`Nine students got a suspension for bringing a mixture of kool-aid and sugar called “happy crack” to school.
It violated the school’s drug policy
The students allegedly brought the sugar and kool-aid concoction to school and were caught. According to the school, it violated their drug policy that banned students from selling or trading any substance that looks similar to drugs.
The school initially wanted to expel the students that were caught with the “happy crack”. Eventually, the sentence was reduced from expulsion, to suspension. The school hasn’t stated whether the students were distributing the substance, or if they were simply eating it.
They were treated like criminals
One mother, whose son was included in the suspension, shares, “The way she called me, I thought my son died. She said there’s this epidemic going on at school with happy crack. I Googled it. I’m like Kool-Aid and sugar, are you serious? I was appalled. I was floored. I really didn’t think it would go to this extreme.”
Another parent chimed in and said, “His intent was not malicious,” one woman told us. “The other children’s intent was not malicious, but they were treated like criminals. They are ten years old. To go about it the way they did, ostracize the children, call the school board, when I know of other school districts who have had the same issue and those children weren’t treated as harshly.”
According to the school’s rules however:
“No student will market or distribute any substance which is represented to be or is substantial similar in color, shape, size or markings of a controlled substance in any of the circumstances listed above. Look-alike substance or substances that mimic the effect of drugs will be treated as illegal substances.”
Last year, a similar incident happened in Cleveland wherein a student was suspended for 5 days when she brought “happy crack” to school.
Go to the next page to learn about what other parents have to say.
What do other parents think about the school’s reaction?
On the whattoexpect.com forums, a mother shared a similar story about her son’s best friend who got suspended for the exact same reason. Here’s what other parents have to say about it:
Photo from: whattoexpect.com
Another parent thinks that a different approach should have been done by the school:
Photo from: whattoexpect.com
While most of the parents think that it was an overreaction, another parent thought that what the school did was justified:
Photo from: whattoexpect.com
What do you think? Was the school justified in what they did? Or was it an overreaction?
READ: Parents Beware: Illegal drugs look like vitamins and marketed as “recreational”
Sources: scarymommy.com, foxnews.com, abcnews4.com, whattoexpect.com
Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!