By Rev. Richard A. Kieran, Principal

During the past ten days, we have been faced with a great challenge as a Christian community. As leader of this community, I have had many anxious hours because I know the manner in which we handle the drug abuse problem which has come to light, will indicate just how serious we are in striving to be a Christian school.

I know that many rumors have been circulating. Some of the stories about me and other members of the administrative council would make good reading on Halloween. I wish I could have met with you sooner to let you know the extent of the problem and the action being taken to correct it. Because of the seriousness of the problem, the administrative council met at length three times before coming to any final decisions toward the end of last week.

Let me assure you first of all that drug abuse in our school community is not nearly as widespread as it appears to be in other schools in the area. In the course of our investigation, we found that a considerable number of students have experimented with Marijuana; a small group, 20 to 30, have tried more serious drugs, including "Speed," Mescaline, Psilocybin and L.S.D. We had evidence of only two or three persons being addicted in any way. We found that eight to ten students were involved in supplying drugs to others.

Some have asked why we have done nothing about the problem until now. Simply because we had no concrete evidence of it. We have had reason to suspect some persons -- in most cases our suspicions have been vindicated. However, we will never take action on mere suspicion. We are acting now neither on any suspicion nor, as some think, on the testimony of one person. We are acting on a mass of information we have corroborated from many sources. Anyone we have found guilty of drug abuse has admitted to his involvement before members of the administrative council and his parents.

We have been greatly disappointed by the many students and parents who have had factual information regarding this problem and did not come forward to help us put an end to it sooner. One parent who claimed to have known of a problem here a year ago told me, "It's your school!" Many students have given us the lame excuse that they did not wish to "rat" on their fellow students. First, it is possible to put us in a position to discover a problem without ratting on anyone. Secondly, it is a very false and unchristian loyalty that would allow a fellow student to be hurt by drug abuse rather than get him the help he needs. Finally, as we have said often, it is the common responsibility of the entire school community to uphold those regulations we find necessary to preserve us as a Christian educational community. In a very real sense, anyone who had information which could have led to the elimination of this problem sooner, has failed seriously in charity to those involved in drug abuse and to their families.

We do not attempt to hide the existence of a drug abuse problem in our school community, as others do. On the contrary, we are here this afternoon to take a public stand regarding it. We agree with the parents who wrote to us last week after we had met them and their students:

"Thank you for this morning. We feel that nothing but good can come from this investigation. Particularly with the drug education program that will be set up as a result.

"We know the big thing lacking in most families is understanding. If, in some way, through us, through you, through this program, God will give these children and their parents a better understanding of each other, then how beautiful that this drug situation did arise."

We are grateful to God that this problem finally came to the surface because we are now in a position to do something about it.

St. Pius X High School, as a Christian educational community, teaches that the use of any drug, including Marijuana, not prescribed by a medical doctor is dangerous to physical and/or mental health, is unlawful in the eyes of the civil authorities, and above all is immoral -- wrong in the eyes of God.

There are some who argue for the legalization of Marijuana. They are right when they claim its use has not been found to have lasting harmful physical effects. However, the use of Marijuana has many other harmful consequences. Our recent investigations were enough to convince every member of your administrative council that nothing but evil results from its use. The "pot" smokers often resort to lies and deceit to hide their habit, sometimes they steal to support it, and their schoolwork always suffers. We did not find one truly well-adjusted person who regularly smoked Marijuana. Incidentally, you should be aware of the fact that anyone over seventeen found in possession of Marijuana is liable to two years in prison and up to a $2,000 fine. If you read the newspapers, you will see convictions are being made of high school students.

With drugs stronger than Marijuana there is certain danger of lasting physical injury and addiction, not to speak of the psychological hurt to one who makes drugs his method of escape from the realities of life. Nobody with an ounce of common sense would attempt to justify the abuse of these drugs.

Anyone who encourages drug traffic actively or by giving silent approval is an enemy of his fellow men and an enemy of America. He is promoting massive crime and assisting in the maiming of human lives in our land. There is a vicious contradiction in the lives of those who espouse the cause of peace, non-violence, ecology, and who at the same time use or promote the use of drugs. They are like the hypocrites condemned by Jesus -- they are clean on the outside but full of vice within.

I want to make it especially clear that the principal reason for our condemnation of all drug abuse is that it is utterly opposed to what we stand for as a Christian school. Drug abuse is an aspect of that self-indulgence condemned by St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians. He tells us that the Spirit of God is totally opposed to this kind of behavior and "those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:21) that is, do not live in God's friendship.

I will be the first to admit that many young people get involved in drug abuse with very little guilt on their part. Many who have been involved here were victims of circumstances -- group pressure, false information and so forth. But now we all have the opportunity to reflect upon the serious immorality of drug abuse and to set ourselves resolutely against it as a school community.

