SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
A District Judge, the Illinois Attorney General's office, and Schaumburg School District 54 have agreed to exempt an 11-year-old from an Illinois law prohibiting medically prescribed cannabis at schools:
In a decision that may have sweeping effects, a judge has allowed an 11-year-old Illinois girl to use medical marijuana at school.
Medical marijuana is legal in Illinois, and it is against current law for students to use it in school or have school nurses administer it. Now, Ashley Surin is the sole exemption. She overcame a leukemia diagnosis at 2 years old with extensive chemotherapy, but some of her treatments eventually led to having semi regular seizures. Her mother, Maureen Surin, told NPR that since starting medical marijuana treatment, her seizures have immensely declined in number. "We're amazed with her progress," Surin said.
Her parents filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday against Schaumburg School District 54 and the State of Illinois, claiming that the state's ban on taking the drug at school violates the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). On Friday, a judge ruled in their favor after hearing from the school district, which reportedly had concerns that its employees may be subject to legal penalties for helping Ashley with her medications.
"What people seem to misunderstand here is that medical marijuana is a prescription like any other drug," [the family's attorney, Steven Glink, said]. "Prohibiting it in school would be the same as prohibiting other medications such as Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta."
A more permanent solution could be necessary (archive):
At a hearing in federal court in Chicago to consider the issue, Illinois Assistant Attorney General Thomas Ioppolo said that his office was willing to let school employees dispense the medication without prosecution. But U.S. Judge John Robert Blakey pointed out that officials would have to address the state law prohibition on possession or use of marijuana at school. For the judge to rule on the issue, he said, he would also need to find some legal basis to do so. The court case was continued until Friday, Jan. 19, for the attorney general's office to return with its legal assessment. But a court ruling may be unnecessary, Glink said, if school and state officials and lawmakers can resolve the matter on their own.
School district attorney Darcy Kriha said the case could benefit many children beyond Ashley, if school employees are protected from prosecution or license penalties for participating. School access is not the only issue, Maureen Surin said. Ashley wants to go to Disney World in Florida, but also can't get her medicine when she crosses state lines, Surin added.
Also at USA Today and NBC Chicago.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 16 2018, @12:06AM (2 children)
Well, at least prohibit Adderall, which is just meth. It fucks with your heart rhythm.
Concerta is Ritalin, but slow-release. They work OK, but depending on drugs is pretty messed up.
Most places have banned public punishment. This includes posting grades. The misery of any resulting humiliation actually does help keep people in line though, and by making people try harder it can actually be good for them.
Most places have banned in-school spankings. This is probably a mistake, but making spankings be beneficial requires some training (do not bash heads) and requires that we not hire teachers that get a perverse joy out of it. Some of the issues can be fixed by having the student be spanked by somebody other than the person who orders the spanking. That slows the process down though, and speed matters with the kids most likely to benefit from this punishment.
Much of the ADHD problem is a refusal to accept male behavior. Note that nearly all teachers in the younger grades a female and feminist. There has been an active effort to change education to benefit girls, for example with more group activity and discussion. Meanwhile, boys can't read; most of the students with reading problems are male. Boys are acting out in frustration. Boys could use more physical activity, perhaps 40 minutes twice daily. Boys could use more time to tinker with objects, for example in a real shop class with real tools. Boys benefit from an explicit rank structure, with legitimately earned awards. The fuzzy rank structure implied by gossip isn't good for boys.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 16 2018, @12:25AM
I see what you did there.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 16 2018, @07:10AM
I have come to the conclusion that we as a society flat do not want to teach our kids useful stuff.
We need them absolutely dependent on us, like a caged animal is to its owner.
Caged by debt.
So, we don't teach them how to survive. We teach them how to "go with the flow" and get the whole mess of 'em over their head in debt.
So we can have 'em cleaning the restrooms at the fast food joint for five dollars an hour.
Then get it all back in rent.