2 students may be expelled over inhaler.

[markpkessinger]

182. Rather than focusing on whether or not it is right to expel the two girls, why not try . . .

. . . asking a better question? I mean, look, I think we all agree that, as a general rule, kids should not be sharing prescription medications with one another. But I think we have to acknowledge, too, that there can be situations that arise that could lead a conscientious child to question if in fact absolute adherence to the general rule was the best course in a particular situation. So the question for me becomes one of how best to get the message across to the girl that (a) her concern for her friend is something truly to be commended, (b) that her willingness to go out on a limb a bit is appreciated, even if perhaps not entirely appropriate, and yet (c) restate and reinforce in her the understanding of why sharing prescription meds should probably be avoided in the overwhelming majority of cases. Is expelling her really the way to convey that message? i mean 13 is pretty delicate age emotionally speaking, and were I her parent, I would worry that coming down too hard on her for something that was driven by a genuinely pure motivation, even if possibly not the most complete deliberation, could have the effect of shutting down her willingness to risk using her judgment in a situation she honestly felt warranted it.

I would think a far more effective way of handling it would be to have her and her parents meet with the school principal and school nurse. The principal, as well as her parents, could genuinely commend her for her care and concern for her friend. The impulse to help someone in need is one of the highest values we can aspire to, and the parents as well as school officials should express genuine pride that such a value is so present in this young girl. And after spending some real time discussing the positive aspects of what she did -- enough time that the girl's emotional defenses have come down (as they are likely to be up just by virtue of being in a meeting with the school principal and her parents) -- then allowing the school nurse to pick up the conversation and very, very gently bring it around to the problem of sharing medications, and the possible consequences of doing so. For a 13 year old girl, I think this kind of approach is likely to make a far greater impression, and a much more positive long-term impact, on the girl than expelling her, and thereby making her feel that the entirety of her impulse was some kind of criminal act.