Teachers defend shock tactics in DWI program

Jolie Rouge · 06-12-2008, 05:00 PM

Teachers defend shock tactics in DWI program
By ALLISON HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 3 minutes ago

OCEANSIDE, Calif. - On a Monday morning last month, highway patrol officers visited 20 classrooms at El Camino High School to announce some horrible news: Several students had been killed in car wrecks over the weekend.

Classmates wept. Some became hysterical.

A few hours and many tears later, though, the pain turned to fury when the teenagers learned that it was all a hoax — a scared-straight exercise designed by school officials to dramatize the consequences of drinking and driving.

As seniors prepare for graduation parties Friday, school officials in the largely prosperous San Diego suburb are defending themselves against allegations they went too far. At school assemblies, some students held up posters that read: "Death is real. Don't play with our emotions."

Michelle de Gracia, 16, was in physics class when an officer announced that her missing classmate David, a popular basketball player, had died instantly after being rear-ended by a drunken driver. She said she felt nauseated but was too stunned to cry. "They got the shock they wanted," she said.

Some of her classmates became extremely upset, prompting the teacher to tell them immediately it was all staged. "People started yelling at the teacher," she said. "It was pretty hectic."

Others, including many who heard the news of the 26 deaths between classes, were left in the dark until the missing students reappeared hours later. "You feel betrayed by your teachers and administrators, these people you trust," said 15-year-old Carolyn Magos. "But then I felt selfish for feeling that way, because, I mean, if it saves one life, it's worth it."

Officials at the 3,100-student school officials defended the program. "They were traumatized, but we wanted them to be traumatized," said guidance counselor Lori Tauber, who helped organize the shocking exercise and got dozens of students to participate. "That's how they get the message."

The plan was to tell the truth to the students at an assembly later in the day. But word that it was all a hoax began to spread before the gathering. Tauber said some counselors and administrators revealed the truth to calm some students who had become upset.

Oceanside Schools Superintendent Larry Perondi said he fielded only a few calls from parents, while the PTA chapter said it had not heard any complaints. Perondi said the program would be revised, but he would not say how. And he said he was glad that students seemed to have gotten the message.

"We did this in earnest," he said. "This was not done to be a prankster."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/...MIgV9iqs 0NUE

I wish they had done something like this when I was in HS. "Ring Night" my sophmore year ( Graduation Rings are presented as part of a ceremony and the Junior class officially becomes the Senior Class. ) a car driven by a classmate crashed as they were going from one party to another. One was killed instantly, one died days later from his injuries, one was left in a coma and one in a wheelchair. Maybe something like this would have caused Johnny to think again before he got behind the wheel after "just a few drinks".

freeby4me · 06-12-2008, 05:13 PM

I voted yes too far. Here at the high school for prom they get a car (sometimes 2) from one of the local junk yards and they put blood all over them and a couple of actual students get in and "act dead" and they do the whole scene, with the firetrucks come and take the kids away.
Its a scary thing to watch.
Sadly we do have alot of teenage drinking and driving around here.

I've been at school when we found out classmates died, its a horrible thing to go through and I cannot imagine finding out later that it was a hoax.

I hope it worked this time for them, although I dont think it should be done again.

suprtruckr · 06-12-2008, 05:20 PM

kids these days think they're indestructible and this was worth the shock value to "scare them straight" because if a life can be saved thats worth it

freeby4me · 06-12-2008, 05:22 PM

Incidentally was the students who's names were used aware of the fact that their names were used? Or did they pick a few random students who were absent that day? Just curiousity.

Jolie Rouge · 06-12-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

I've been at school when we found out classmates died, its a horrible thing to go through and I cannot imagine finding out later that it was a hoax.

