Back in my day, even SAT test booklets were kept under lock and key.  Apparently in today’s schools, syringes, the drug NARCAN, and condoms do not warrant that same heightened security.

Unreported by local media this afternoon (where was the superintendent’s propaganda guy, Jesse Sugarman?) was an incident which occurred at Weaver High School involving these items which caused the school to go into “temporary lock-down” mode.

Weaver Principal Tiffany Webley sent out a notice to parents (view the notice here) informing them that during an assembly given by the CT Harm Reduction Alliance, an assembly held to “educate students about harm reduction and how to make healthy decisions,” students were given “healthcare items,” however, “several students inadvertently” (oops, my bad) took items “that were for demonstration purposes only.”  These items included syringes, liquid Narcan, and nasal spray Narcan.

As a result of the “inadvertent” theft, the school went into a temporary lock-down while those beautiful and capable children running around with syringes and Narcan were discovered.  According to the principal’s letter, the syringes and liquid Narcan were returned, but the nasal spray Narcan was still missing.

Raising doubt about the principal’s “inadvertent” language, teacher reports are saying that the speaker, Kaye White, a “Streetologist” says the group’s website, told the students “Come grab what you want,” or something to that effect.  Teachers also report that the “healthcare items” were condoms.  The group has several offices throughout Connecticut where they freely distribute these items, is it necessary to distribute them in schools?  “Inadvertent” consequences may arise, disrupting the whole school day.

Superintendent Torres-Rodriguez is going to give somebody hell.  Twice during her budget presentation to the city council last week, she said that part of the issue with declining enrollment in Hartford schools is that not enough folks are having babies.  We’re trying to increase enrollment and you’re giving out condoms!?  What the hell is wrong with you!?

Whether the items went missing “inadvertently” or by invitation, I think there is a duty of care required here which the school and the presenting organization failed to uphold.  This is how negligence suits are filed and won.  I’m just hoping they do not have an assembly on how to handle guns safely.

From the website of the CT Harm Reduction Alliance, with its nice background music, it states that harm reduction “is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use.”  Apparently today they didn’t apply any “practical strategies” aimed at “reducing negative consequences associated with” the demonstration of syringes, Narcan, and condoms during a high school assembly.