The Yellow Board

needing advice

Posted by should I ? on 3/5/2021, 10:25 am

I have been teaching for years and a long time band director at my current school district. I have come to know the kids and community and hold them close to my heart. Having said that, this week has been a difficult stretch. There is a problem with vape/drug use in our school district among younger students. I have three students that have gotten suspended for such behavior. Have you ever addressed things like this with your band? If so...what was the result? Is it worth it? Our band almost had one of our kids die because of the effects of vaping. Its so overwhelming and I know when I was young I made some stupid decisions however, the severity of their poor decisions is so alarming!
P.S. Many of the parents see no problem with what they are doing.

Re: needing advice

Posted by banddirhdg on 3/7/2021, 5:34 pm, in reply to "needing advice"

We had a vaping problem at our campus a while back. The school had some medical people come and do a presentation on it. That might be a good avenue for the school to go down.

Re: needing advice

Posted by Response on 3/5/2021, 2:55 pm, in reply to "needing advice"

You are NOT a guidance counselor.

If you want to be one, that's a different career path with different qualifications.

That being said, you CAN bring in the school guidance counselors, resource officers, and the like, to discuss this issue with your students if you like. If it's a systemic problem at your campus, this is a MUCH bigger issue than you can solve on your own.

Don't do this on your own. This is outside your sandbox, even if the cat keeps burying these turds there. Get help, enlist others, and make it a bigger deal.

Re: needing advice

Posted by Lane on 3/8/2021, 8:42 am, in reply to "Re: needing advice"

Agree with others. Stay in your lane. Teach band and show them how to work hard. Beyond that, you can't take on the vaping crisis in your school nor should you. The kids in your class don't want lectures and public service announcements. They want to play their instrument, make music, and be with their friends.

Re: needing advice

Posted by Really Retired on 3/5/2021, 5:38 pm, in reply to "Re: needing advice"

Nothing to add - wanted to agree totally with response. It could become a no-win situation for you.

Re: needing advice

Posted by Eric on 3/7/2021, 5:03 pm, in reply to "Re: needing advice"

If the outside source turns one child around--your focus was not in vain.

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