The current story arc started with this strip: Addicted.
In 1897, the two chemists Felix Hoffmann and Arthur Eichengrün, who were working for the Aktiengesellschaft Farbenfabriken (today: Bayer AG), synthesized pure acetylsalicylic acid (aka Aspirin). Around two weeks later, Felix Hoffmann re-invented the synthesis of diacetylmorphine (aka heroin). After some drug trials, the company started a big advertising campaign for heroin as a “non addictive” cough suppressant. Aspirin, on the other hand, was initially thought to be too dangerous and only brought to market a few years later.
- Principal: No, we can’t make an exception to our Zero Tolerance drug policy for insulin. That’s why it’s called a Zero Tolerance policy.
- Larisa: But…
- Principal: No “Buts”! The war on drugs requires resolute action against the use of any drug. That’s why we must ensure that no student sets a bad example for the others.
- Principal: If we allowed one of our students to inject insulin, it would be just a matter of weeks until others would start to experiment with…
- Principal: ASPIRIN!
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This is not the end of this. I am unmarried, but if I were a parent of a diabetic child whose insulin was taken from her by her school, there would be a stink raised you could smell on Neptune.
This is like the musical Reefer Madness, but without the hot chicks in marijuana-leaf bikinis!
Seriously, over the top a little?
I`m not the only one who noticed that the principal`s hair tufts look like devil horns, right? …Right?
To: Lonewolf
There’s a musical? LOL
I noticed it too, Dzamie. Definitely a subliminal message. 😉
Tbolt, GI Joe gun?
I was an interesting middle schooler. A military enthusiast who is soon to go into the military, a family of military vets or who are actually in the military, a gun collector…
I liked to sketch, so I sketched guns in the back of my notebooks and on my folders.
Some kids STOLE my folders and notebook, turned it into the principle and tried to get me expelled. I actually came quite close until my dad threatened legal action to get the students who stole my property expelled.
Then it all suddenly went away. Funny how that happens.
This is an example of good intentions colliding with common sense, but perhaps the young lady shouldn’t have been showing off her injector. Larisa should have been more discreet, but what’s done is done. Methinks this fellow is interpretting the drug policy rather strictly, and shows little knowledge of what chronic conditions may affect children and require regular medication. It may require an attorney to set him straight. Wonder how many inhalers he’s confiscated from asthmatic kids lately.
“Zero tolerance of drugs for students, while no one questions my smoking. because if they do, they must be on drugs.”
Sky King: Yes, there’s a musical. It’s hilarious, and makes fun of the original film. It does get rather over the top towards the end. As in, way over the top.
She also made a joke about being “addicted”. But I could make such a joke if I had to inject myself every day. She should not be embarresed by something that is not her fault. Once the schoolteacher heard “insulin” that should have been the end of it (although she did add “duh”). And if not the teacher, the principle. At most, there should be some standard like Larisa has to go to the nurses station.
I love how the principal is talking about “zero tolerance for drugs” while he lights up his own addictive drug. Sad thing is, even if he was *capable* of seeing the hypocracy of the situation, he probably wouldn’t even recognize that it was happening here, because from the look of it, he’s not even conscious of the fact that he’s lighting up.
I know that sounds strange, but believe me — I know from experience that it’s possible to light up and smoke a cigarette without being aware of it. There’s been plenty of times I’ve been so focused on a conversation or a task, that I find myself completely surprised when I realize I have a half-smoked cigarette in my hand.
The principal isn’t addicted, he can quit any time he wants. In fact he quits every night!
I think you have your story a little muddled. Heroin was sold as a cough suppressant, which I had forgotten, but it was really meant to be a non-addictive subsitute for morphine and cure for alcohol addiction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin
I love how the principal is saying that its horrible for her to be taking insulin while he smokes
Ah, yes, incompetent teachers and an incompetent system, there’s a dozen stories to tell.
We once had a teacher, can’t remember which subject, that was pretty much THE most hated teacher, and not just our school. Seems students from other schools had some experiences with her, as well.
She once took a water bottle from one of my buddies because he was drinking it during class. He had to stay hydrated due to an illness, don’t remember what, it’s been a decade already. He tried to explain, several other students, me included, joining in. And what happened? She practically SNARLED at us, telling us to stay out of it. Luckily, I knew something like this would happen, thus, I brought another bottle from home, in case his was taken.
His parents, of course, were FURIOUS. Seriously, Freddy Krueger would’ve pissed his pants and screamed like a little girl in a bear trap at the sight of them.
