Halloween posters were recently hung up around the Clarke Central with messages about teen drinking. Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas sees the posters as a way to stop misinterpretations. “I think people get the perception that everybody is doing (alcohol). When they talk about teenagers and peer pressure it’s one of those things where it’s like everyone is doing it,” Thomas said. Photo by Aneesa Conine-Nakano.
By ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Digital Managing Editor
In light of new informational posters regarding alcohol usage among teens displayed around Clarke Central High School, CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas discusses the dangers of underage drinking.
Recently, alcohol awareness posters were hung around Clarke Central High School with slogans like “Even though Clarke County teens can’t decide between vampire and werewolves, most choose to be alcohol free,” and “Most Clarke County Teens say it’s not cool to drink at sporting events.” CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas believes the poster are meant to discourage generalizations.
“I think people get the perception that everybody is doing (alcohol). When they talk about teenagers and peer pressure it’s one of those things where it’s like everyone is doing it. The signs are up to show that people might put out that perception but in reality, when it comes down to it, maybe they aren’t drinking. According to the statistics they aren’t doing it,” Thomas said.
The statistics on the posters were gathered through a health survey taken last spring in advisement by the district. Since the survey was anonymous, Thomas thinks the results are fairly accurate.
“Anytime you do something that is anonymous, it probably tends to be more accurate because people don’t have to worry about being cool or saying they do it because their friends do it. It’s hard to tell because I am so removed from being a teenager,” Thomas said.
Thomas notes that a key factors in why some students drink has to do with both peer pressure and the mixing of under and upperclassmen.
“You are always going to have students who probably are in a situation where they are growing up faster than they need to and they are crossing over with different groups of people so maybe they get some of the habits from older people they are around,” Thomas said. “Then they bring them back into their setting with their peers that are their age and it becomes the “fun” thing to do. It’s more peer pressure than anything else at this age.”
Junior Isaura Catalan adds that she believes students party and drink because there aren’t academic repercussions
“I feel like (alcohol) doesn’t really affect (students in school). Some students (who drink) still have really good grades,” junior Isaura Catalan said.
Overall, Thomas thinks the growing teenage body is not compatible with alcohol and students should stay away from it.
“When you are throwing in that it is a dangerous thing, throwing it in with somebody who’s not physically or mentally mature, it causes all kinds of problems,” Thomas said. “My advice for somebody who is a teenager and in school is you have no reason or business drinking, so don’t do it.”
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