The recent South Delta Secondary grad dinner-dance at the Marriott Pinnacle highlights an issue of concern for families of high school-aged children. While a great many lovely and handsome looking grads arrived for the Grad Walk prepared to celebrate appropriately, others did not.
The fact of underage drinking and substance abuse is an issue that high schools everywhere struggle with. What is of alarming concern, however, are the number of students, by their own admission, whose parents provided them with alcohol.
There is an underlying acceptance that students will drink at grad functions and that it is our job to keep them safe from themselves. As an adult, parent and educator, I find this attitude unacceptable and welcome an open discussion on this subject.
Our very successful valedictory ceremony was certainly testimony to the many deserving members of this grad class who were awarded honours, bursaries and scholarships. It is a shame this same group's reputation is now besmirched by the poor choices made by some of its members and their families.
I wish grads of 2013 the very best in the future.
Suzan Egan-
Olsen Modern Languages Teacher South Delta Secondary Suzan Egan-Olsen
