After being a student at Malibu High for almost seven years I feel it necessary for me to respond to recent letters about the drug use on Malibu High’s campus. I’m writing this in hope that people will be interested in hearing what is going on from a student’s point of view.
It has been said that there is a “serious drug epidemic” taking place due to poor fund distribution by the city and denial by parents and school administrators. Although the school is responsible for watching over its students and keeping them safe, there is only so much that can be done. It is very difficult and almost impossible for any school to have a close watch on every student at all times without it feeling like jail cell. I think that we can turn to a lot of parents for the answers. Any child is capable of making bad choices. All a parent can do is try and lead them in the right direction. Maybe some should try a little harder.
Now, I’m not denying that there are drugs on campus because there are, as there are drugs on any high school campus. But I have full confidence in Dr. Kelly and the rest of the faculty and administration at Malibu High. They will do whatever they can to prevent students from continuing to neglect the substance abuse policy. I just want you to see Malibu High the way I do every single day I step foot onto the campus. I want you to see the excellent and tremendously caring person behind each podium inside every classroom, the person that is not only a teacher but a friend. I want you to step foot into any art or music class and notice the creativity and exceptional talent everywhere. I want you to sit in on a World Issues class and listen to the dialogue and information that is shared between students. I want you to do all of this and then try and put down Malibu High.
Yes, substance abuse is something to deal with but it’s not the drug problem at Malibu High, it’s the drug problem in Malibu. People should stop associating this drug problem only with Malibu High because it confirms the bad reputation people always assume we have and further separates the students at Malibu High from any other high school student.
Talia Martinez