When I was 15, I would have given anything you could name if only someone could have come in and said it was a "hoax" ...

ing:

Jolie Rouge · 06-12-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeby4me

Incidentally was the students who's names were used aware of the fact that their names were used? Or did they pick a few random students who were absent that day? Just curiousity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by from the article

Others, including many who heard the news of the 26 deaths between classes, were left in the dark until the missing students reappeared hours later.
---
... Lori Tauber, who helped organize the shocking exercise and got dozens of students to participate.

My understanding from reading the article ( again ) is that the students involved as "victims" volentered.

freeby4me · 06-12-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolie Rouge

My understanding from reading the article ( again ) is that the students involved as "victims" volentered.

Thank you. I read the article line for line but totally missed that. I guess my mind was already starting on my post.

Im sorry Jolie. I know what you mean. You do wish for it to not be true, for them to be back. The grief one feels is real.

Maybe I did vote wrong. Maybe it is a good thing. At least their classmates did come back to them.

Jolie Rouge · 06-12-2008, 05:47 PM

No apology - you are leading with your heart; not a bad thing. As a parent, we want to protect our children - and by extention, all children - from the sharp corners of life. In this case, I think a bruise may teach a lesson and they will miss a jagged cut instead.

suprtruckr · 06-12-2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolie Rouge

As a parent, we want to protect our children - and by extention, all children - from the sharp corners of life. In this case, I think a bruise may teach a lesson and they will miss a jagged cut instead.

well said girlie

Bahet · 06-12-2008, 08:12 PM

I'd be furious. Imagine if you let your kids play outside and in an effort to "teach you a lesson" some police officer decided to stage a kidnapping and came to your house saying someone in a red car grabbed your kid then "hours later" told you it was a hoax. I'd probably punch that officer in the face if I didn't have a heart attack at hearing the news.

Jolie Rouge · 06-13-2008, 02:06 AM

Why is it when you disagree with something, you create a hypothetical situation that has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, to try and illustrate your point ??

APPLES = ORANGES

To address some of the MOST glaring

Quote:

Imagine if you let your kids play outside

Stop. There is nothing wrong with letting your children play outside. It IS illegal to drink as a minor; to serve alchol to a minor; to drive while intoxitcated; to drive while under the influence of mind altering substances ect.

Quote:

... and in an effort to "teach you a lesson" some police officer decided to stage a kidnapping ...

it would be illegal to kidnap your child

Quote:

... and came to your house saying someone in a red car grabbed your kid ...

I am pretty sure that breaks a few more laws....

Quote:

... then "hours later" told you it was a hoax.

And I am reaonably certain that would be a few more broken laws as well.

Quote:

I'd probably punch that officer in the face

Why stop there ?? Kick his @$$ and then claim temporary insanity.

The students who participated in the "program" were volenteers, and I assume that their parents were involved as well. They would almost have to be in case a kid from school tried to contact them....

View Poll Results: Did they go "too far" with this "program" ?
yes - that was just mean	5	33.33%
no - the kids need to realise the consequences	8	53.33%
no real effect - all teenagers think they are immortal	1	6.67%
who cares ?	1	6.67%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

