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One out of five of the 523- member senior class at Bur ington high school is using drugs, a classmate told Rotar ians Monday. Steve Morawitz also told the club that one of his classmates is a drug pusher and he sug gested that “school officials know about the situation, but won't take action because it would hurt their reputation.” After the meeting in Hotel Burlington he explained “it would make them (school officials) look bad.” “The town doesn’t know how bad the problem is,” Morawitz, a onetime member of the HELP organizations to aid youths in fighting the drug habit, said. Asked to comment on Mora witz’s charges, school officials said they are aware of a drug problem, are seeking solutions and pointed out that proof of drug use is often difficult. Stu dent reluctance to join in the fight against drug use was also cited. BHS Principal “I don’ deny there is a problem in the community and I don’t deny there are students in our school using drugs habitually,” Leroy Pease, Bur lington high school principal, said. “If we have proof, we will take action, as we have in past years,” he said. Pease said one BHS student was suspected of pushing drugs this year but after an analysis, with police help, it was found he was dispensing vitamins from an unlabeled bottle. On two occasions, odor led to the suspicion that marijuana had been smoke in a school restroom but no one was caught smoking, Pease said. Social studies classes in the middle schools, ninth grade and high school are studying the drug problem using the Amer ican Education Publication pamphlet “‘Know About Drugs’’, Pease pointed out. Teachers and counselors, too, he said are co operating with HELP and with individual students in meeting the problem. Speakers and films on drug use have also been pre sented. Board President The school board is aware of the drug problem and has worked closely with police on how best to handle it. Dr. Donald Allgood, board presi dent, said. A reluctance of students to “open up” makes it difficult for school officials to uncover and determine the extent of the problem, he said. Allgood is a Rotary member. The board, he said, is con sidering a person — not a teacher or law enforcer — who could gain student confidence and possibly work with the bar association and possibly the ministerial association in what can best be done to meet the problem. “We don’t want to replace law enforcement, but we’ve got to find a way to get next to what’s happening,” he said. “While these students are still minors, they are also citizens and have certain responsibili ties,” Allgood said. “Regardless of what their peers say, they have to help solve the problem. If students are not concerned at their level in cooperating in identifying pushers, then we’ll never get any place. They have their obligations, too.” School Supt. Charles Hahn said there is no accurate way of knowing how many students are using drugs. Hahn, a member of Rotary, said he was happy that a stu dent had spoken out on the drug problem because one of the frustrating aspects of the situa tion is a reluctance of students to discuss the matter. “We know we have a drug problem, along with probably every high school in the coun try,” he said. He said the schools have been consulting with police and offer ing courses in their efforts to combat drug use. ‘But we need the help of those involved if we’re going to crack this thing,”’ he said. He said he was referring not only to drug users but other students who have knowledge that would help meet the problem. Reporting Problems Morawitz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Morawitz, 1101 Cottonwood, made his drug problem comments as one of three student guests of the Rotary club. Each of the students was asked: “If you knew one of your friends was using mari juana, would you report him to official.” Morawitz said he would not report his friend to police, but would try to see that he got professional help. The same general answer was given to the question by the other two student guests: Michael Moore of West Bur lington high school and Dale Moline of Southeast Iowa college. Neither Moore nor Moline, in giving their answers, made any estimate of drug usage by local Students. More Drug Talk A further discussion of the drug problem is scheduled at next Monday’s Rotary club meeting. Sgt. Paul Bartholomew of the Ft. Madison police department, much in demand as an adult drug expert, will be the speaker.
Newspaper Details
Burlington Hawk Eye
Burlington, Iowa, US
Tue, Dec 01, 1970
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