Dear sis,

Opposition flared up from some local residents in Mui Wo when Christian Zheng Sheng College applied for a vacated school premises to accommodate increasing number of students, formerly drug abusers who are badly in need of help to rebuild self esteem. While the community took note of the hard work of committed teachers and social workers on rehabilitation of young drug abusers in Zheng Sheng’s striving, the administration took the free ride to push through the controversial measure of voluntary drug testing in secondary schools before educators are ready for the scheme.

The Secretary of Justice headed a task force on youth drug abuse. It released a report titled “Say no to drugs” in November, 2008. Among the many measures proposed, drug testing, compulsory or voluntary, is controversial. The task force admitted that new legislation should be introduced to empower law enforcement officers to put a suspect to drug testing, and a consultation should be conducted before the proposal is taken forward. And for school-based drug testing scheme for voluntary adoption by school, a research project would be commissioned to devise the operation details.

There are legal matters to be settled and deployment of professional support to be planned before implementation of drug testing in school. The Bar Association pointed out that it could be infringement of privacy. Reservation still resides with school management and parents. Teachers and principals are gravely concerned with the lack of resources to get professional help from social workers. The parents are worried about dismissal from school when young drug abusers are identified.

The administration had planned to consult educators and parents before it implements drug testing. But after the public concern was drawn by the emotional confrontation from some Mui Wo residents and more stories broke out on drug abuse, the Chief Executive hastily announced a pilot scheme to be conducted in Tai Po starting the new semester, i.e., only one month from now. However, there is no guideline ready for the operation. Parents are not informed on how to opt in or opt out. Rules and procedures to avoid stigmatization are still up in the air. Educators are worried with inadequate resources to follow up on rehabilitation of young drug abusers. If the government rushes to drug testing before guide lines and follow up services are ready, the hurried implementation might do more harm than good. It will end up by and large a show staged by the Chief Executive to proclaim his strong governance, but at the price of the unfortunate young ones.

Worst of all, young ones are not given the chance to speak up. All along, the government and the media tells the concerns of the adults, but little platform was provided for the young ones. Do we really understand the problems our young ones facing? And would compulsory or voluntary drug testing drive them further away from parents and teachers?

The report by the task force concludes that youngsters addicted to drugs because they are rebellious, they don’t have self confidence, they want adventure, and they are under peer pressure. These reasons can be summarized in one, a fundamental cause that the administration does not address: the young ones find no meaningful goals for life, and this is systemic.

In the capacity of chairperson of the Education Panel in the Legislative Council, I made an effort to invite young students to speak on drug abuse on campus in a hearing conducted by the panel. A young student told the legislators, “It is toxic in the system, not only toxic of drugs or psychotropic substances that we have to deal with. Once we lose in the examination, we are desperate with doors closed to us. The government could ban drugs and psychotropic substances, but the toxic will be seen in suicide or torture of the self.” Another student lamented that the young ones had no choice. It’s the decision of parents and teachers to join the drug testing scheme. That is hegemony going school based.

Desperation is not exclusive for students crushed by the education system. Top grade students could also be easy victim. A head girl was told to study hard for examination since day one in her schooling. That she obediently did so to please her parents, and was rewarded with recognition from teachers. But that did not make her a happy girl. Making good grades is only her duty. She was never taught to set her personal goal and be passionate about it. The poor teenager is perceived to be an achiever, but she needs guidance and help from adult to make out the meaning of life, and deal with jealousy from her peers.

The task force encourages young students to say no to drugs, but does it tolerate students for saying no to the system? Does it respect the critical thinking of the young ones when they challenge authorities? When adults turn a stern face to our kids when they put up questions, and delighted only when the kids take our words, how can we expect them to dare to stand up against peer pressure?

Growing up is not easy. When kids comfortably harboured by loving parents have to lead a life of their own, they come across fair and hostile competition, have to deal with failures and setbacks. But most adults forget the problems in searching for an identity through the primal chaos. Trust and confidence from the parents is the key to self esteem. Only when freedom is entrusted to them, the kids will acquire the ability to make the right choice, and self confidence would come from understanding of the self through striving and struggling. Adult could offer a helping hand when needed. But instead, adults are too ready to show our disappointment when children do not match our expectation. That does not facilitate heart to heart talk. Kids will seek comfort from friends who speak the same language and no wonder, succumb to peers pressure.

Anxious parents want to be sure that the kids are not addicted to drugs or psychotropic substances. Drug testing is most convenient, but that will only drive the kids further away. When kids stay away from home, not attend to school work, not aspired to anything, these signals are alarming enough. Though the kids might not already be addicted to drug, they could be easily preyed. Parents should try to talk to the kids and help them before it is too late. Drug testing is only the triggering point to correctional service, but love and respect is a far better preventive remedy.

Cyd

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