Internet Trends Worrisome in Nebraska

Community leaders in Grand Island, Nebraska are warning parents about the susceptability of children to trends on the internet, specifically YouTube videos advocating mixing prescription drugs and using inhalants.

A drug expert from Omaha, Chuck Matson, agrees that YouTube encourages kids to try inhalants and that "especially in our middle school age category, we're seeing an increase in use and abuse of inhalants."

One of the students from Barr Middle School, Mckenzie Fyfe, described the inhalant use that she encounters in her classmates:

"They inhale paint in art class, and inhale sharpie markers. They do it in school and after school, when the teacher's not looking. Sometimes they do it in the hallway or the bathrooms. It's just not things we should be doing at twelve-years-old."

Grand Island School District received a grant to form a Middle School Youth Congress formed of eighty-five students. The students are on a retreat today learning about drug trends, avoiding pressure, leadership qualities, and making good decisions.

Story from Nebraska.tv.

3rd Grader Suspended for Sniffing Marker

8-year-old Eathen Harris of Colorado was initially suspended for three days after sniffing a stripe of Magic Marker off of his shirt repeatedly even after a teacher told him to stop.


The punishment was reduced to one day of suspension, but Eathen's parents believe this is still too harsh. They argue that the school,

"automatically assumed that he was huffing a marker. He is in third grade, he's 8 years old. And I think that's a ridiculous assumption.”

The prinicipal, Christopher Benisch, stands by the disciplinary action. He says that they,

"really want to send a clear message to that student and the other students that we're responsible for that. This is a real true danger.”

Was this punishment too harsh? Do you think that the 8-year-old was inhaling the marker intentionally or just trying to be funny? What other options could the school have explored besides suspension?