Dear Paul B,
I am a parent of a “child” at Stevenson. My daughter was NOT one of the kids arrested, but she tells me that she thinks that the bust could have involved 400 students, not just the 65 or so that have been “accused.” She knows kids who walk around with $1,000 in their purses and they are always willing to help someone with a score or lend them the money to do so. My daughter is a sweetheart, and would never want to let us down. She respects her parents and family, and knows how important and relevant it is to keep her reputation as perfect as it is. We have always discussed how one “dumb move” can jeopardize her good name and our family’s good name — and her ability to be accepted at the college of “HER CHOICE.” What are the parents of those other kids doing for or TO them?
Lucky Parent
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Dear LP,
You are not so much lucky, but “old school,” just like me. I don’t accept any of the baloney that kids try to sell us. I am watchful over their relationships, purchases, hours they keep and their studies. I have a right to know, and I ask many questions, just like a cop! If they don’t like it, their life becomes a living hell. I am NOT their friend, nor do I pretend to be one. I am a Dad first, and encourage discussion, communication and I am always there to help. I cannot help them much when they are booked for possession, burglary, or any other felony. I am not an attorney who can help with a reduced sentence. I am, however, the first person that they see in the morning to send them off to school with that whisper in their ear to “make us proud and learn something.” Their ski trips, clothes, lunches and spending money is there, but only if they play by MY RULES. When I believe something is going on that needs my attention, that is when my parenting skills are in “high gear.” I am in search of the truth with my kids, and consequences are ready to be meted out. If you love your kids, make sure that they have some hard-line, well intended, and steadfast rules to follow. They will thank you for your love AND your protection of them when they grow up. It’s our responsibility, right?
Paul B
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As a former student that graduated in 2010, this is no surprise to me at all. Drugs have been at the school for years and the school did very little about it. The reason why they are now taking action is because it was leaked out to the public and now the school wants to protect it�s image. The school wont release this information, but the number of students involved is between 100 and 200 students and this is confirmed by students and parents of suspended student. The discipline is also poor in the aspect that if you are accused of something, you have no student rights and the staff will make good students look bad when its the school who is abusing their powers. Students and parents are outraged with the school and Lincolnshire Police because they feel that their constitutional right of search and seizure has been violated. I have been looking at the comments all day on the internet on this story and some people are very shocked and even went as far as to say that they thought this was a perfect school. It isn�t at all. Students have no rights, the staff abuse their disciplinary powers and then when something does happen the school tries to act fast and cover everything up to protect their image. It�s not a great school at all and people need to open their eyes and see the truth. I can go on and on about what I have experienced at stevenson, but what the school is realy doing to these kids and wht they have been doing for years MUST be known to the public. I really hope this burns a hole for their image now, because the school deserves it.