John Mangrum is the principal at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School, he sixth principal at the school. (Photo courtesy)

Laurel, Md. (Reform Sasscer) – Ask anyone who has worked in some of America’s failing public schools and nearly all of them will tell you the same thing: The biggest problem isn’t the quality of the teachers. It’s the behavior of the kids: angry, disruptive, and disrespectful kids whose behavior is out of control. This is true not only in the poor schools in the inner cities, but in schools in the largely white rural parts of the US as well. The kids themselves are only partly to blame — students, after all, are what adults make them. The ongoing fiasco at Bladensburg High School is a tip of the iceberg in Prince George’s county. Parents, staff and students must demand answers and the county citizenry must stand in solidarity to create proper reforms.

After our reports earlier this year concerning Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Eisenhower Middle School, reports reaching Reform Sasscer Movement indicate that, the same School is out of control. According to the information received by several sources who did not want to be identified, “kids told the staff they were running the halls because they did it last year and still passed to the next level,” stated one concerned member.

The principal told the teachers recently to address people outside of the classroom before they address him. He is afraid to run the school. There are concerns that new teachers receive little to no support. There are reports that the Instructional Director (ID) has been watching and it’s possible that she knows of the situation but is powerless.

Last month during parent-teacher conferences, the Principal told several staff that they were not permitted to go to the restroom against the union rules. He wanted the teachers to meet with more parents and thought they would leave early. The principal has allegedly turned several staff members away, but one Mrs. Johnson kept walking and went on. She had to go to the bathroom according to the reports received. During the same conferences, a lot of parents were complaining about all the bullying going on at the school.  However, President Theresa Dudley of Prince George’s County Education Association (PGCEA) has failed to respond to many challenges affecting teachers in the county including at Eisenhower Middle School, Bladensburg High School and others due to all conflicts of interests she is engaged in.

Recently a parent complained that she came to the school and saw students twerking on desks. New teachers are not being supported and they want to leave the teaching profession all together because of the lack of support. The principal, Mr. Mangrum, can do better according to the staff members who shared their concerns.

Inadequate Monitoring

Corruption thrives where principals (the rank and file) cannot effectively control their agents (union officers) or hold them accountable. External monitoring of union officers is weak as seen in Prince George’s County. Past reports concerning union corruption have pointed out that “it is all too easy for racketeers to control and exploit, in part because there is no effective mechanism for policing internal union affairs. The Landrum-Griffin Act was passed in an attempt to assure that workers would be represented by democratic unions” (Goldstock et al. 1990, 49).

In the 1980s, congressional hearings surfaced sharp criticism of the Department of Labor’s failure to monitor unions and their pension and welfare funds effectively (Jacobs and Mullin 2003). Because the Department of Labor’s “primary mission is to resolve labor-management problems [,] this necessarily requires good working relations with high-ranking labor officials, and makes investigating and enforcing the complaints . . . against top labor officials at best awkward and, at worst, a conflict of interest” (Goldstock et al. 1990, 181).

Drug Use at Eisenhower Middle School

Smoking weed in the bathroom is a common occurrence. Parents and teachers smell it when they enter. Many teenagers try marijuana and some use it regularly. Teenage marijuana use is at its highest level in 30 years, and today’s teens are more likely to use marijuana than tobacco. Many states allow recreational use of marijuana in adults ages 21 and over. Recreational marijuana use by children and teenagers is not legal anywhere in the United States. Today’s marijuana plants are grown differently than in the past and can contain two to three times more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient that makes people high. The ingredient of the marijuana plant thought to have most medical benefits, cannabidiol (CBD), has not increased and remains at about 1%.

There are many ways people can use marijuana. This can make it harder for parents to watch for use in their child. These include:

• Smoking the dried plant (buds and flowers) in a rolled cigarette (joint), pipe, or bong
• Smoking liquid or wax marijuana in an electronic cigarette, also known as vaping
• Eating “edibles” which are baked goods and candies containing marijuana products
• Drinking beverages containing marijuana products
• Using oils and tinctures that can be applied to the skin

Parents and Prevention
Parents can help their children learn about the harmful effects of marijuana use. Talking to your children about marijuana at an early age can help them make better choices and may prevent them from developing a problem with marijuana use later. Begin talking with your child in an honest and open way when they are in late elementary and early middle school. Youth are less likely to try marijuana if they can ask parents for help and know exactly how their parents feel about drug use.
Tips on discussing marijuana with your child:

• Ask what they have heard about using marijuana. Listen carefully, pay attention, and try not to interrupt. Avoid making negative or angry comments.
• Offer your child facts about the risks and consequences of smoking marijuana.
• Ask your child to give examples of the effects of marijuana. This will help you make sure that your child understands what you talked about.
• If you choose to talk to your child about your own experiences with drugs, be honest about why you used and the pressures that contributed to your use. Be careful not to minimize the dangers of marijuana or other drugs, and be open about any negative experiences you may have had. Given how much stronger marijuana is today, its effect on your child would likely be much different than what you experienced.
• Explain that research tells us that the brain continues to mature into the 20s. While it is developing, there is greater risk of harm from marijuana use.

