McCain/Palin rally.
The original article has been taken down, but I've read a few more articles about this particular incident and see no problem. The Every 15 Minutes program is very well known in California. I'm surprised the kids were so shocked. It sounded like they veered from the normal program, but it wasn't unorthodox. I helped organize one at my high school with the assistance of students, faculty, administration, local businesses, law enforcement, and community groups. I'd rather fool some students, teaching them lessons about leadership and responsiblity in the process, than actually experience a tragedy.
i kind of agree that it is wrong to do what the school did, because like what if that was someones bff or bf/gf. id be really pist once i found out this whole thing was fake. but i think what the school did was right to do because it could happen in real life, people die thats what happens. so they tried to use the scare tactic, and obviously it worked b/c we all found out about it.
live life to its fullest.
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