Mv Point of View A
M E R IC A ’ S
YOUTH
Together We Can
Make a Difference
Continued from page 8
IT’ S NOT
WORTH IT
open houses and volunteer programs, must be continued and strengthened
wherever and whenever possible. 5). parents should be m embers of school
policy and oversight organizations. 6). Parenting classes m ust be provided
for parents as well as required for high school students. 7). Schools should
be willing to ultilize the skills of the adults in their communities regardless
W'
nv do people choose to drink and drive?
of age.
Leaving home with a drinker is not smart,
BUSINESS & SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS: In order for our stu­
and the best alternative is to find another way home. In reading an
dents to be competitive in the future schools must develop partnerships with
ad\ ertisement touching on the subject of drinking and driving, there is a lot
to be learned. An advertisement was in the October 1991 issue ol Seven­
businesses.
SELF-ESTEEM: 1 lealthy and productive citizens requires positive,
teen magazine shows a you ng lad v arriving homelate at night, a cab brought
and realistic self esteem. Students self-esteem is enhanced by successful
her home because her date drank too much. “If your date drinks, go home
learning coupled widi appropriate rewards. 1). Self-esteem is built upon
with another m an,’’ is what the ad\ertisem ent said. The other m an was a
successfully achieving high standards. 2). U nder no circumstances should
sol >er taxi c al>i Inver. Hus seemed to be the safest way to arrive home alter
race or gender be used to pre-determine or limit a students ability. 3).
an individual has been out with someone who is not capable ol driving
Schools must develop recognition programs that reward student effort and
home.
achievement. 4). Teachers must help students build sell-esteem by sincerely
People are greatlev af fected by alcohol, which depresses the activity
in the central nervous system (Pschology in Perspective II edition pg. 127).
caring for them, and guiding them daily toward genuine success.
TEACHER TRAINING: The symposium suggested the follow ing
While drinking the reticular activating system in die brain is affected. This
elements are essential for providing teachers w ith the skills they need to
system is responsible for alertness, attention, and the regulation of die
become effective: 1) Teacher trainees must recieve more on site experience.
2). Teacher trainees should be taught by practicing m aster teachers and
cerebral cortex.
It is not good to drink because alcohol affects the conscious state of
successfully intern /or one year with an experienced master teacher before
a person. The indivisual’s ability to be alert is altered by die am ount of
being certified. 3). Teacher trainees must recieve formal training in class­
alcohol consumed. Vision and reflexes are imparied as well. The drunk
room management. 4 ). Outstanding retire master teachers should be able
driver’s inability to react on time could cause a major accident. Alcohol
to work with school districts to act as trainers and mentors with out
im pair the individual’s attention span. If a person is depressed before he
jeopardizing their retirement benefits. 5). Each school and school district
or she starts drinking, the alcohol can cause a greater am ount of depression
provide a stong staff training program, based on locally assessed needs. 6).
during and after drinking. This can gready affect som eone’s ability to
concentrate and be alert. This is not any shape for a person to be in, let
Teaching leadership trainers should be recognized at each school. 7). A
rotating cadre of master teachers should be assigned for training in-services
alone while driving.
The regulation of the cerebral cortex is responsibile for learning, remem­
statewide. 8). Praticing teachers should be released and given paid sabbati­
bering, analyzing, planning, and performing fine m otor functions. Alcohol
should be conducted by m aster teachers. 10). Teachers should be trained
alters the cerebral cortex, making it difficult to regulate its functions. If an
to teach writing, thinking, decision-making, and application of learning
individual has been drinking, he or she cannot rem em ber or plan things
cals for renewal training at least once every five years. 9). Staff supervision
out carefully. It appears obvious that whoever it is, that a drinker cannot
theory throughout the curriculum.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION: A second language
drink rationally enough to know whether or not to drive.
Alocohol has a tendency to make individuals feel more relaxed, and more
become m andatory for all students about to enter an interdepent world. 1).
sexaul, and act more aggressive. Drinkers may sometimes feel diey are al tie
areas, beginning in the prim ary years and continuing through lugh school
to do anything and everything. Anyone riding with someone who has been
graduation. 2). Additional language should be offered at the middle and
drinking needs to be resposible for making a bad situation as safe as
high school levels. 3). By sixth grade students should be able to listen, w rite,
possible. The potential for physical and, or emotional pain is incredible.
A designated second kinguage should be incorporated in all cum cular
speak, and read in a second language. Su Lin; President, China Interna­
An alternative plan such as taking acab, or bus or riding witli a friend needs
tional InteUetual Resources Tapping Center for Children said, “By intro­
to lie enacted. The consequences of die drunk driver could be the killing
ducing foreign language at the beginning of education we are trying to bring
of innocent people. The benefit is making responsible choices in life.
up a generation who have a global perspective.
More ads like the one m entioned in the beginning of tlris article need to be
understand culture in other countries. So as to communicate with people
up on billboards in place of cigarette and alcohol ads with sexy men anil
women. If this change were made, it would raise die consciousness ol
everyone. Maybe it would make them more aware of the serousness of the
problem. It would save lives...
So as to be able to
all over the world. I think that is the idea education, that bring up children
who love peace, love friendship, and like to cooperate with people all over
the world.”
In answer to the beginning question what will the world be like for
young people twenty years from now, that depends on what is done today
to equipped them for a better tommorrow. “The world is waiting for our k ids
I
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. „
,
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M etro M otion
I Advertise in Portland s m « g a x ‘ n
to finish school the question is are our kids ready for the world, before our
kids vean step into the work place and do their jobs our educational system
must make sure its done its job.' (lames DePreist-Music Director Oregon
Symphony).
October, 1992
10 • rictroNotion Magazine