Sometimes parents may suspect that their child is already using marijuana. The following are common signs of marijuana use:

• Acting very silly and out of character for no reason.
• Using new words and phrases like “sparking up,” “420,” “dabbing,” and “shatter”
• Having increased irritability.
• Losing interest in and motivation to do usual activities.
• Spending time with peers that use marijuana.
• Having trouble remembering things that just happened.
• Carrying pipes, lighters, vape pens, or rolling papers.
• Coming home with red eyes and/or urges to eat outside of usual mealtimes.
• Stealing money or having money that cannot be accounted for.

Effects of Marijuana
Many teenagers believe that marijuana is safer than alcohol or other drugs. When talking about marijuana with your child, it is helpful to know the myths and the facts. For example, teenagers may say, “it is harmless because it is natural,” “it is not addictive,” or “it does not affect my thinking or my grades.”

However, research shows that marijuana can cause serious problems with learning, feelings, and health.

Short-term use of marijuana can lead to:

• School difficulties
• Problems with memory and concentration
• Increased aggression
• Car accidents
• Use of other drugs or alcohol
• Risky sexual behaviors
• Worsening of underlying mental health conditions including mood changes and suicidal thinking
• Increased risk of psychosis
• Interference with prescribed medication

Regular use of marijuana can lead to significant problems including Cannabis Use Disorder. Signs that your child has developed Cannabis Use Disorder include using marijuana more often than intended, having cravings, or when using interferes with other activities. If someone with Cannabis Use Disorder stops using suddenly, they may suffer from withdrawal symptoms that, while not dangerous, can cause irritability, anxiety, and changes in mood, sleep, and appetite.

Long-term use of marijuana can lead to:

• Cannabis Use Disorder
• The same breathing problems as smoking cigarettes (coughing, wheezing, trouble with physical activity, and lung cancer)
• Decreased motivation or interest which can lead to decline in academic or occupational performance
• Lower intelligence
• Mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, anger, irritability, moodiness, and risk of suicide

Medical Marijuana
Some teens justify use of marijuana because it is used for medical purposes. Marijuana use with a prescription for a medical reason is called “medical marijuana.” Laws for medical marijuana are rapidly changing and are different from state to state. In some states, children of any age can get medical marijuana if they have a “qualifying medical condition.” There is very limited research supporting use of medical marijuana in children or teens for most conditions. In most states that allow medical marijuana, the marijuana is not regulated and therefore is not checked for ingredients, purity, strength or safety. There is no evidence that medical marijuana is any safer than other marijuana.

Cannabidiol (CBD)
Many parents have questions about CBD and how it may be helpful for their child. There is ongoing research on the use of CBD-containing products for conditions such as epilepsy, , PTSD, Tourette’s disorder, pain, and other diagnoses. For now, the use of CBD is only FDA-approved in children for specific forms of epilepsy and in adults for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. At this time, there is  not enough evidence to recommend CBD for other uses, in children and adolescents including the treatment of autism and other developmental disorders. The approved CBD requires a prescription. Many stores sell CBD products. However, there are no safety and quality requirements for non-prescription CBD. They may have harmful additives or interfere with prescription medication. If you are considering using CBD for your child, please discuss this with their physician prior to starting to prevent harmful effects.

Conclusion
There are ongoing problems at PGCPS Eisenhower Middle School and other schools in the county in which teachers, parents, and students are affected. This is due to lack of support from the administration of CEO Monica Goldson and lack of professional development which has been stopped until further notice.

Marijuana use in teens can lead to long-term consequences. Teens rarely think they will end up with problems related to marijuana use, so it is important to begin talking about the risks with your child early and continue this discussion over time. Talking with your child about marijuana can help delay the age of first use and help protect their brain. If your child is already using marijuana, try asking questions in an open and curious way as your teen will talk more freely if not feeling judged. If you have concerns about your child’s drug use, talk with your child’s pediatrician or a qualified mental health professional.

In addition, the parents and Prince George’s County employees must demand action due to the Union shenanigans currently at play in Prince George’s County public Schools (PGCPS) and illegal interference of the Maryland court system. At the moment, local court system appears currently hijacked by the cartels tied to the union corruption due to lack of external monitoring of union officers in Maryland.

Call your local elected representatives  and state officials. Demand answers ASAP on PGCPS shenanigans led by PGCEA, MSEA, AFSCME International and ASASP Union corruption currently in progress in Prince George’s County! Demand corrective actions immediately. #Resist

• Read more>>> Fiasco after PGCPS Bowie High School teacher charged with sexual abuse of former student
• Read more >>>PGCPS Largo High Sch teacher arrested after major fight 
• Read more >>> Update: PGCPS Largo Teacher Charged with Assaulting Student
• Read more >>> Prince George’s County special ed teacher among 27 charged in federal drug bust in DC area
• Read more >>> ‘Corruption in Plain Sight’- Prince George’s County Cannot Afford the Kirwan Plan – Or Much Else

An email recently sent to PGCPS staff  partly shown here means that, there will be no more professional Days (PD) during school day until further notice.

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