BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser has asked all of the district’s 11,400 students to reach out to their friends and family members during the holiday season.
In a holiday message delivered at a Dec. 6 Board of Education meeting, Wasser asked students to take a few extra steps at parties this year and not to let their friends or family members who have been drinking drive a car or get into a car with anyone who has been drinking.
“It’s great that we enjoy this time of the year to get together with family and friends,” Wasser said. “Many of our students are doing programs, like the ADAPT (Adolescents Drug and Alcohol Prevention Team) program on drinking and driving during the holiday time. As I tell the students, it’s great if you’re in a school program to give that message in an assembly in the auditorium. The key is to do it with your friends [or family members] at a party or at the mall or elsewhere, and [you] don’t get into a car with someone who has been drinking.”
Wasser said high school students should not be drinking in the first place.
“The message is very clear,” he said. “It’s tough enough driving on the roads in this area with the traffic and if you have real bad weather like tonight (heavy rain) and with some of the dangerous back roads, before you know it your instincts are off and you’re in an accident. There are too many of those in this area.”
Wasser reminded adults that young people watch their behavior.
“They watch us at parties when we have family gatherings and they watch what we are doing,” the superintendent said. “It is critical for us to model appropriate behavior in front of young people because they know our every message.
“More importantly,” said Wasser, “if you’re hosting parties for teenagers, because they’re always complaining that there’s nothing to do, and there are at your house, do not host drinking parties for underage kids. The serving of alcohol is not acceptable.”
The superintendent said he is frequently told about parties where drinking occurs at home.
“Try to have the kids have a good time,” said Wasser. “Enjoy the holiday season. But [most of all], make sure it’s healthy, and be sure to spend some time with family and friends.”