(WHAS11) - When does a policy go too far?
A Jeffersonville mother says the drug policy at her daughter’s school punishes kids for saying no to drugs but the district is defending their policy.
On Tuesday at River Valley Middle School in Jeffersonville, Indiana, a 13-year-old student says someone handed her the prescription pill Adderall during gym and she quickly handed it back saying she didn't want it.
But she was called to the office later and admitted she had the pills in her hand for a few seconds.
Patty Greer says her daughter is now facing a five day suspension because she had possession of the pills, even though it was only for a few seconds.
The district policy says even handling the pills for any period of time will land you a suspension.
“She's missing out on class, she's not labeled a drug user, every one of her teachers know why she's been suspended,” says Patty Greer.
Patty says her daughter is owed an apology and should be let back in school.
She says it sends the wrong message to kids.
“She said no to drugs and these days we need to praise that because of the kids that do say that because we don't have that many,” she says.
But district leaders see things differently.
“Someone hands them a pill or a drug or something like that and they say well I said no I didn't participate. Well the act of saying no is not to be there, not to be involved in the handling the you know they didn't have to put their hand out,” says Marty Bell of Greater Clark County Schools.
Marty Bell says students and parents have to sign off on their policy so they know the rules.
“The policy is pretty clear. We don’t intend for to have drugs in our schools we don't intend for children to be handling drugs,” says Bell.
WHAS11 News wants to know what you think about this story.
If she gave the prescription pills back after a few seconds, did the district’s policy go too far?
Please leave your comments below.
