Students all remember the first day of school when Mr. Ross announced Chapin High School’s alleged drug problem and released drug dogs upon the entire campus. The reason he did this is simple: Mr. Ross wants to rid the school of drugs.

Mr. Ross’ concern is genuine. No one wants a school with students who are constantly under the influence of drugs. However, I do not think this is the issue. Sure, some students at CHS use drugs but it is not so much a problem during school hours. Most students use them on the weekends of after school and not during the course of the school day so is it really a school related issue?

Many of the students at CHS think it is not a school related issue but many authorities justify their concern by saying something along the lines of “if one student has a problem then it is up to us to help them.”

I think it is a good thing that Mr. Ross is trying to relieve the school of drugs because I agree that students should not be under the influence while at school or ever for that matter. However, Mr. Ross is taking it too far when he tries to get students to tell on one another.

Having students narc on one another will result in a general distrust amongst students. Already I know students who have been called out of class to be searched based on a mere rumor and in many of the cases there was nothing to prove the rumor to be true. Is it really necessary to disrupt a student’s education for a rumor?

Everyone knows how rumors work: Student A gets angry at Student B and decides to tell Mr. Ross that Student B has drugs. Next thing you know, Student B is taken out of class, called into the office to have their bags checked and scores a spot on the mental or literal list of “druggies” that tend to be under more supervision than students not on the list. I have studied the Crucible and read about the McCarthy hearings but is seems like Mr. Ross has not. This is classic guilty until proven innocent and that is unconstitutional.

Mr. Ross’ motto of “We aRe Chapin” seems to be proven untrue when students are disrespected in such a manner because the capital R stands for ready, responsible and RESPECTFUL. Is it respectful for authorities to search students based upon another student’s testimony when it is easy for students to accuse ANYONE of possessing drugs?

If students are using drugs outside of school and another student tells Mr. Ross, there is nothing he can do because it is not on school grounds: it is handled by the law. He is the school principal and if drugs are causing a negative influence while students are inside his school then something should be done-that is his job.