QC school scraps ‘drug-free’ sheet for parents

A public elementary school in Quezon City has scrapped a school activity in which parents were asked to sign a sheet declaring that their family is “drug-free” during the distribution of report cards of students last week.

The activity was scrapped after a parent complained that a teacher joked that those who will not sign the sheet are drug addicts when she refused to sign it.

She said she did not sign the sheet because of her concerns over the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. “The teacher who made ‘ang hindi

pumirma ay drug addict’ remark said it was just a joke and recognized that she shouldn’t be joking like that. I still trust and respect my daughter’s teachers so let’s stop generalizing,” the parent said in a post on Twitter.

“The intention was there but they later on realized the dire consequences of such initiative. They’re scrapping it already. Everybody learned their lesson. All’s well that ends well,” she added.

Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali earlier said that while schools are allowed to conduct activities in support of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, this should be purely voluntary on the part of the parents and the students.

He said those who would not participate in such activities should not be threatened with any form of penalty.

Umali said they will ask the school and the regional office involved to submit a report regarding the incident.

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