Nothing was done about her. She taught/tortured us for another three years before she took up a position at another school. Makes you wonder, with that kind of reputation she had, why would they take her anywhere else? She couldn’t even teach, her classes always had the worst grades….
Wait, wait… Am I really the only one who saw him light one up and think, “What kind of public shool IS THIS that allows teachers to smoke indoors?” xD
And there goes any hope that he might be helped by a whack from the clue x 4.
Zero Tolerance = Zero Intelligence + Zero Common Sense
@ tbolt:
Well there is that plastic knife that Cloud uses…
@David Byrnes
In this case, at least.
Anybody else think the principal looks like Grandpa Munster?
Wait, isn’t insulin uses to treat diabeties or something?
Drug Fact: Did you know that a type of heroin is used in hospitals all over the world? Its name, Morphine.
Did you ever get the feeling you wanted to rip some guy’s head off?By the way, a form of steroids is used to save lives.Ex. Guy has fatal allergy to bee stings, so guy gets prescribed a pin. When guy gets stung, he uses it and doesn’t die.
it amuses me that while he’s saying “no tolerance”, he’s smoking….
The worst part is that there really are people like that principle. Of course, in real schools a student wouldn’t be allowed to wander around with sharps (a medical jargon term for needles) anyhow, they’d have to go to the nurse to get the shot.
Quoth the smoker: “zero tolerance”
@ MalixDexide:
Yeah, I’ll say he’s setting a bad example for the whole school!! XD
Regarding the synthysis of asprin, the stuff has been occuring naturally in Willow Bark for eons, and their is evidence that even Neandertals used it. How could they ignore the apothocaries’ wisdom on the matter? It was really the beginning of modern Pharmacutical Beurocracy.
Loser (I mean the principal). If there is a “Zero Drug” policy which you can’t lift for ANY drug, then why are you smoking a NICOTINE INFESTED tobacco cigarette?!?
@ Liz:
Dude we live on a planet with 7 billion people, you are never the only one.
But but but…Nicotine’s worse!
People saying she should have been more “discreet” and hidden the fact she needs medicine: Exactly why should she hide it? Is needing medicine something to be ashamed of now? If someone chooses to take medication in private, that’s their decision, but being pressured into doing so is despicable.
–> Takes away a child’s insulin
–> Pulls out a cigarette
….WHY IS THIS MORON ALLOWED TO RUN A SCHOOL
I have been a habitual drug user for over thirty years now – 100+ micrograms of thyroxine every morning.
It keeps me alive.
What really annoys me about The War on Drugs and Zero Tolerance is the conflation of my medication (and that of Larissa, and everyone else with a life-threatening condition) with illegal recreational intoxicants.
Also why are some recreational intoxicants illegal, while others such as ethanol and nicotine are not only legal, but seen as normal, and it’s the non-user who is seen as strange..
i remember a news story where a stupid teacher had a student ARRESTED by the police for having Aspirin…
and i read about a teacher who was sent to prison for MOLESTING children-and STILL got paid FULL teacher salary because of the teacher’s union blocking all attempts to officially fire him…
and then there was the idiot who not only refused to let a kid take his medicine for his allergy-and he was in a full-blown asthma attack-but LOCKED the door to PREVENT anyone ELSE from helping him!
I think this principal represents the drug enforcement agency. To understand what I mean, here are the facts…
Drugs can be used, as opposed to being abused. Opium is used to produce morphine (more commonly used in ACLS) and Heroin (which, in the UK, is an on-label controlled substance used by anesthesiologists/anesthetists). Cocaine is on-label (read: has a legitimate use) as a topical anesthetic and vasoconstrictor in facial surgery. Opioids are used in large doses as anesthesia induction.
Certain substances which are, by law, illicit, are in fact more benign than other substances which are, by law, illegal. Marijuana does not have a neurological mechanism of addiction (as opposed to opiates/opioids or cocaine), but there is still risk of a psychological/behavioral mechanism of addiction. Also, Marijuana does not have physiological withdrawal effects. And yet alcohol and tobacco/nicotine, which have mechanisms of addiction and withdrawal, are legal.
Now I happen to be on a controlled substance for a medical reason. I do not go to extreme lengths to get it when I cannot…and those times I cannot, it’s because the DEA imposes these restrictions on production, and pharmacies don’t have it on hand.
Another bit of food for thought…in the national registry for EMT’s, oxygen is considered a drug.
@ Liz:
In my head: And yet, he’s smoking. Hypocrisy at the highest level.
Aw, this was an exceptionally nice post.
Spending some time and actual effort to produce a good article…
but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and don’t manage to get anything done.