Before becoming a teacher, I used to do youth work in my local community. This was more than 10 years ago. In that time there was this one young person who had been a drug dealer, done his time in prison and the centre I was placed at had been working with him to help him get on his 2 feet. He once made a comment, “My customers used to be all sorts such as off duty police officers and teachers.” At that time I dismissed his comment and thought he was out right lying!
Anyway life goes on... A few years back I moved into a new neighbourhood and during the summer when I was in the garden I used to get the smell of weed (cannabis). After some investigation I found out that the smell was coming from my neighbour’s house as his windows were open. Now in London people keep themselves to themselves to such an extent at times neighbours don’t talk to each other besides maybe a friendly hello. Or maybe this was the type of neighbourhood I lived in. So what did I do? Nothing.
A few months later he moved out. I saw the landlord as the property was rented and he was showing the house new prospective tenants when I approached him to complain about the previous tenant’s habit and to make sure that he vets the new tenants thoroughly. He looked at me astonished and replied, “No way... He could not be smoking drugs... He was a school teacher!”
Why am I writing this? Well my question is that teachers, parents and adults have to be role models. Should random drug testing be implemented in schools for children and teachers and also in other work places, so we are tested just the way we have other role models such as sports stars being tested? Or is your opinion that we don’t need a nanny state (term of British origin that coveys a view that a government is over protective and interfering) and trust the adults to get on with their lives rather then letting a minority who may do it hinder everyone else’s lives? As it can be argued that testing a sports star is important as it enhances their performance while illegal drugs will not play the same role for others. Or do you believe that some drugs need be legalised such as cannabis and allow adults such teachers to smoke it as they are doing a stressful job?
What is your opinion? Leave a comment below.
Written by Asif Badat
School teacher, blogger & operates a maths online resource for 5 to 11year old children (www.atstudycloud.co.uk)