Jesus said: "He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather me scatters." (Luke 11:23) One who even tacitly approves drug abuse is not with Jesus Christ and therefore is His enemy. The motto of our school community is: "We are the Lord's." This school exists to help each one of us become more and more the Lord's. We cannot and we will not compromise with evil. We are committed to eliminating this source of evil from our community. We are committed to helping all involved to begin to live "no longer for themselves but for … Jesus Christ."

Our primary concern for the drug abuser in our school is to get him the help he needs. We enlist the support of parents by discussing the problem openly with them and their student. We are now planning a drug education program for parents and students, to improve communications on the problem in the home. We will do all in our power to get professional help for anyone needing it.

Let me assure you that if any student approaches any faculty member in confidence regarding drug abuse or any other problem, that confidence is respected. The faculty member is not permitted to reveal this confidential information and no discipline action can or will be taken. We ask that those not interviewed by the administrative council and who have been involved in drug abuse get the matter cleared up immediately with a faculty advisor. In this way, we can eliminate the problem completely.

Because of the very serious nature of drug abuse, strong discipline measures have to be taken against offenders. Those who have used or possessed drugs on campus or who have come by drugs through the school will appear before the administrative council, be given demerits -- anywhere from 10 to 15 -- and denied open campus.

For a long time, we considered what would be the correct action to take in regard to those who supplied drugs to other students. Finally, the administrative council decided unanimously that we must ask the vice squad of the DeKalb County Police Department to further investigate this aspect of our problem. This is the only way in which we can fulfill our responsibility to the community at large and to our school community. We do not have the means within the school to control those who traffic in drugs and to protect the innocent from them. The council was concerned also that these persons have a full and fair trial on this very serious charge.

The vice squad will conduct its own independent investigation and will make any arrests it considers necessary. Pending the results of that investigation, the school will take no action on the particular offense of supplying drugs. If a student is brought to trial the school will consult with the probation officer on what action it should take.

No students have been dismissed for supplying drugs. We will wait for a court decision before considering such action. Contrary to rumor, the two students dismissed last week had to leave because of excessive accumulation of demerits after repeated warnings. Some other students involved in drug abuse may have to leave because of their total demerits.

We are especially concerned that an important lesson he learned from this whole affair. We have all now been warned of the seriousness of drug abuse in all its forms. You know that your school will not tolerate it in any way, but will in fact work to eliminate it and bring pushers to trial. Second offenders can expect little consideration. If the problem recurs in the school we may well call in the vice squad from the beginning.

There is definite evidence that some locations on the school campus have been gathering places for drug abusers, such as the woods around the school, the parking lot and the restrooms. We are obliged to take extraordinary measures to prevent loitering in these areas.

Therefore, from now on, just being in the woods around the school at any time, being in the parking lot other than going directly to or coming directly from your car at any time and loitering in the restrooms are serious offenses carrying up to ten demerits.

I emphasize that the reason for your being in the woods or parking lot or loitering in the restrooms will not lessen the seriousness of the offense. The reason may make it more serious. I ask you to note -- these regulations apply at all times, before and after school, at night and on days when there is no school.

The members of the administrative council met with the entire faculty on last Thursday. The faculty, man to man, supports to position we are taking this afternoon. It is evident that the motivation of the faculty is a deep concern for the good of the individuals while safeguarding the entire school community.

It is most gratifying to the faculty and me to know that the vast majority of our students are not involved in drug abuse and that many of you take a strong stand against it.

In the midst of all the stress of the past ten days, I have reflected often on the fact that the Rev. Andrew Young, who is greatly admired by many young people, came out here at our invitation at the beginning of this school year and made a beautiful statement of his stand against drug abuse in all its forms. At that time the student body was loud in its praise of what he said. I believe that the majority of you still hold that position and that we can count of your support in our efforts to help the drug abuser and at the same time protect the school community.

Copies of what I am saying this afternoon will be available to homerooms and other interested parties. We encourage you to discuss these remarks among yourselves. I will be happy to come to homerooms or meet with any group of students who wish to discuss these matters further with me.

In conclusion, I would like to state that as one whose vocation it is to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ, as one who loves young people, and as one who has a deep concern for everyone in this school community:

I see it as my God-given responsibility to fight drug abuse as strenuously as possible.

I will always have in my mind the good of the individual. I believe that everyone should be given an opportunity to make good. However, I cannot compromise with those who are repeated offenders and who refuse to heed a fair warning. I am forced also to carefully weigh my concern for individuals against the good of the entire community.

I have done my best to guide our school community along these lines in our handling of this recent problem. I now trust God to bring forth from our efforts the results He wants.

I call upon you this afternoon to stand for what you know to be right. I ask for your understanding and support for the decisions we have made in our attempt to serve in the best way individual students and the school community.