Tonight Lauralea and I had to attend our first Grad Parents Meeting, so I was the new guy. I don't like being The New Guy, especially at such a function. It was, in my estimation, a bit of a joke.
We were introduced to the new principal, who seems like a very nice guy, if a little nervous.
He read the required letter from the school board stating their willingness to support and give cash towards a "ChemFree Grad." But, due to moral and legal obligations, they would not support a safe grad. The parents would have to plan that themselves, if they wanted one.
By that point I was confused, ChemFree? Safe? And why wouldn't the Board support a safe grad??
Well, he was done speaking. Then four or five ladies got up who were the Grad parents council last year. They basically blew off the School Board's offer of cash towards the chemfree grad. They stated; "We all know what our kids are going to do, so lets help them do it safely!" And a murmur of approval arose from the Catholic crowd. (It's a High School in the separate school board system here in Saskatchewan.)
Apparently, based on last year's hugely successful post grad celebration, this is what a Safe Grad looks like. They hire buses and vans, and some DJ and drive to a farmer's field far outside of town. They bring in guards from the Federal Penitentiary to police the place. There's plenty to drink if you buy tickets to get the provided beer and liquor, and get your parents to stamp the tickets so you can drink.
And, the party/mudfest goes on all night long.
Now, when you hold that up against, "Let the kids party by themselves, where ever they want," a safe grad seems like a really smart thing.
There's just some things about it that smell.
For instance, the whole assumption that "The kids are going to do it anyway!"
Yes, many kids are going to do it. But people will often live up to what's expected of them. Sure some will break your expectations, so you come alongside them and help them along. But to ass-u-me that that's what the kids will do anyway solidifies the thought in kids minds that, indeed, this is what we expect of them, so let's get pi--ed!!!
Teaching them how to be drunks, safely. Nice.
But, I suppose the thing that got me the most ticked was a statement by the chair of the committee who, when defending the idea, said something like; Drugs are not allowed. Any kids caught using the stuff would be arrested because that stuff is illegal.
All of a sudden we are concerned with the law?
The age you are legally allowed to drink here in Saskatchewan is 19. Most of the kids partying will be 18, 17, 16.
It seems very inconsistent for us as parents to be worried about breaking the law in regards to drugs, but this other law, this one we can break.
Man, when does parenting get any easier?!?
Thankfully, Lauralea and I had to leave for our small group meeting, so we tried to sneak out the back.
The principal got to us and introduced himself to us. I expressed my gratitude for him and his work, and thanked him for the School Boards generous gesture to give some cash towards a ChemFree grad.
He seemed kind of dissatisfied with how things had gone, again. He assured me he would fight for a letter to be sent out to all the parents asking their opinion and vote for a Safe or ChemFree Grad.
I thanked him and shook his hand. It must not be easy being a principal these days.
And I know it's not easy being a parent.