Can One Teacher Help?

Abstract

There is a powerful inducement for the teacher to channel the problem of drug addiction to the administrators, to the school nurse, and finally to the police. The easiest thing to do is to evade the whole, complex question and let the “experts” handle it; but, the teacher can't ignore it because the prime responsibility of the teacher is the student. More important than the English lesson in literature, or writing, is the boy and girl in class who looks to the teacher for advice, help, and even friendship. My article deals with this relationship. That it failed was a tragedy, but in the attempt I learned that I must always have time to listen, and to share the experiences of my students. Perhaps, what the teacher considers an interruption of a lesson or trivial social interchange may be of profound importance to the adolescent.