06-12-2008, 05:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jolie Rouge C & P Queen Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Missin' Mesue ... Posts: 33,944 iTrader: (2) Thanks: 732 Thanked 1,398 Times in 759 Posts	Teachers defend shock tactics in DWI program Teachers defend shock tactics in DWI program By ALLISON HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 3 minutes ago OCEANSIDE, Calif. - On a Monday morning last month, highway patrol officers visited 20 classrooms at El Camino High School to announce some horrible news: Several students had been killed in car wrecks over the weekend. Classmates wept. Some became hysterical. A few hours and many tears later, though, the pain turned to fury when the teenagers learned that it was all a hoax — a scared-straight exercise designed by school officials to dramatize the consequences of drinking and driving. As seniors prepare for graduation parties Friday, school officials in the largely prosperous San Diego suburb are defending themselves against allegations they went too far. At school assemblies, some students held up posters that read: "Death is real. Don't play with our emotions." Michelle de Gracia, 16, was in physics class when an officer announced that her missing classmate David, a popular basketball player, had died instantly after being rear-ended by a drunken driver. She said she felt nauseated but was too stunned to cry. "They got the shock they wanted," she said. Some of her classmates became extremely upset, prompting the teacher to tell them immediately it was all staged. "People started yelling at the teacher," she said. "It was pretty hectic." Others, including many who heard the news of the 26 deaths between classes, were left in the dark until the missing students reappeared hours later. "You feel betrayed by your teachers and administrators, these people you trust," said 15-year-old Carolyn Magos. "But then I felt selfish for feeling that way, because, I mean, if it saves one life, it's worth it." Officials at the 3,100-student school officials defended the program. "They were traumatized, but we wanted them to be traumatized," said guidance counselor Lori Tauber, who helped organize the shocking exercise and got dozens of students to participate. "That's how they get the message." The plan was to tell the truth to the students at an assembly later in the day. But word that it was all a hoax began to spread before the gathering. Tauber said some counselors and administrators revealed the truth to calm some students who had become upset. Oceanside Schools Superintendent Larry Perondi said he fielded only a few calls from parents, while the PTA chapter said it had not heard any complaints. Perondi said the program would be revised, but he would not say how. And he said he was glad that students seemed to have gotten the message. "We did this in earnest," he said. "This was not done to be a prankster." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/...MIgV9iqs 0NUE I wish they had done something like this when I was in HS. "Ring Night" my sophmore year ( Graduation Rings are presented as part of a ceremony and the Junior class officially becomes the Senior Class. ) a car driven by a classmate crashed as they were going from one party to another. One was killed instantly, one died days later from his injuries, one was left in a coma and one in a wheelchair. Maybe something like this would have caused Johnny to think again before he got behind the wheel after "just a few drinks". __________________ Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT!** Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

06-12-2008, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
freeby4me No, I just dont like you Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 10,039 iTrader: (23) Thanks: 515 Thanked 765 Times in 387 Posts	I voted yes too far. Here at the high school for prom they get a car (sometimes 2) from one of the local junk yards and they put blood all over them and a couple of actual students get in and "act dead" and they do the whole scene, with the firetrucks come and take the kids away. Its a scary thing to watch. Sadly we do have alot of teenage drinking and driving around here. I've been at school when we found out classmates died, its a horrible thing to go through and I cannot imagine finding out later that it was a hoax. I hope it worked this time for them, although I dont think it should be done again. __________________ Dont cry because its over. Smile because it happened.

06-12-2008, 05:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
suprtruckr braindead Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In Limbo Posts: 2,969 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 44 Thanked 242 Times in 114 Posts	kids these days think they're indestructible and this was worth the shock value to "scare them straight" because if a life can be saved thats worth it __________________ CONFUSED AS A BABY IN A TOPLESS BAR

06-12-2008, 05:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
freeby4me No, I just dont like you Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 10,039 iTrader: (23) Thanks: 515 Thanked 765 Times in 387 Posts	Incidentally was the students who's names were used aware of the fact that their names were used? Or did they pick a few random students who were absent that day? Just curiousity. __________________ Dont cry because its over. Smile because it happened.

06-12-2008, 05:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jolie Rouge C & P Queen Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Missin' Mesue ... Posts: 33,944 iTrader: (2) Thanks: 732 Thanked 1,398 Times in 759 Posts	No apology - you are leading with your heart; not a bad thing. As a parent, we want to protect our children - and by extention, all children - from the sharp corners of life. In this case, I think a bruise may teach a lesson and they will miss a jagged cut instead. __________________ Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT!** Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

06-12-2008, 08:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bahet DAR Boss Lady Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,312 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 507 Thanked 1,349 Times in 426 Posts	I'd be furious. Imagine if you let your kids play outside and in an effort to "teach you a lesson" some police officer decided to stage a kidnapping and came to your house saying someone in a red car grabbed your kid then "hours later" told you it was a hoax. I'd probably punch that officer in the face if I didn't have a heart attack at hearing the news.

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